Los Luchadores Whack the Piñatas, 8-4

The Los Luchadores de Reading routed the Erie Piñatas 8 to 4 in game four on a rainy Friday night. The fans stuck it out to see a big win in Baseballtown, the first of the 2021 season! Reading scored early and often to secure the victory. The game was a part of Savage Auto Group’s Fiesta Friday’s that highlight the Latino/Hispanic culture in Minor League Baseball and Reading’s community.

The night was presented by Humane Pennsylvania, Mahou Beer, Alex Betances from eXp Realty, and Imperium Marketing. Both the home and visiting team wear custom uniforms designed to pay tribute to the night.

It all started in the bottom of the first with a leadoff double by Arquimedes Gamboa. A perfectly placed bunt from Dalton Guthrie shifted Gamboa to scoring position. Daniel Brito’s two RBI single put the R-Phils on top. After a walk and a stolen base from Matt Vierling, Josh Stephen sent a sacrifice fly to center field to score Brito making it 3-0.

The Fightins added a run in the third as a single from Stephen plated Vierling who doubled to get on the base path. Another tick was added in the fourth when Luke Miller sent his second solo shot of the season out of the ballpark.

The R-Phils tacked on three more runs on four hits in the sixth inning to total their eighth for the night. Madison Stokes and Nick Matera achieved their first hits in Reading, while Gamboa notched his seventh walk of the season, a Double-A Northeast League high.

Erie began their offensive push in the third inning when they scored one off the bat of Jacob Robson after Ryan Kreidler reached on a double. In the sixth, the Piñatas added two more as Juan Centeno’s two run shot to left plated Kerry Carpenter. Their final run of the night came when Carpenter’s grounder to second allowed Drew Ward to cross the plate.

The final score was Reading 8, Erie 4.

Jhordany Mezquita went three strong innings after being called up from High-A Jersey Shore earlier this morning. The rookie gave up four hits, one run, and four strikeouts. Andrew Brown took the ball going 2.1 IP for three hits and two earned runs. Jonathan Hennigan was called in relief allowing two hits and one run. Jakob Hernandez (W, 1-0) came in to close the game and he shut down the Piñatas.

A.J. Ladwig (L, 0-1) was on the bump for the first time since 2018 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The righty went 4.2 IP allowing seven hits and five runs, four earned. Cale Coshow came in for relief but could not get the job done. The ball was then handed to Ethan DeCaster who notched four strikeouts and has been stellar out of the ‘pen for Erie. Angel De Jesus was slated to be the finisher allowing no hits in one inning pitched.

The Double-A affiliate of the Phillies will host two home series in May at America’s Classic Ballpark. This includes two more games from playing as the Saturday, May 7th through Sunday, May 9th against the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) when the Fightins play as the Reading Hot Dogs. AND, another SIX games from May 25th to May 30th against the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants). Come celebrate Mother’s Day and Memorial Day Weekend with us at the ballpark! Visit rphils.com/tickets, the Weidenhammer Ticket Office, or call 610-370-BALL to secure your tickets to a game!

The 2021 season is presented by Pepsi.

America's Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania's Americana Region and was voted the #1 stadium in all of Double-A by MiLB's Ben Hill. Follow the R-Phils at rphils.com, on Twitter and TikTok at @ReadingFightins, on Instagram @fightins, and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/fightins for all information.