Collier and Fox lead Fightins over Fisher Cats

The Fightin Phils (47-66) got a big game from Zach Collier and Jake Fox as they combined for nine runs batted in to defeat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (54-60) 14-3 on Saturday night. Zach Collier hit the a grand slam and a solo home run while Jake Fox hit a two-run home run and a two-run double.  

The Fightin Phils wasted no time getting to Taylor Cole in his Double-A debut as they scored three runs off him in the top of the 1st inning to take a 3-0 lead. Cole loaded the bases as he walked Carlos Alonso, Kelly Dugan and gave up a single to Peter Lavin. Jake Fox hit a two-run double to score Alonso and Lavin which was followed by a RBI groundout by Brock Stassi to score Dugan.

New Hampshire got on the board off Severino Gonzalez in the bottom of the 2nd inning as Andy Burns hit a solo home run to lead off the inning and cut the Fightins lead to 3-1. Jake Fox extended the lead off Cole to 5-1 in the top of the 3rd inning as he hit a two-run home run to score Kelly Dugan. Jon Berti hit a two-run single in the bottom of the 3rd inning off Gonzalez to score Michael Crouse and Dalton Pompey to cut the Fightins lead down to 5-3.  

The Fightin Phils exploded for eight runs off Taylor Cole and reliever Scott Gracey in the top of the 6th inning to take a 13-3 lead. Zach Collier began the inning as he scored on an error by Andy Burns then KC Serna scored on a RBI single from Peter Lavin. Carlos Alonso scored on a balk by reliever Scott Gracey and Lavin scored on a RBI single from Aaron Altherr. Kelly Dugan and Jake Fox were intentionally walked before Altherr which eventually set up a grand slam hit by Zach Collier off Gracey. The grand slam hit by Collier was the first by a Fightin Phil this season and first since Maikel Franco against New Britain on August 11, 2013.

Zach Collier hit his second home run of the night off reliever Matt Newman in the top of the 9th inning to extend Reading's lead to 14-3.  

Severino Gonzalez (7-12) earned his seventh win as he pitched seven innings and allowed three runs off seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Seth Rosin finished out the game as he gave up two hits and recorded one strikeout.  

The Fightin Phils and Fisher Cats wrap up their series tomorrow afternoon at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium at 1:35 pm. Ryan O'Sullivan (5-6, 3.25 ERA) will be taking the mound for the Fightin Phils.  

Savage 61 Fightins VIP Club plans, group tickets, and single game tickets for 2014 can be purchased online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, or by visiting the FirstEnergy Stadium Ticket Office.