Biddle and Company shutdown Senators in 6-2 win

Jesse Biddle turned in his finest outing of the season as he lead the Fightin Phils to a 6-2 victory over the Harrisburg Senators. Biddle struck out eleven Senators in his effort on Friday evening.  

Cesar Hernandez jump started the offense as he hit a two-run home run off Senators starter Matt Purke in the bottom of the first inning to give Reading a 2-0 lead. Carlos Alonso scored on the play and began the inning with a walk. Harrisburg cut Reading's lead to 2-1 in the top of the second inning as Destin Hood stole third base then scored on a throwing error from catcher Tommy Joseph. 

Senators second baseman Cutter Dykstra tied the game at 2-2 off Jesse Biddle in the top of the fourth inning as he hit a solo home run on the first pitch thrown in the inning. The Fightin Phils answered back in the bottom of the fifth inning as they scored three runs off Purke to take a 5-2 lead.  

Edgar Duran scored on an error by catcher Brandon Bantz to score the first run of the inning to give the Fightins a 3-2 lead. Cam Perkins continued his hot hitting as he hit a RBI single for the fourth run of the game and Zach Collier was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to help give Reading a 5-2 lead.

The Fightin Phils scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning off Senators reliever Colin Bates as Cesar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to score Edgar Duran to take a 6-2 lead. Tyler Knigge pitched a scoreless eighth inning as Nefi Ogando struck out two batters in the top of the ninth inning to finish the game for the Fightin Phils.

Reading is now 9-4 to begin the 2014 season and will look to grab win number ten on Saturday night as Severino Gonzales (2-0, 2.65 ERA) will take the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm.  

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