Singleton, R-Phils Beat 'Sens 8-4 Tuesday

(Reading, PA) -- Steve Singleton arrived in Baseballtown on Tuesday afternoon ready to help out the R-Phils toward their playoff push. He would enter the game at just the right time to do that.

Singleton launched a pinch-hit grand slam on the first pitch he saw, Tyson Brummett allowed three earned runs over six innings, and the R-Phils took game one of their three-game series with the Harrisburg Senators on Tuesday with an 8-4 victory at FirstEnergy Stadium. With the victory, the R-Phils propelled into second place in the Eastern League Eastern Division. They are currently tied with Trenton, and sit three games back of first place New Hampshire.

A native of San Francisco, CA, Singleton was promoted to Reading on Tuesday from Lakewood (A), and made it to Baseballtown just a few hours before first pitch. The 25-year-old, who began the season in the Twins organization, did not start the game, but with his club trailing 4-2 in the sixth, the game was put into his hands.

Harrisburg reliever Carlos Martinez began the sixth in place of starter Oliver Perez, and struggled right from the start of the inning. Martinez walked Matt Rizzotti to begin the inning. With Rizzotti on first, Martinez struggled to get an out. He allowed back-to-back- to back singles in the inning, with Reading plating a run to make it a 4-2 game.

After Paco Figueroa struck-out, Singleton was called on to pinch-hit for starter Tyson Brummett. The newest Reading Phillies infielder drove the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a grand slam – giving Reading a 6-4 lead at that point. Reading added another along the way in the sixth – making it a 7-4 lead after six full innings.

As for Singleton, he finished the night 1-2 with the grand slam – his fourth home run of the season (he had three with New Britain earlier in the season). In 22 career games against the R-Phils, Singleton had a .354 batting average with 10 doubles, two triples, and eight RBIs. He faced Reading in both 2009 and 2010, while with New Britain. The grand slam was the first in his six-year professional career.

Brummett (3-5, 3.44) allowed eight hits over his six innings of work, and notched the win for Reading – their second-straight. In all, the UCLA product allowed four runs and struck-out three batters on the evening.

Perez allowed just one run over five solid innings, but did not factor in the decision. Perez struck-out five and allowed a solo home run to Tuffy Gosewisch in the bottom of the second inning. Gosewisch finished the game 3-5 with a double and a triple shy of the cycle. He now has 10 home runs on the season.

Washington Nationals number one prospect Bryce Harper went 1-4 with a double and two runs scored. Harper, 18, is currently hitting .238 through 23 games for the Senators.

The two teams will battle again on Wednesday in game two of the three-game set. Reading will send RHP Austin Hyatt (10-5, 3.88) to the hill, while Harrisburg will counter with RHP Erik Arnesen (6-3, 2.63).

Phillers… Tuesday's game drew 8,217 fans… Les Walrond, who was assigned to Reading on July 31, tossed two scoreless innings for the R-Phils on Tuesday… Justin Friend got the final three outs to lower his ERA to 2.35 on the season… Terry Evans was hit twice on the night… Michael Spidale went 2-4 with a double, a run, and a stolen base – his 17th of the season… Derrick Mitchell stole two bases… Gosewisch is a nominee in the Minors Moniker Madness competition… The MiLB contest allows fans to vote for the best name in Minor League Baseball… The first 3,000 adults received a Carlos Ruiz Bobble Head with “Chooching” Owl on Tuesday, thanks to FirstEnergy… The Phillie Phanatic will be on-hand on Wednesday to entertain fans, thanks to Pace Institute.