Ortiz Explodes in Reading's Big Win

BOX SCORE - Reading 12, Akron 3

The Reading Fightin Phils routed the Akron RubberDucks 12-3 under the Friday night lights at Canal Park. The R-Phils went tit-for-tat with Akron's run scoring before coming alive in the fifth and sixth innings. Jhailyn Ortiz hit two home runs in back-to-back at-bats to opposite sides of the ballpark. Every player in the lineup got on base tonight and all but one scored a run.

Cleveland's number one prospect George Valera launched a home run in the first inning.

Reading tied it up quickly in the top of the second with a sacrifice fly from Vito Friscia.

The RubberDucks took a 2-1 lead in the fourth from a sac fly off the bat of Micah Pries.

The R-Phils tied it up once more and then some in the fifth. Friscia jogged down to first after being hit by a pitch. He scored on a triple from Kevin Vicuna. A single from Hunter Markwardt plated Vicuna himself. Madison Stokes kept the line moving with an RBI double for Reading's third run of the inning. Ortiz sent a moonshot out to left field to give Reading a 6-2 lead.

Reading was not done yet as they added another six in the next frame, batting through the order for the first time this season. Wendell Rijo started off the inning with a hit and then stole a base to get into scoring position. Friscia walked once more and Jonathan Guzman singled to load the bases. Then, Vicuna walked in a run. Logan O'Hoppe sent a two-run double past the third baseball to make it 9-2. With two on and two out, Ortiz sent a bullet to the opposite field for his second home run of the game. As he crossed home and pointed to the sky, the R-Phils led 12-2.

Akron followed up with a run of their own in the sixth thanks to another sacrifice fly from Will Brennan but that is where their offense ended. Reading took the victory 12-3.

Adam Leverett got the start throwing five complete innings. He let up just three hits and two earned runs striking out six. Matt Seelinger followed out of the 'pen for two innings allowing just one hit and one unearned run. Nick Lackney made his season debut to close out the eighth and ninth cleanly.

First pitch of the doubleheader at Canal Park on Saturday, April 16 is set for 3:30pm. Reading will send out lefty Josh Hendrickson for Game 1 and throw a bullpen game for Game 2.

The Double-A affiliate of the Phillies will return home on April 19 with a 6:45 start against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals). Come celebrate the beginning of a great summer with us! Visit rphils.com/tickets, the Weidenhammer Ticket Office, or call 610-370-BALL to secure your tickets to a game!

The 2022 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.