Fightin Phils Late Rally Not Enough as Reading Falls in High Scoring Affair

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) – The Reading Fightin Phils battled, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 8-7 to the Hartford Yard Goats on Wednesday. Carlos De La Cruz lifted his first home run of the season and also knocked in the game-tying single for Reading in the eighth inning.

But, in the top of the ninth, Hartford responded with a solo home run from Bladimir Restituyo to take an 8-7 lead, one in which the Yard Goats would not relinquish. In total, Hartford belted four home runs in the high-scoring matchup.

For the fourth time in five games, the R-Phils struck first. Three hits in the first inning resulted in a run when Matthew Kroon walked to score Oliver Dunn. Reading is not 0-4 when scoring first in ballgames this season. Hartford quickly struck back with four runs in the top of the second inning. The inning was highlighted by a home run from Drew Romo to put Hartford up 4-1. Reading did respond with one run in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit in half to 4-2.

The teams traded blows for most of the night offensively. Reading scored two in the fifth and three in the eighth, while Hartford tacked on two in the seventh inning and the ultimate game-winning run from Restituyo in the top of the ninth inning. Reading got baserunners on in the bottom of the final frame, but back-to-back strikeouts by Cody Roberts and Pedro Martinez stifled any chance of a Reading comeback.

Adam McKillican earned the win for Hartford to move to 1-0. He also blew a save in the bottom of the eighth inning. The loss went to Killan Killgore, who is 0-1.

Multiple R-Phils garnered multiple-hit games. Dunn had two base knocks, De La Cruz had three, McCarthy Tatum had two, along with two-each from Kroon and Roberts. In total, Reading picked up a season-high 15 this and outhit the Yard Goats 15-12.

Reading center fielder Johan Rojas also left the game after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rojas was replaced in center field by Kroon, who moved from third base.

With the loss, Reading drops to 0-5 and Hartford jumps back over .500 to 3-2. The two teams return to action tomorrow night at FirstEnergy Stadium at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in-person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2023 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.