Reading Falls as Hartford Battles Back Late

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - The Hartford Yard Goats secured the victory over the Reading Fightin Phils 8-5 Friday night. Five unanswered Hartford runs helped lift the Yard Goats to their second win of the series.

Reading starter Griff McGarry only lasted two innings and R-Phils pitchers combined to walk 10 Hartford batters Friday night.

Hartford got on the board early in the top of the first inning when Julio Carreras singled to right field to score Hunter Goodman. Goodman was one of three-consecutive Yard Goats McGarry walked in the opening frame. However, McGarry escaped giving up just one run, striking out two in the inning.

In the second inning, McGarry walked an additional three batters and gave up one run on a Lavigne sacrifice fly out to score Bret Boswell.

Reading cut Hartford’s lead in half in the bottom of the second inning thanks to an Oliver Dunn home run to right-center field to make it a 2-1 ballgame.

Adam Leverett relieved McGarry after giving up one hit, six walks and striking out four batters in two innings pitched.

The R-Phils tied the game in the bottom of the third inning after Cody Roberts knocked a leadoff single, Madison Stokes walked, Carlos De La Cruz singled and Johan Rojas singled to left field to score Roberts.

Dunn did it again in the bottom of the fourth inning, homering to right field to give Reading a 3-2 lead. Dunn’s second home run was his seventh of the season, now tied for third on the team in homers. The last R-Phil to hit a homerun in back-to-back at bats was Logan O’Hoppe at Somerset on May 17, 2022.

Max Kuhns came into the game to take over for Leverett in the top of the sixth inning, who threw well for the R-Phils. Leverett finished with two strikeouts, giving up no hits and walking one Hartford batter in three innings pitched.

Reading added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Roberts drew a two-out walk and Herbert Iser hit a high-flying home run to right field to extend the R-Phils’ lead to three runs.

Hartford tied things back up in the top of the seventh inning when Christopher Narvarro doubled to left field, Niko Decolati singled to score Narvarro and Goodman walked. Bladimir Restituyo later doubled to score Decolati.

In the top of the ninth inning, the Yard Goats took their first lead since the second inning. Grant Lavigne hit a two-run home run to left field to score Goodman, who was walked to lead off the inning. Carreras also walked and was scored on a Drew Romo double to give Hartford an 8-5 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.

Despite a leadoff single from Rojas, Reading was unable to rally, losing 8-5.

Evan Justice earned the win for Hartford to improve to 5-0 this season, while Andrew Baker suffered the loss for Reading to fall to 0-4 on the year. Stephen Jones was credited with the save for the Yard Goats. With the win, Hartford improves to 26-34 on the season, while Reading falls to 23-37.

Reading and Hartford return to action Saturday night at 6:45 p.m. Reading's starter is yet to be announced and starting for Hartford is RHP Nick Garcia. Pregame coverage is underway at 6:30 p.m. and can be listened to at rphils.com/radio. Video streaming is also available on MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

Saturday includes appearances from Penn State's Nicholas Singleton, J'Ven Williams and Joey Schlaffer and Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks, the largest in stadium history. Finally, 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.