The Reading Fighting Phils (23-30) responded to an extra inning loss on Friday night with a walk-off, 5-4 win over the Flying Squirrels (27-24) on Saturday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Richmond had a pair of late-inning leads, but could not hang on. Ali Castillo rocked a two-run homer in the eighth inning for a 3-2 advantage and Matt Lipka lined a double in the top of the ninth for a brief 4-3 lead. Caleb Simpson suffered the loss and blow save, allowing Reading to even the series at one game apiece. Game three of the series is Sunday at 2:15 p.m.
Richmond returns to The Diamond on Friday, June 8 with a Free ShirtFriday and RVA’s Best Happy Hour. Details for the next homestand can be found here.
The FIghtin Phils plated a pair of runs in the ninth inning off of Simpson in the walk-off win. Zach Green reached on an error to open the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Darick Hall grounded out to first, Jan Hernandez tied the game, 4-4, with a double up the third base line. Simpson grounded out Cornelius Randolph for the second out of the inning. Reading then brought in pinch-hitter Kyle Martin to face Simpson and Richmond issued an intentional walk, bringing up Austin Bossart. The catcher Bossart grounded a base hit into left field for the game-winner.
Simpson (2-2) suffered the loss. He allowed the two runs (none earned) in his outing.
The Squirrels had multiple chances to nail down the lead despite Reading’s starting pitcher Ranger Suarez limiting the Squirrels to just one run over seven innings. Trailing 2-1 entering the eighth inning, Luigi Rodriguez lined a pinch-hit double into the gap in left center field off reliever Edgar Garcia. Ali Castillo then put the Squirrels ahead for the first time, lifting a two-run homer over the left centerfield wall. Castillo’s second home run of the season was the first allowed by Garcia this year and gave the Squirrels a 3-2 advantage.
Reading countered with a homer of their own, tying the game, 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth. Dan Slania pitched the eighth, replacing Mike Connolly who tossed four innings out of the pen. Bossart struck for a game-tying homer that found its way into the seats in left field. Slania retired the next three batters to end the inning.
The late-inning excitement negated some early solid pitching for both teams. Flying Squirrels right-hander /Chase Johnson worked through his requisite three innings with just the one, unearned run on his ledger. Johnson yielded four hits and did walk a batter. Johnson tossed 36 pitches in his fifth start back from Tommy John Surgery. Connolly piggybacked Johnson and allowed a run in the fourth. Connolly recovered and retired the final nine batters he faced.
Johnson picked up a double play to end the first and another to end the second. He retired the first two batters in the third before his counterpart Ranger Suarez floated a base hit into left field. Suarez advanced to second on a passed ball and Malquin Canelo then bounced a ball up the middle that was flagged by shortstop Ryan Howard. Howard floated a throw to first base and Canelo beat it out while Suarez streaked home from second.
Suarez was in control throughout the contest for Reading, effectively using his fastball and changeup. Suarez needed just six pitched to end the first inning and used just 33 over the first three frames. The 40-Man roster member for Philadelphia lasted seven innings while allowing just one run. He gave up five hits and struck out two in a no-decision.
The Squirrels made their only dent against Suarez with a run in the sixth inning. Mike Connolly lead off the frame with a double down the left field line. Ali Castillo then pushed a bunt to the right side of the infield, resulting in a base hit, moving Connolly to third. Miguel Gomez put Richmond on the board via a sacrifice fly into centerfield, cutting the Reading lead to 2-1. The sacrifice fly was the only blemish on the record of Suarez on the night.
The Flying Squirrels and Reading Fightin Phils play game three of the series at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. Richmond RHP Cory Taylor (7-1, 3.99) will make the start against Reading RHP Harold Arauz (0-0, 9.00). Richmond will be back in Funnville on June 9-14.
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