(Reading, PA) - When things are going well like they have been for the Fisher Cats, a first inning run can go a long way. Two is even better, and that's what the 'Cats got before a great Wednesday night crowd of 6,419 inside America's Classic Ballpark. Cavan Biggio continued
(Reading, PA) - When things are going well like they have been for the Fisher Cats, a first inning run can go a long way. Two is even better, and that's what the 'Cats got before a great Wednesday night crowd of 6,419 inside America's Classic Ballpark. Cavan Biggio continued his impressive numbers against the Fightin Phils, and his two-RBI double in the first was part of a 3-RBI night as the Fisher Cats took game two by a repeat score from Tuesday night of 7-2.
The Fisher Cats continued to roll in the third when Biggio sliced a one-out triple into right center before scoring on a wild pitch from Harold Arauz . In the fourth, Juan Kelly led off with his fourth home run for a 4-0 lead, and Jonathan Davis' second double of the night later in the inning made it 5-0.
Reading's bats had their moments against former first round pick T.J. Zeuch , who was going for his first Double-A win in just his fourth Fisher Cats start. Double plays got him through the second on just 11 pitches, and another twin killing in the third limited the damage because the Fighins eventually loaded the bases with two outs but failed to score.
After the Fisher Cats went up 6-0 in the top of the fifth on a Max Pentecost sacrifice fly, Zach Green smoked a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 6-2 ballgame. Another double play got Zeuch (1-2) through the seventh, matching a career-high in innings on a night where he struck out six.
Luke Leftwich and Tyler Gilbert combined on three scoreless innings of relief from the sixth through the eighth, allowing just one hit during that time with two strikeouts each. In the ninth, the 'Cats scored the final run against Edgar Garcia thanks to some two-out hitting from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who doubled and soon scored on Biggio's single back up the middle.
Down to their last three outs, the Fightin Phils got ninth inning singles from Deivi Grullon (3-for-4) and Brandon Bednar , but righthander Andrew Case completed his second scoreless inning of relief by securing the last two outs. The Fisher Cats have a chance at a sweep in the finale on Thursday morning, and are now 6-2 in the first eight meetings between the teams.
America's Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania's Americana Region. Season tickets for the 2018 season are available online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in-person at FirstEnergy Stadium. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter at @ReadingFightins and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/fightins.
