Fightin Phils try to ground RubberDucks in middle game
The Reading Fightin Phils (33-34) and the Akron RubberDucks (41-30) will play the second game of their three-game series tonight with first pitch from FirstEnergy Stadium set for 7:05pm.
The Fightins and RubberDucks put on an offensive clinic on Tuesday with both teams combining for 30 hits and 25 runs, however the RubberDucks got slightly more production winning the game 15-10. The Fightins are now 5-10 against Akron dating back to last year.
Trying to keep the runs down for a Fightin lineup that cranked out 14 hits and 10 runs last night will be the lefty Jesse Biddle. Biddle (3-7, 4.06 ERA) will deliver the games official first pitch for the 14th time this year. In his previous start against New Britain, Biddle logged three 1/3 innings allowing three hits, five runs, only two of them earned, with six walks and three strikeouts. After sporting a 2.64 ERA in his five starts during the month of May, Biddle has a 14.29 ERA during the month of June in his first two starts, so the team strikeout leader should be due for a strong outing.
The guys who hold the lumber (being the offense) may have a harder time scoring as often as they did last night. Righty Joseph Colon (5-4, 3.05 ERA) will take the mound for Akron. Colon is 5-2 in his last 10 starts with a 2.84 ERA. Those numbers may be deceiving as he is 0-2 in his past two outings against Harrisburg and Binghamton with a 9.13 ERA. However, the Caguas, Puerto Rico native had his best start of the season against the Fightins back on May 26th in Reading. Colon tossed a three-hit complete game shutout while walking just one batter and striking out four.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Pitching had carried the team for a stretch earlier in the season, but the offense has really been heating up in the month of June. As a team the Fightins are hitting .295 over the last 10 games and .332 over the last five games.
Albert Cartwright is just one of the players swinging a hot bat. He went 1-for-5 last night with two runs scored. He currently has a nine game hitting streak and his hitting .323 in the month of June (.372 over his last 10 games).
A couple of guys hit their first homeruns as Fightin Phils last night. Peter Lavin went 3-for-5 with a double, his first homer, two runs scored, and two RBIs. He's hitting .533 in his last three games. Logan Moore hit his first homer and went 2-for-4 last night. Moore has really been hot hitting .367 in the month of June.
Jake Fox has been an offensive juggernaut since the Phillies obtained him from the Vaqueros de la Laguna (MEX) on June 13th. Fox went 3-for-4 last night with two homers, two runs scored, and four RBIs. Now in his second stint in Reading (played here in 2012) he is hitting .444 in the four games he has played with the Fightins this season. The 31 year-old has showcased the experience and knowledge which he has gained in his 10+ years of professional baseball, being able to produce so quickly.