Strong Pitching and Big Innings Power Reading to Second Straight Victory

BOX SCORE

(Binghamton, NY) - An all-around performance from the Reading Fightin Phils (5-8) powered them to their second-straight victory over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (5-7) on Friday night. The win for Reading evened this week's series at two.

After a quiet start to the game, the Fightin Phils struck first with three runs in the top of the fourth. Marcus Lee Sang led off with a walk, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error from Binghamton catcher Kevin Parada. Following a Gabriel Rincones Jr. walk, Carson Taylor doubled to left-center field to score both Lee Sang and Rincones Jr. and put Reading up 2-0. Caleb Ricketts then singled to left to score Taylor and put the R-Phils on top 3-0 after the inning.

Binghamton did get on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Jose Peroza led off the inning with a single to left field. Wyatt Young followed with a single to move Peroza to third, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Rhylan Thomas chipped in a single to plate Peroza and make it 3-1. A fourth-straight single by Matt Rudick loaded the bases with no outs still. Robinson Pina then got Parada and JT Schwartz out on back-to-back strikeouts. With two outs, Jeremiah Jackson hit a soft-ground ball to third and Jim Haley made an impressive charging play and Taylor dug it out at first to retire Jackson, leave the bases loaded, and prevent any more damage.

Reading broke the game open in the top of the sixth with four runs. Ricketts started the rally with a one-out single to center field. Trevor Schwecke followed with a single to move Ricketts to second. After a Bryce Ball flyout, Reading had runners on first and third with a pair of outs. Following a Schwecke steal of second, a passed ball scored Ricketts for the Fightin Phils' first run of the inning.

Haley, who had earlier entered the game for Kendall Simmons, knocked a double to player Schwecke. With Haley on base, Casey Martin blasted his first home run of the season to center field to make it 7-1 Fightin Phils.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Rumble Ponies got a run back. Brandon McIlwein stayed hot with a double and scored when Jose Peroza singled to make it 7-2, but that's all Binghamton could get in the inning. Reading added another in the ninth inning to make it 8-2. Robert Moore singled and stole second, then came home thanks to another base hit and RBI from Taylor.

Robinson Pina (W, 1-1) was stellar for Reading, picking up a season-high nine strikeouts over five innings of work. Zach Haake followed with two innings, allowing one run, in relief of Pina. Max Lazar pitched the final two innings in Reading's second-straight victory.

Joander Suarez (L, 0-1) started and tossed 5.2 frames for the Rumble Ponies. He was tagged for five runs on five hits, with six strikeouts in his third start of the season for Binghamton.

The Fightin Phils and Rumble Ponies return to the field Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. for game five of this week's six-game series. RHP Noah Skirrow gets the start for Reading, and he will go opposite RHP Justin Jarvis for Binghamton. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

Reading returns home from Tuesday, April 23, through Sunday, April 28, as the Fightin Phils welcome the Somerset Patriots (New York Yankees) to FirstEnergy Stadium. Tuesday and Thursday are Unused Ticket Games, thanks to Rip It Baseballtown Charities. Wednesday is a special Business Person Special, presented by Stratix Systems. Friday and Saturday feature fireworks. Friday's show is sponsored by Savage Auto Group and Saturday's show by PA Virtual Charter School, Alvernia University, Crime Alert Berks County, Reading Truck, and Penn Medicine. The series finishes Sunday with a Phillie Phanatic Appearance, presented by Penske.

Tickets to all games are on sale, but going fast. To buy tickets, call 610-370-BALL, go to rphils.com/tickets or in-person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office. The Fightin Phils Brentwood Industries Team Store is open both in-person or online 24/7 at rphils.com/shop.

The 2024 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.