Long Ball and Pitching Power Fightins to Win

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - Home runs from Carlos De La Cruz, Jhailyn Ortiz and Nick Podkul; in addition to a quality-start for David Parkinson propelled the Reading Fightin Phils to a 8-3 win over the Hartford Yard Goats on Saturday night. Reading now leads this week's series 3-2.

Parkinson achieved a season-high six innings pitched. The lefty gave up three earned runs, five hits, walked two and struck out five.

Reading got on the board early, scoring its first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Madison Stokes started the bottom frame with a leadoff single, De La Cruz reached on an error, Johan Rojas followed with a hit by pitch and Ortiz grounded out to shortstop with the bases loaded to score Stokes.

Hartford retaliated in the top of the second inning after a two-out Jack Blomgren walk, followed by a Drew Romo RBI double to tie the game 1-1.

The R-Phils added three runs to gain a 4-1 lead over the Yard Goats in the bottom of the third inning. Rojas was hit for the second time on another curveball, Ortiz singled to left field and Nick Podkul cleared the bases with a three-run home run to center field. Podkul’s eighth home run of the season ranks third on the R-Phils behind De La Cruz’s 12 and Ethan Wilson’s 10.

Reading extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, which started with a Max McDowell walk. With two outs, De La Cruz blasted his 13th home run on the season to give Reading a 6-1 lead.

Hartford added a run in the top of the sixth inning when Niko Decolati singled to right field, Hunter Goodman walked and Bladimir Restituyo grounded out to short to score Decolati. Colin Simpson later hit an infield single to score Goodman, cutting Reading’s lead to three runs.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rojas roped a two-out double and stole third base, his third steal of the night. The last R-Phil to steal three bases in a game was Rojas, who stole three bags last year at Somerset on July 1, 2022. Ortiz followed with a no-doubt home run to left field, clearing FirstEnergy Stadium to give Reading an 8-3 lead.

RHP Brett Schulze pitched the seventh and eighth innings in relief for Reading, giving up one hit, walking one batter and striking out three.

RHP Braden Zarbnisky shut the door for the R-Phils, sitting the Yard Goats down in order and striking out two batters to secure the victory for the Fightin Phils.

Parkinson earned the win for Reading to improve to 2-2 this season, while Nick Garcia suffered the loss for Hartford to fall to 0-7 on the year. With the win, Reading improves to 24-37 on the season, while Hartford falls to 26-35.

Reading and Hartford return to action Sunday night at 5:15 p.m. Starting for Reading is RHP Victor Vargas for Hartford is RHP Gabriel Hughes. Pregame coverage is underway at 5:00 p.m. and can be listened to at rphils.com/radio. Video streaming is also available on MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

On Sunday the first 2,000 men 18 and older will receive an R-Phils No. 1 Dad Bucket Hat. Tickets are available 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.