Fighting Phils catcher Austin Bossart smacked his second walk-off single of the series to lift Reading (24-31) over Richmond (28-25) 6-5 on Monday morning at FirstEnergy Stadium. Bossart worked a base hit in the bottom of the tenth inning with the bases loaded off Caleb Simpson, splitting the four-game series. All four games in the series were decided by one-run, with two games lasting 10 innings. The Flying Squirrels road trip continues on Tuesday in Trenton. Richmond returns to Funnville on Friday, June 8 with a Free Shirt Friday and RVA’s Best Happy Hour. Details for the next homestand can be found here.
After Richmond failed to score in the top of the tenth, Reading capitalized on the gifted runner starting at second base in the bottom of the inning. Darick Hall led off the frame with an infield hit, moving the lead runner (Tromp) to third. After Simpson struck out Brandon Bednar, Reading pinch-hitter Zach Green was intentionally walked to load the bases and bring up Bossart, in what was an almost identical scenario toSaturday’s Richmond defeat.
The game only went into extra inning because of Jon Polonius’ heroics in the top of the ninth. Fightins closer Edgar Garcia entered with a one-run lead in the ninth. Garcia struck out Tyler Brown but was then bested on a fastball into Polonius. Polonius muscled the pitch into the pool over the right field wall, tying the game 5-5.
Perhaps a little sluggish with the 9:45 a.m. early start time, Reading jumped on Shaun Anderson for three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. Cord Sandberg and Emmanuel Marrero ignited Reading with a pair of singles to start the frame. Jiandido Tromp followed with a two-run double and Darick Hall added an RBI single for a 3-0 Fightin Phils Advantage. Anderson managed to correct himself after the initial offensive attack by retiring the next three batters to end the inning.
The Flying Squirrels countered with a pair of runs off Reading starter JoJo Romero in the top of the second inning. Dylan Davis flared a single into right centerfield and with one out, Tyler Brown roped a base hit to left. Newcomer John Polonius then contributed with a double into the corner in right, placing Davis for a 3-1 score. Matt Likpa followed with a sacrifice fly, trimming the deficit to one, 3-2.
The Fighting Phils added a run for a 4-2 advantage in the fourth inning. Bossart doubled to begin the inning and the pitcher Romero aided his own cause with a soft single into right.
Anderson recovered after the tough start and lasted six innings in a no-decision. The right-hander matched his career-high with eight strikeouts and walked just one batter in his 11th start of the year. Anderson allowed four runs on a season-high nine hits.
The Squirrels tied the game, 4-4 with a pair of runs off of Romero in the sixth. Romero walked the first two batters of the inning and Dylan Davis cranked a base hit for a 4-3 contest. Romer was replaced by reliver Ranfi Casimiro who relinquished one inherited runner on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tyler Brown.
Romero also received a no-decision over five (+) innings of work. The lefty walked two and allowed four runs in five hits. He struck out three and tossed 83 pitches.
Will Lamarche relieved Anderson and allowed one run over two innings of work.
The Flying Squirrels seven-game road trip continues Tuesday with the first of three against the Trenton Thunder at Arm & Hammer Park. RHP Jordan Johnson (5-4, 3.46) will make the start for the Squirrels against Thunder Jonathan Loasiga (2-0, 3.50). Richmond will be back in Funnville on June 8-14. Promotional details and tickets can be found here.
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