Three home runs clinch series over Erie

The Reading Fightin Phils (32-15) defeated the Erie SeaWolves (18-28) 7-4 on Sunday to clinch another series win on the season. The Fightins hit three home runs and turned in a 5-1 home-stand.  

Rhys Hoskins got the Fightin Phils on the board 1-0 as he hit a solo home run off SeaWolves starter Josh Turley (0-2) in the bottom of the second. The home run was his ninth of the season. Reading took a 2-0 lead off Turley in the bottom of the third as Jesmuel Valentin scored on a fielder's choice. Angelo Mora hit a RBI single off Turley in the bottom of the fourth to extend the Fightins lead to 3-0.

John Richy retired 12 out of the first 15 batters he faced. Erie scored two runs off him in the top of the fifth inning to cut Reading's lead to 3-2. Richy left the game after 4 2/3 innings as Jeremy Bleich (1-1) entered the game in relief. Jorge Alfaro hit his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth against Turley to give Reading a 4-2 lead.

Jesmuel Valentin hit a three-run home run off SeaWolves reliever Santiago Garrido in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Reading a 7-2 lead. The home run for Valentin was his second of the season. Erie scored two runs off Miguel Nunez in the top of the ninth inning to cut Reading's lead to 7-4. Nunez struck out Tyler Bortnick to end the game. Nunez earned his fourth save of the season. The two runs were charged to Joely Rodriguez.  

The Fightin Phils will begin a seven-game road trip in New Hampshire on Friday night. First pitch is at 6:35 pm from Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Fans can listen to the game on Sports Radio AM 1240/FM 98.5 and fightins.com at 6:05 pm.  

Tickets for the 2016 season are available online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in-person at FirstEnergy Stadium.