Sens Comeback Falls One Punch Short vs. Fightins

The Reading Fightin Phils edged the Harrisburg Senators 7-6 Monday night at FNB Field. After trailing by four in the ninth, the Senators comeback fell one-run short.

Reading scored the first five runs of the game, with one in the second against Senators starter Erick Fedde, making his first rehab start with the team, followed by four in the fifth against César Vargas. Nine batters came to the plate in the fifth, with two of the runs scoring on RBI singles and another on a bases loaded walk, one of three free passes in the frame. 
The Senators scored their first two runs in the sixth after Reading starter Felix Paulino had thrown five and a third hitless innings. After a Hunter Jones walk, Carter Kieboom and Daniel Johnson hit back-to-back RBI doubles.
Reading scored another pair in the seventh when Jose Pujols hit a two-run home run.
Drew Ward got one of the runs back in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to right into the Senators bullpen.
With the team down 7-3 in the bottom of the ninth, the Senators cut the lead to one with an RBI double by Ward, followed by a pair of run-scoring singles by Austin Davidson and Carter Kieboom. With the Senators down 7-6 and the tying run at second and the winning run at first, Daniel Johnson grounded out to second to end the ballgame. 
"I thought we swung the bats pretty well early, and we hit some hard balls right at them. Our at-bats in the ninth were really good. We just didn't get that hit at the end," Senators manager Matt LeCroy said. "This group has fought and clawed all year long. Hopefully the breaks will start going our way and we can put some heat on (Akron and Altoona)."
Fedde (0-1) took the loss, working four innings and allowing a run on four hits while striking out four and walking one. 
"(Fedde) was good. You could tell he was getting the rust off a little bit. I liked how he ended. The fastball was firm and it was down, which was a lot better than what it was early. He felt good also."
Paulino earned the win after limiting the Senators to two runs on two hits and five and two-thirds frames. 
Kieboom and Ward each finished with a pair of hits and a pair of RBI to lead the Senators offense.
The Senators finish the homestand and close the two-game series with Reading Tuesday night. Jaron Long starts for the Senators against Reading starter Tyler Viza. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at FNB Field. The game can be heard on CBS Sports Harrisburg 96.5 & 95.3 FM and 1400 AM or at www.cbssportsharrisburg.com beginning at 6:15 p.m.