Fightins look to continue hot start to the home stand against Harrisburg

The Reading Fightin Phils (48-67) will try to make it two straight against the Harrisburg Senators (47-67) tonight. The second game of this four game series will get under way at 7:05pm from FirstEnergy Stadium. The Fightins are now 8-5 against the Senators in 2014.

The Fightins took an early 2-0 lead on the Senators last night which was all that Adam Loewen needed as he tossed seven strong innings allowing five hits and one run with four strikeouts. The Fightins went on to win 5-1 in a well-rounded performance. Loewen has now had eight straight starts of at least six innings and has a 1.68 ERA over that time.

In tonight's game, Hoby Milner (6-5, 4.57 ERA) will take the mound for the 21st time this season. Milner gave up a season high 12 hits his last time out in New Hampshire but allowed just three runs in six 2/3 innings. He has done a great job of keeping the runs down for most of the season as he still leads the Fightins with a team low 4.57 ERA. Milner has faced the Senators three times this season and is 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA. His last time out against Harrisburg was his most dominant performance of the season as he hurled five hitless innings allowing just one walk with six strikeouts.   

Going for the Senators will be the righty James Simmons (2-1, 6.11 ERA) who is making his 15th appearance and ninth start for the team. His last start against Akron lasted five 1/3 innings as he surrendered six runs on seven hits. He made his second start of the season against the Fightins back on June 5th when he again logged five 1/3 innings allowing seven hits and four runs with six strikeouts.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Quincy Latimore was hitting over .300 against the Fightins this year but he went 0-for-2 last night. The Fightins have done a great job of quieting the Senators bats for much of the season as they are only hitting .212 in the season series.

The Fightin Phils on the other hand have been doing a great job offensively against Harrisburg. They are hitting .291 as a team in the season series. Albert Cartwright is hitting under .100 over the last ten games, but seems to rise to the occasion against the Senators as he's now hitting .294 against them this season. He went 2-for-4 last night with a run and two steals.

Carlos Alonso has been great against Harrisburg this year hitting .327 in 12 games. He went 1-for-4 last night with a run scored and a RBI. Kelly Dugan is heating up along with Peter Lavin as both are hitting just under .300 over their last ten games. Dugan went 2-for-3 last night with a run and a RBI. Lavin went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

The rest of the outfield has really been carrying the Fightins offense of late. Zach Collier is in the middle of his best stretch of the season hitting .357 over his last ten games. Collier has homered in three straight games and has four long balls total over that period. He went 2-for-4 last night with a homerun, a run scored, and a RBI.