Fightins Fall in Close Game vs Senators 

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (21-31) fell 7-6 in the series opener against the Harrisburg Senators (31-21) on Tuesday night from FirstEnergy Stadium. With the loss, Harrisburg gains to 1-0 edge in this week's six-game series.

The Fightins took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. After Carlos De La Cruz drew a one-out walk, Carson Taylor stepped to the plate and crushed a two-run homer to right field. Taylor is first on the team in home runs (7), and tacked on two-more RBI (40) which leads the Eastern League.

The Senators tied the game in the top of the second. Fightins starter, Noah Skirrow found himself in a bases-loaded jam, and walked Israel Pineda, the Senators first run. The next batter, Cody Wilson drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Dermis Garcia to score the tying run.

Skirrow had a quality start, going six innings, and allowing three runs on six hits, but did not factor into the decision.

In the seventh inning, the Senators tacked on three more runs. With runners on the corners, Robert Hassell III scored on a wild pitch by Fightins reliever, Matt Russell (L, 0-1). Harrisburg took a 4-3 lead. The next batter Andrew Pinckney hit an RBI single to score JT Arruda. Dylan Crews drove in another run with an RBI double and the Senators took a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Fightins earned a run back. With two outs, Marcus Lee Sang hit a little league home run and scored on a triple and throwing error by second baseman Arruda. The Fightins snuck back a run, 6-4.

In the eighth, the Senators scored a run on a wild pitch by Fightins pitcher, Eury Ramos. In the bottom of the eighth, Kendall Simmons smashed a 424 foot homer, a two-run shot to bring the Fightins within one run, 7-6. The home run was Simmons' sixth of the year.

That is all the Fightins could score as Samuel Reyes (S, 1) earned the save for Harrisburg with a perfect bottom of the ninth inning. Andry Lara (W, 3-0) was strong for Harrisburg once again, allowing three runs over six innings, with six strikeouts in his fourth Double-A start.

The Fightin Phils and Senators return to the field on Wednesday at 7 p.m. RHP Konnor Ash is scheduled to pitch for Reading, opposite RHP Michael Cuevas for Harrisburg. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 6:45 p.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

Wednesday is a Tribute to Farming: Farm Animal Experience, presented by Berks County Farmers Association and Steinmetz Family Farm. Thursday and Friday will showcase postgame fireworks. Thursday's show is presented by PA Career Link Berks County, and Friday's by Vertex Mechanical. Saturday is the season's first Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks Show, thanks to Diamond Credit Union. It will also be a Tribute to Peanuts and Charlie Brown, as the Fightin Phils will wear special Peanuts Jerseys. The series ends Sunday with a Johan Rojas Bobble Head, thanks to Berks Packing, for the first 1,500 kids. Reading remains home from Tuesday, June 11 to Sunday, June 16, against the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox).

To buy tickets, call 610-370-BALL, go to rphils.com/tickets, or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office. The Fightin Phils Brentwood Industries Team Store is open both in-person and online 24/7 at rphils.com/shop.

The 2024 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.