Trio of HRs Lead R-Phils to Game One Win

(Reading, Pa.)---Anchored by three come-from-behind home runs, the Reading Phillies took Game One of the Eastern Division Series as they defeated the Trenton Thunder, 4-2, at FirstEnergy Stadium on Wednesday night. The win was Reading's first home playoff win since September 8, 2001 where they clinched the Southern Division with a 2-1 win over Erie.

R-Phils starting pitcher Austin Hyatt faced the minimum amount of batters to motor through the first three innings. Hyatt found himself in some trouble, though, in the fourth when he allowed a single to Adonis Garcia to start the inning. In just his second game with the Thunder this season, Ramon Flores took Hyatt deep for a two-run homer as Trenton jumped out to the early lead. 

Down 2-0 heading into the fifth inning, it took just one pitch for Jake Fox to break Trenton starter Brett Marshall's four-inning no-hitter with a solo home run to left field. Fellow major league veteran Tug Hulett followed Fox's home run with a single. He advanced to third base on a hard-hit double off the left field wall by Leandro Castro. Left fielder Jiwan James then plated Hulett on a groundout to second base to even the game at two runs apiece.

Hyatt picked up where he left off and retired seven straight batters over the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings and was pulled in favor of reliever Tyler Knigge after walking two batters in the seventh. The Alabama product tossed 6.1 innings where he gave up two earned runs on four hits and two walks. He also struck out four in the no-decision.

Leading off the bottom half of the seventh, Tommy Joseph and Leandro Castro hit back-to-back home runs to give the R-Phils its first lead of Game One. The duo's home runs also made it four unanswered runs scored off Marshall. 

Knigge hurled a scoreless eighth inning before giving way to closer Justin Friend in the ninth. Friend, who went 2-0 with a 0.23 ERA and 24 saves in the regular season, allowed two base runners to start the final frame. With men on first and second, Friend induced a double play and proceeded to strike out Kevin Mahoney to pick up his first save of playoffs and 25th overall this season at the Double-A level. 

Top prospect Trevor May (10-13/4.87 ERA) squares off versus Trenton's Shaeffer Hall (9-10/3.67) in Game Two in Baseballtown. Tune into 1340 WRAW-AM on the radio dial or online at 1340WRAW.com starting at 6:35 p.m. for the game broadcast with the voice of the Reading Phillies, Brian Seltzer. Game Two will also be televised live in sparkling high-definition on Service Electric's 2Sports with Steve Degler and Tim Neiman.

Tickets for the 2012 Eastern League Playoffs can be purchased online at www.RPhils.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in person at the R-Phils Ticket Office at FirstEnergy Stadium. The 2012 season featuring the Baseballtown All-Star Classic at America's Classic Ballpark is presented by Pepsi.