Second place Fightins return home for Trenton

The Reading Fightin Phils, who are one of the hottest teams in the Eastern League, return to FirstEnergy Stadium tonight as they welcome in the Trenton Thunder (28-23) for the start of a brief three-game series. Dating back to last season, the Fightins are 3-11 against the Thunder. Trenton took three of four from Reading earlier this month. First pitch in tonight's game is set for 6:35 pm.

The Figthins (28-20) are coming home after a successful trip to Akron, Ohio where they took three of four from the Rubber Ducks. The Fightins were unsuccessful in their attempts at a series sweep as they fell to Akron 9-0 in Mondays Memorial Day series finale. The Fightin Phils have won 12 of their last 15 games overall.

Severino Gonzalez (4-4, 5.02 ERA) will be making his 11th start in tonight's contest. Gonzalez last pitched at home against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on May 22nd when he had his longest outing of the season. Gonzalez threw seven 1/3 innings allowing six hits, three earned runs, five walks, with three strikeouts in a losing effort. He's trying to avenge his worst outing of the year which came in Trenton back on May 11th when he pitched three 2/3 innings allowing 10 earned runs on 10 hits.

Gonzalez will be facing the lefty Matt Tracy (4-2, 4.79) who just rejoined the Thunder today after being sent down by Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Tracy last pitched with Scranton on May 22nd when he threw eight innings allowing five hits, two earned runs, with two strikeouts. Tracy was selected by the New York Yankees in the 24th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Mississippi.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Cam Perkins (hitting .339) went a combined 4-for-14 in the Akron series and has hit in the last three games. He crushed two more doubles and has increased his total to an Eastern League leading 18 on the season.

Anthony Phillips has been a spark for the Fightins offense since debuting with the team on May 19th. Phillips is hitting .308 in his seven games, has hit in six of those seven games, has three runs scored, three doubles, and an RBI.

One of the weapons the Fightins have had in their arsenal has nothing to do with starting pitching or offensive production. The bullpen has quietly been one of the best bullpens in the Eastern League. The Fightins have a handful of arms in their pen whom they have gone to in clutch situations, making the game that much shorter for the starters.

Tyler Knigge is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA over his last 10 appearances. He has allowed just 13 hits across 18 innings thrown with nine strikeouts.

Colton Murrary has been sensational since joining the Figthins earlier in the month. In his five appearances he has allowed just six hits, no runs, with seven strikeouts across eight 1/3 innings of work.  

Nefi Ogando is 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA over his last 10 games. He has led the team with six saves all coming in the month of May and has struck out 14 over 12 1/3 innings.

Ryan O'Sullivan has been stellar since the calendar transitioned into May. Over his last nine appearances, he is 1-0 with a 0.52 ERA, 12 strikeouts, just one earned run, and no walks in 17 1/3 innings.