R-Phils Top Yard Goats 2-1

BOX SCORE | HFD 1, REA 2

The Reading Fightin Phils topped the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies) 2-1 in a pitcher's duel on Friday night. The Fightins scored a run in both the third and fourth innings. While the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies) got a run back in the fifth, they couldn’t push another run across.

Simon Muzziotti and Vito Friscia each had two hits and a run scored as the Fightins used early offense and strong pitching down the stretch to hold on for the victory. In bullpen game, Reading’s staff combined for 10 strikeouts.

The R-Phils struck first in Friday’s contest. In the bottom of the third inning, Muzziotti blasted a solo homer past the pool in left field to give Reading a 1-0 lead.

In the following frame, the Fightins doubled their lead. Friscia hit a two-bagger with one out. He advanced to third and scored on a fielding error. Carlos De La Cruz reached on the play with a single. Jonathan Guzman kept the inning going with a single but a strikeout ended the frame.

Brenton Doyle cut the lead in half with a solo shot to lead off the fifth frame, giving Hartford its first run of the game.

The Yard Goats threatened again in the top of the eighth inning. Isaac Collins led off the frame with a single. He attempted to take third on a ball blooped into left field but was thrown out at the bag by Hunter Markwardt. The visitors couldn’t find the tying run as the Fightins held them off the board.

Down by one run in the top of the ninth, Hartford got a base runner with one out thanks to a double from Aaron Schunk. However, Brian Marconi struck out the next batter and induced a flyout to seal the win.

Trevor Bettencourt drew the start on the mound for the Fightins. He turned in a quality outing, not allowing a hit or run through three innings of work. Bettencourt finished with two strikeouts.

Adam Leverett came in to start the fourth inning and took the win in Friday’s game. He went three frames and allowed one run on a Doyle’s solo homer while fanning three.

Andrew Schultz made his Double-A debut when he entered in the seventh inning. He gave up one hit but didn’t allow a run while fanning one.

Marconi pitched the eighth and ninth innings. He allowed three hits but no runs. Marconi finished with four strikeouts and picked up his 14th save of the season.