Wood Strikes Out Seven In Reading’s 5-1 Loss

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (61-61, 31-22) fell short 5-1 against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (55-68, 28-26) in game three of this six-game set between the two Eastern League foes. The Fightin Phils lead the Rumble Ponies 2-1 in the series.

Binghamton found an early scoring surge in the first inning. Chris Suero (18) was in an 0-2 count, but the Mets’ no. 18 prospect lifted a fastball out over the left field wall to score both Marco Vargas and Jefferson Rojas. This three-run shot gave the Rumble Ponies a 3-0 advantage.

Reading found a response in the second inning, as Carson DeMartini (Phillies no. 24 prospect) drilled an RBI double into the left-center field gap. This extra base hit scored Aroon Escobar, making the score 3-1 through a pair of frames.

The Ponies retaliated in the top of the third frame, putting up two more runs. Suero kept his productive night going, pulling an RBI single to left field to score the Mets top prospect in Rojas. Eli Serrano III then hit a hard ground ball off of Alex Binelas’ glove; Escobar grabbed the ball off the deflection and tossed to first, but Reimer scored in the process.

Gage Wood’s day was done after five innings, as the Phillies top prospect handed the ball to righty reliever Aaron Combs. Combs faced the minimum through the sixth and seventh innings, effectively holding serve in a 5-1 ball game.

Evan Gates took the ball in the eighth, and the Fightins reliever found himself in a bases-loaded, two-out jam before forcing Corey Collins to ground out.

The R-Phils tried mounting some momentum in the eighth frame, as Bryan Rincon hit a two-out single to center field before Dante Nori and Pedro León drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Ponies reliever Garrett Stratton then struck out Raylin Heredia on an outside cutter to escape the inning.

Wood (0-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits with a walk and seven punchouts. This is the third consecutive outing where the Phillies top farmhand has thrown for five innings.

Bryce Jenkins (3-0) got the win, as the right-handed reliever fired a scoreless fourth stanza in a game where the Ponies used six different pitchers.

Neither side scored a run after the third inning, and Binghamton snapped Reading’s six-game win streak with the victory.

With the loss, the Fightin Phils still hold a two-game lead over the Somerset Patriots and a 3.5 game advantage over the Rumble Ponies.

Reading returns to the field on Saturday against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies for a doubleheader at 4 p.m. RHP Reese Dutton/RHP Luke Russo will start for Reading, with RHP Luke Gabrysh/RHP RJ Gordon set to start for Binghamton. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 3:40 p.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The Fightin Phils remain home through Sunday against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets. Saturday is a Post-Game Drone Show (Blue Ridge Remodeling) celebrating 60 Seasons of Phillies Affiliation and Celebrating "Swifties." The series ends Sunday with an appearance by the Phillie Phanatic (Berks County Intermediate Unit).

Tickets to all games are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL, or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.