Harrisburg Rallies Late to Defeat Reading
BOX SCORE (Reading, PA) - Another impressive start from a Reading Fightin Phils starting pitcher Tyler Phillips was not enough to get the win, as the Harrisburg Senators rallied late to capture a 9-5 victory on Thursday night. Harrisburg has now won the first three games of this week's series.
(Reading, PA) - Another impressive start from a Reading Fightin Phils starting pitcher Tyler Phillips was not enough to get the win, as the Harrisburg Senators rallied late to capture a 9-5 victory on Thursday night. Harrisburg has now won the first three games of this week's series.
In his eighth appearance of the season, Phillips pitched a spectacular season tying six innings of work. Phillips struck out 5 Harrisburg Senators and allowed 6 hits. It was Phillips third six-inning appearance of the year.
On back-to-back nights the Reading got out in front early. Carlos De La Cruz started things off in the third with an infield single off Harrisburg starting pitcher Alemao Hernandez. Ethan Wilson followed with a single of his own to center field. Nick Podkul got the fireworks going early, with a three-run home run over the left field fence. This was Podkul’s third homer of the season and added on to his 14-game on-base streak.
The Senators battled back in the top of the fourth. JT Arruda got things going with a double. Blake Rutherford was next with a single, moving Arruda to third. Donovan Casey had a single of his own, scoring Arruda to make it 3-1 Reading.
The Senators were not done there, after Frankie Tostado moved Rutherford to third on a pop out, Casey stole second. Due to an error on the throw from Reading catcher Cody Roberts, Rutherford was able to capitalize and scored to make it 3-2 Reading. Rutherford had himself a game for the Senators. Rutherford singled four times, going 4-5 and scoring once on the night.
Johan Rojas was quick to help the Keystones rebound. He doubled, and later stole third, his second time stealing third on the night. After a walk from Matthew Kroon, Ethan Wilson singled to left to score Rojas and add to the Reading lead 4-2.
After another strong performance from Phillips, Keylan Killgore was the first out of the bullpen for Reading. After giving up the lead Wednesday night, Killgore kept Harrisburg scoreless in his one inning of work. Killgore got himself in trouble to start after allowing a single to Onix Vega and a double to Jackson Cluff. After a mound visit from Pitching Coach Brad Bergesen, Killgore recorded the last two outs to get out of the inning.
After Garvin Alston came in to replace Reid Schaller, Rojas added to his big night with a lead off triple. Matthew Kroon would come in to score Rojas thanks to a sacrifice to right, to add to the Reading lead 5-2.
After Adam Leverett was only able to get through two-thirds of the eighth inning, Brett Schulze came in to get Reading out of the eighth with no runs allowed. He continued into the ninth to attempt to close things out for Reading. Harrisburg would not allow that to happen. Cluff walked to start the inning off for the Senators. Robert Hassell III would follow up with a double, moving Cluff over to third. After Schultz recorded the first two outs, Harrisburg blew things wide open. After Casey walked, Tostado singled to score both Cluff and Hassell to make it 5-4 Reading. Then Jack Dunn singled to score Tostado. Yansel Antuna recorded the third hit in a row and doubled to center to score more, giving Harrisburg the lead 6-4.
Harrisburg would go on to score seven runs in the top of the ninth inning. Matt Seelinger would come in of relief of Schulze to finish the inning. Seelinger would allow another hit to Cluff to score an additional two runs to make it 9-5 Harrisburg.
The Keystones were unable to create any offense in the bottom of the inning. Harrisburg reliever Jack Sinclair would finish the deal to give Harrisburg the win 9-5.
Tyler Beck earned the win for Harrisburg to improve to 1-0 with the Senators this season, while Schulze suffered the loss to fall to 2-3 on the year. With the win, Harrisburg improves to 22-19 on the season, while Reading drops to 15-26 with the loss.
Reading and Harrisburg are back in action Friday night at 6:45 p.m. for game four of this week's six-game series. RHP Mick Abel is scheduled to start for the Fightin Phils, and he will go opposite Senators' RHP Jackson Rutledge. Pregame coverage is underway at 6:30 p.m. at rphils.com/radio. The game can be watched on MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.
Friday is another Savage Auto Group Fiesta Friday, as the R-Phils play as Los Luchadores de Reading, with postgame fireworks as well. Saturday is this year's "Wizards and Wands Celebration," featuring the world's most famous Wizard and Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks postgame. Finally, Sunday will feature an appearance from the Phillie Phanatic. Tickets to all games are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in-person at the Customers Bank 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.