Sunday afternoon brought cloudy skies over America's Classic Ballpark, where the Fightin Phils and Flying Squirrels were getting together for the second game of an abbreviated weekend series. Reading raced out to an early 3-0 lead on second inning home runs from Cornelius Randolph and Henri Lartigue, but Richmond found
Sunday afternoon brought cloudy skies over America's Classic Ballpark, where the Fightin Phils and Flying Squirrels were getting together for the second game of an abbreviated weekend series. Reading raced out to an early 3-0 lead on second inning home runs from Cornelius Randolph and Henri Lartigue, but Richmond found a way to come back and score the next seven. Chris Shaw's seventh inning home run broke a 3-3 tie, giving the R-Phils a 5-3 record with the Sea Dogs coming to town for a three-game series starting on Monday night.
Adonis Medina was making his Baseballtown debut, and got off to a good start with an eight-pitch top of the first. The offense then got going in the home second against Squirrels lefthander Garrett Williams, who served up a leadoff home run to Randolph on the second pitch of the inning. Luke Williams continued his impressive series with a bunt single, and Lartigue mashed a homer to left for a quick 3-0 lead.
The Flying Squirrels had the perfect response with two outs in the top of the third when third baseman Ryan Howard prolonged the inning with a double into left center. Jalen Miller then jumped on Medina's next offering, sending it into the seats in left to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Another two out rally started in the fourth when Jacob Heyward and Jin-De Jhang singled to bring up Williams. The pitcher then helped out his afternoon with a bloop single into left to tie the score, with the third run the final one charged to Medina. Over five innings for the second straight start, the righthander surrendered six hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Aaron Brown (0-1) didn't allow a hit during his first inning in the sixth after relieving Medina. Leadoff hitter Levi Michael worked a walk on a 3-2 pitch, and Howard singled to push the tying run into scoring position. Miller then advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and everyone came around to score on Shaw's first homer. That high drive into right center broke the 3-3 tie, giving the Flying Squirrels a 6-3 lead going into the last few innings.
They'd add one more in the eighth off lefthander Jakob Hernandez, with a Heyward leadoff walk getting the inning started. Heyward walked three times and singled, reaching base in all five plate appearances, later coming around to score the final run on Michael's sacrifice bunt.
