Yard Goats Claim Series from Reading in Fightins Fourth Straight Defeat

BOX SCORE

(Hartford, CT) - The Hartford Yard Goats (26-22) earned a series-clinching 6-4 win over the Reading Fightin Phils (20-29) on Friday night from Dunkin' Park. With the win, Hartford holds the 4-0 edge in this week's series, and evens up the season-series at five.

Reading got on the board first in the top of the second inning of Hartford starter Evan Shawver. Carlos De La Cruz led off the inning with a single to right field. Kendall Simmons followed with a walk to put runners on first and second. With one out, Trevor Schwecke lined a double to right field to score De La Cruz and make it 1-0. Reading had two runners on but stranded them as Shawver struck out the final two hitters of the inning.

Hartford wasted little time responding off Reading starter Kolby Allard (L, 0-1). Yanquiel Fernandez led off the inning with a single to center and advanced to second on a ground out by Warming Bernabel. Bladimir Restituyo followed with a single to right, that scored Fernandez and tied the game up at one. With two outs, Restituyo stole second base and came around to score on a single by Ronaiker Palma to make it 2-1, Hartford. The Yard Goats then made it 3-1 Braiden Ward lined one into left-center field to score Palma on a triple.

Reading got one run back in the top of the fourth frame. Trevor Schwecke led off the inning with a double of Jacob Kostyshock. Schwecke then stole third base and came home on an errant throw from Hartford to make it 3-2. Baron Radcliff walked and Robert Moore doubled, but Kostyshock was able to work around the base runners to limit the damage to just the Schwecke run.

The Yard Goats got another tally off Allard in the bottom of the fourth. Braxton Fulford lined a one-out double off the wall in left-center field. He came around to score on a two-out single from Braiden Ward to make it 4-2, with Hartford still on top. That was the end of the night for Allard. In his third start with Reading, the lefty went four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, with three strikeouts.

Efrain Contreras entered in the bottom of the fifth and was immediately tagged for two runs by Hartford. Cristopher Navaro reached on a one-out walk and advanced to third on a double from Fernandez. With men on second and third, Bernabel singled to score Navarro and move Fernandez to third. Restituyo hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Fernandez to make it 6-2, Yard Goats.

The Fightin Phils worked to battle back with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Kendall Simmons began the inning with a single and advanced to third on a double from Bryce Ball. Schwecke then grounded out, scoring Simmons to make it 6-3. With two outs, Robert Moore reached on an error to plate Ball and make it a 6-4 Hartford advantage to end the top of the eighth.

Efrain Contreras was strong for Reading out of the bullpen once again. Contreras went four innings, allowing two runs on three hits, with two strikeouts. Jake Sommers (W, 1-2) earned the win in a bullpen game for Hartford with two scoreless innings and four strikeouts. Seth Halvorsen (S, 1) earned the save with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Fightin Phils and Yard Goats return to the field Saturday at 6:10 p.m. LHP Matt Osterberg is scheduled to start for Reading, and he will go opposite RHP Jarrod Cande for Hartford. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

Reading returns home from Tuesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 9 for a six-game series against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals). Tuesday features a Fightin Phils T-Shirt giveaway for the first 2,000 adults, thanks to Berks County Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Program. 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 first Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks Show of the season, thanks to Diamond Credit Union. It will also be a Tribute to Peanuts and Charlie Brown's 50th Anniversary, 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 then 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.