BOX SCORE GAME ONE BOX SCORE GAME TWO (Binghamton, NY) - The Reading Fightin Phils (4-8) snapped their six-game losing streak, winning game two of Thursday's doubleheader 7-4 over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (5-6) in eight innings. Game one of the doubleheader also went to extra innings, resulting in a
BOX SCORE GAME ONE
BOX SCORE GAME TWO
(Binghamton, NY) - The Reading Fightin Phils (4-8) snapped their six-game losing streak, winning game two of Thursday's doubleheader 7-4 over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (5-6) in eight innings. Game one of the doubleheader also went to extra innings, resulting in a 4-3 Binghamton Win.
Game One
After the teams traded scoreless first two frames, the Fightin Phils struck first in the top of the third inning. After two quick outs, Carson Taylor singled to right field. Gabriel Rincones Jr. then singled to right to move Taylor to third. Carlos De La Cruz followed and knocked a third-straight single to right field to score Taylor and put Reading up 1-0. It marked just the second time in 11 games that Reading scored first this season.
Binghamton responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame. With two outs, Wyatt Young doubled to left off Reading starting pitcher Christian McGowan. After Jett Williams was hit by a pitch, Rhylan Thomas doubled to left to score both Young and Williams and put the Rumble Ponies up 2-1.
Reading tied the game in the top of the fourth thanks to a solo home run to left from Kendall Simmons. The Fightin Phils then grabbed a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Marcus Lee Sang homered down the left-field line.
In the bottom of the sixth, Kevin Parada led off and reached on a high throw from shortstop Casey Martin. A wild pitch from Andrew Baker moved Parada to second with no outs. JT Schwartz followed with a ground out up the middle for the first out, moving Parada to third with one out. Jeremiah Jackson grounded out with the infield up for the second out, then Matt Rudick walked. Rowdey Jordan then singled to right-center field to score Parada and tie the game up at three in the bottom of the sixth.
The teams traded scoreless half-innings up until the bottom of the eighth. Schwartz began the inning on second base, then moved to third after Jeremiah Jackson laid down a bunt single that Fightin Phils pitcher Tristian Garnett (L, 0-1) was unable to field to the third-base side of the mound. Jackson then moved to second on defensive indifference. After a Rudick flyout to left field, Garnett intentionally walked Jordan to load the bases. Brandon McIlwein entered the game as a pinch hitter and lined a single to score Schwartz and give the Rumble Ponies the 4-3 game one win.
In his Double-A debut, McGown tossed 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and two runs, with four strikeouts. The Phillies No. 16 Prospect retired the first eight batters he faced. Carlos Francisco bounced back with 1.1 scoreless frames in relief. Baker was credited with a blown save, and Garnett a loss.
On the Binghamton side, Tyler Stuart went five innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits, with four strikeouts, and did not factor into the decision. Paul Gervase (W, 1-0) threw two shutout innings, where he did not allow a hit and stuck out three.
Game Two
The second game started quiet as it remained scoreless into the fifth. Binghamton struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth also Reading starter Matt Osterberg. With two outs in the inning, Wyatt Young singled to center, then Rhylan Thomas followed with a base hit to move Young to third. With men on the corners, Thomas stole second to put two in scoring position. Alex Ramirez followed with a single to score both Young and Thomas and put Binghamton up 2-0.
In the top of the sixth, Jose Rodriguez led off with his second double of the season and moved to third on a Robert Moore groundout. With the infield back, Carlos De La Cruz grounded out to score Rodriguez and cut it to a 2-1 Binghamton lead.
But, the Rumble Ponies would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-1. Brandon McIlwein reached when Jim Haley dropped a pop fly to third base. McIlwein then moved to second on a wild pitch from Jordi Martinez. Rowdey Jordan then doubled to right, scoring McIlewin. Jose Peroza followed with another double to right field to score Jordan and make it a three-run lead for Binghamton.
The Fighitn Phils began to rally in the top of the seventh, down to their final three outs. Marcus Lee Sang led off the inning with a triple, his first of the season. William Simoneit was then hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with no outs still. After a pop-out by Casey Martin, Jose Rodriguez reached on an error by Wyatt Young to score Lee Sang and make it 4-2. Robert Moore then singled to plate Rodriguez and cut it to a one-run deficit for Reading. Then, with two outs in the inning, Carlos Guzman fired a wild pitch to score Rodriguez and tie the game at four.
Tommy McCollum (W, 1-1) entered for the bottom of the seventh and held Binghamton scoreless. Reading then continued to pour it on in the top of the eighth. With one out, Trevor Schwecke singled on a ground ball to second. Lee Sang then walked to load the bases. William Simoneit followed with his first double of the season, scoring Jim Haley and Schwecke. Martin then hit a sac fly to center to score Lee Sang and make it 7-4 Fightin Phils. McCollum then pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth to secure the win for Reading.
Hunter Parsons (L, 1-1) got roughed up in the eighth, allowing three runs on two hits over 0.2 innings. Troy Miller got the start for Binghamton and went four innings, allowing just three hits and five strikeouts, with no runs allowed. Carlos Guzman was credited with his second blown save of the season, allowing three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With both games of Thursday night's doubleheader going into extra innings, it marks the first time that has happened in a Fightin Phils game since against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at FirstEnergy Stadium on June 10, 2023.
The Fightin Phils and Rumble Ponies return to the field Friday night at 6:05 p.m. for game four of this week's six-game series. RHP Robinson Pina gets the start for Reading, and he will go opposite RHP Joander Suarez 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.
