Reading fell to Richmond as the Flying Squirrels defeated the Fightin Phils in a doubleheader sweep on Saturday at Richmond to open the season.
Reading lost 4-3 in the first game of the doubleheader and 3-2 in the second.
Mick Abel, Philadelphia’s No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, got the start for the Fightin Phils in the second game, but failed to make it out of the first inning after allowing a hit, two earned runs and four walks. He had two strikeouts before being pulled for Braden Zarbinsky with the bases loaded and two outs in the first.
The Flying Squirrels added an insurance run in the fifth inning as Tyler Fitzgerald singled to score Luis Matos and extend the Richmond lead to 3-0.
In the seventh and final inning of game two, Reading loaded the bases and Max McDowell got a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to two runs.
Cam Cannon singled to score Wendell Rijo and make it 3-2. However, Pedro Martinez grounded into a fielder’s choice at home for the second out with the next at-bat. With the bases still loaded, Johan Rojas struck out swinging to end the game and give Richmond the 3-2 win.
Wil Jensen picked up the win for the Flying Squirrels and Juan Sanchez recorded the save.
Cannon went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
In game one, Rijo drove in two runs in the first on an RBI double to put the Fightin Phils up 2-0 after one inning. Earlier in the first, Rojas reached on a single and stole a base. Carlos De La Cruz reached on an error before scoring for Reading.
Rijo also scored another run when he grounded into a double play in the top of the third put the Fightin Phils up 3-0.
With two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Matos singled before Patrick Bailey hit an RBI double for Richmond. The Flying Squirrels tied it in the fifth when Matos hit a two-run home run.
Richmond took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth when Reading pitcher Andrew Baker walked Ismael Munguia with the bases loaded to make it 4-3.
Ethan Wilson, Rijo and Baron Radcliff all had two-hit performances for the Fightin Phils in the season opener. RIjo also had two RBIs.
Ryan Murphy earned the win for the Flying Squirrels and Baker suffered the loss for Reading. The save went to Richmond’s Blake Rivera.
Tyler Phillips pitched four innings, struck out four and allowed six hits as well as an earned run in the start for the Fightin Phils.
The teams conclude the the season-opening three game series Sunday at 1:35 p.m. as Josh Hendrickson takes the mound for Reading and Mason Black will start for Richmond.
Source: Berkshire mont
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