Rock Cats Stun Fightin Phils in the Ninth

New Britain, Conn. - The Fightin Phils couldn't hold on to a 4-2, ninth inning lead as the New Britain Rock Cats rallied for three runs in the final frame to stun Reading with a 5-4 victory on Sunday night in front of 3,761 fans at New Britain Stadium.

The New Britain (66-75) rally got started with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Kyle Knudson singled to right field and then went first to third on a base hit into center field from Brad Boyer. Angel Morales made it a one-run game, 4-3, with a RBI single to left. The throw went to third base on the play as Boyer reached safely there and Morales was able to advance to second on the throw. With the infield in, Danny Santana hit a ground ball to Edgar Duran at second, but his throw home didn't get Boyer as the runner dove to the back side of the plate to score the game-tying run.

Sosa was lifted in favor of Kyle Simon with runners at the corners and one out. Reading (61-80) brought Albert Cartwright in from center field and had three defenders on the right side of the infield with the left-hand hitting Eddie Rosario at the plate. With the Fightins in search of a ground ball, Rosario instead elevated Simon's first pitch and hit a fly ball to left-center. Matt Tolbert was able to make the catch, but didn't have a play at the plate as Morales tagged and scored the game-winning run.

Dakota Watts (3-0) got the win after working a perfect ninth inning as Sosa suffered the loss, charged with three runs on four hits in two innings.

Cartwright had two hits in the game including a two-out, go-ahead RBI double in the top of the fourth. Maikel Franco put together his 48th multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Mario Hollands got the start for the Fightin Phils and turned in a quality start, allowing two runs, one earned, and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

The Fightin Phils final game of the 2013 season is scheduled for 1:35 PM on Monday afternoon. Right-hander Severino Gonzalez (0-0) will make his Double-A debut for Reading opposite right-hander D.J. Baxendale (5-6). Pre-game coverage begins at 1:05 PM on Oldies 1340 WRAW.