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Squirrels drop second-half opener to R-Phils

Sugastey, Arteaga homer in 6-3 loss
By Trey Wilson
June 24, 2025

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels opened the second half of the Eastern League season with a 6-3 loss to the Reading Fightin Phils on Tuesday night at The Diamond.

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels opened the second half of the Eastern League season with a 6-3 loss to the Reading Fightin Phils on Tuesday night at The Diamond.

The Flying Squirrels (21-47-1, 0-1 second half) homered twice but dropped the homestand opener to the Fightin Phils (26-42, 1-0).

Reading opened a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Carson DeMartini doubled and later scored on a groundout by Jose Rodriguez. In the top of the thid, Hendry Mendez extended the lead to 2-0 with an RBI single against Richmond starter Manuel Mercedes (Loss, 3-8).

Aeverson Arteaga cut the deficit to 2-1 with an RBI double in the bottom of the first against Reading starter Jean Cabrera (Win, 2-4), but Seth Beer hit a two-run double in the top of the fourth to push Reading’s lead to 4-1.

Robert Moore drove in two runs with a single in the sixth, moving the Fightin Phils lead to 6-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, Adrian Sugastey belted a solo homer, his career-best seventh of the season. His seven homers are tied for first on the team with Jairo Pomares and Bryce Eldridge.

Arteaga added a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, his third.

Dylan Hecht made his Double-A debut in the seventh and threw a 1-2-3 inning, closing it with a strikeout. Evan Gates threw two scoreless frames and struck out three.

The Flying Squirrels and Fightin Phils continue the six-game series on Wednesday afternoon at The Diamond. Lefty Jack Choate (1-5, 4.07) will start for Richmond opposed by Reading right-hander Griff McGarry (0-1, 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. at The Diamond.

Wednesday is RVA Day at The Diamond presented by Chick-fil-A. It is also Wine & K9s featuring $7 glasses of wine and $7 wine slushies from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and free admission for dogs. Tickets are on sale online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.