Patriots Can’t Hold Off Phils Late Rally
Reading, Pennsylvania – Three late home runs led the Reading Fightin Phils (1-2) to a 5-3 win over the Somerset Patriots (2-1) at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The game-winner was a walk-off two-run homer by Wendell Rijo (1) in the bottom of the ninth.
Trailing 3-0 in the seventh inning, Jonathan Guzman’s two-run shot (1) cut the lead to 3-2. In the eighth, a solo home run by Jhailyn Ortiz (1) tied up the game.
Somerset’s offense came from Elijah Dunham, who got the scoring started with a two-run line drive homer (1) in the first. He later added a sacrifice fly in the third to finish the game with all three RBI.
Brian Marconi (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts. Derek Craft (0-1) suffered the loss after he gave up three earned runs on three hits and four strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work.
Starter Randy Vasquez went four scoreless innings with a hit and three strikeouts for Somerset in a no decision.
The 2022 Somerset Patriots season presented by Ford will at home with Opening Day on Tuesday, April 12 versus the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers) at 6:35 pm.