Podkul Plays Hero with Go Ahead Homer Late

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - An eighth inning go-ahead home run from Nick Podkul lifted the Reading Fightin Phils to a 5-3 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Friday night. The win was Reading's first of this week's six-game series.

Both team’s starting pitchers threw well. Richmond RHP Landen Roupp struck out seven Reading batters in only 3.1 innings pitched. Roupp did not give up a hit before leaving the game with an apparent injury in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, Reading RHP Griff McGarry pitched five innings, striking out seven batters and giving up two earned runs on four hits and two walks.

Richmond’s hot bats rolled over from Thursday night, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead. Wade Meckler lined a leadoff single, which was followed by an RBI double from Marco Luciano, the San Francisco Giants’ No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

The Flying Squirrels added an additional run in the top of the fourth inning. Shane Matheny reached base on a leadoff walk, followed by an Andy Thomas double and Logan Wyatt singled to right field to score Matheny.

Reading got on board in the bottom of the fifth inning, cutting Richmond’s lead to one run. Casey Martin led off the inning with a double to left field and was later scored on a Matthew Kroon RBI double.

Cristian Hernandez came into the game for McGarry in the top of the sixth inning. The reliever lasted 1.2 innings, giving up three hits, one run and striking out one Richmond batter.

Wyatt extended Richmond’s lead back to two runs in the top of the seventh inning, hitting a homer to left field.

Brett Schulze relieved Hernandez in the seventh inning, pitching 1.1 innings no-hit baseball. Schulze struck out two Richmond batters.

Reading came from behind in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a late 5-3 lead. Kroon led off with his second double of the night, Oliver Dunn singled to left field and Podkul hit a deep home run to left field out of FirstEnergy Stadium to give the R-Phils their first lead of the series.

R-Phils reliever Tyler McKay shut the door, earning his fourth save of the season.

Brett Schulze earned the win for Reading to improve to 4-5 on the season and Nick Zwack suffered the loss for Richmond to fall to 4-5 with his second blown save on the year. With the win, Reading improves to 1-2 in the second half and Richmond falls to 2-1 in the second half with the loss.

Reading and Richmond are back in action Saturday night at 6:45 p.m. LHP David Parkinson is scheduled to start for Reading, and he will go opposite RHP Mason Black for Richmond. Pregame coverage is underway at 6:30 p.m. and can be listened to at rphils.com/radio. A video stream is also available on MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

Saturday includes a celebration to Taylor Swift and postgame MEGA Blast Fireworks, the largest in stadium history. Sunday is another Berks Packing Sunday Family Fun Day, featuring the Reading Hot Dogs and an R-Phils Card Set giveaway and autograph signing for children in attendance. Finally, Monday is a Stars and Stripes Celebration and the night will conclude with postgame MEGA Blast Fireworks, the largest show in stadium history. Tickets to all games are still available, but are going fast. Get tickets 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.