Carlos De La Cruz Powers Reading to Sunday Win

BOX SCORE

(Manchester, NH) - A three-hit day from Carlos De La Cruz, including the game-tying homer and eventual game-winning hit, powered the Reading Fightin Phils to a come-from-behind 6-4 win on Sunday. Reading salvaged the final game of the series, but New Hampshire won this week's series 4-2.

The Fisher Cats struck first in the bottom of the first. Steward Berroa led off the inning with a single, then stole second, his 20th steal of the season. Berroa advanced to third on a flyball from Leo Jimminez and then scored on a Damiano Palmegiani single. New Hampshire had a chance to score a second run when Phil Clarke singled to center, but Johan Rojas threw Palmegiani out at home to end the inning and keep it 1-0 Fisher Cats.

Cristian Hernandez got the start for Reading in a bullpen game. He lasted two innings and was relieved by Zach Linginfelter, who was quickly tagged by New Hampshire. With two runners on base, Palmegiani singled to score both Berroa and Jimminez. A couple of batters later, Miguel Hiraldo singled to left to knock home Palmegiani and make it 4-0.

Linginfelter lasted just one-third of an inning and was tabbed for three-earned runs. He was relieved by Andrew Schultz who escaped the jam in the third.

Reading got on the board in the top of the sixth. Carlos De La Cruz started the inning with a single. Then, Johan Rojas reached on a bunt single. Nick Podkul followed with a single to score De La Cruz and move Rojas to third. Matthew Kroon had a productive plate appearance, as he hit a sac fly to right to score Rojas and make it 4-2 New Hampshire.

The R-Phils were not done there. In the top of the seventh, Max McDowell singled, then a few batters later, Carlos De La Cruz launched a two-run home run to right field to tie the game up at four. It was De La Cruz's 11th home run of the season. New Hampshire threatened with a runner on third and one out in the eighth, but Keylan Killgore retired the following two batters to escape the inning and keep the game tied at four.

In the top of the ninth, Max McDowell worked a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch and was pitch ran for by Cody Roberts. Then, De La Cruz delivered in the clutch with an RBI double to put Reading ahead 5-4. Reading then followed by loading the bases and Kroon worked a walk to score De La Cruz and make it 6-4.

Killgore earned the win for Reading to improve to 3-1 on the season, after two strong innings out of the bullpen. Troy Watson suffered the loss for New Hampshire to fall to 1-3. Tyler McKay earned the save, his second. With the win, Reading improves to 20-30, while New Hampshire drops to 26-24 with the loss.

Next up, the Fightin Phils return home Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies to open a 12-game homestand that spans from June 6-18. Tickets to all games are still available, but going fast. Get yours at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in-person at the Customers Banks Ticket Office.

The 2023 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.

Notes:

• With an outfield assist in the first inning, Johan Rojas has outfield assists in back-to-back games. Rojas now has five outfield assists this season, after having eight in 2022. His career high is 14, which came in 2018 with the DSL Phillies
• With a single in the sixth, Carlos De La Cruz extended his on-base streak to 21 games. That matched Logan O'Hoppe's mark from last season. De La Cruz now also owns a 12-game hitting streak. De La Cruz hit his 11th home run in the seventh inning in his 48th game of the year. Last season, De La Cruz hit 17 home runs in 102 games. His three hits today matched a season-high, which De La Cruz did two previous times this season
• McCarthy Tatum extended his on-base streak to 14 games with a single in the top of the sixth
• A base hit from Nick Podkul now has seen him reach base in 21-of-22 games he's played this season. This includes reaching in his last two, after snapping a 19-game on-base steak on Friday night
• In Washington DC, former R-Phil Drew Ellis clubbed two home runs in the Phillies' win over Washington. It was the second and third homer of Ellis' major league career. With Reading, Ellis had three home runs over ten games
• Reading came back after trailing 4-0. The Fightin Phils had a six-run comeback in a win over Harrisburg last week as well