(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (54-55, 24-16) defeated the Chesapeake Bay Sox (51-57, 22-18) 9-5 at FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday night. Reading erased a 4-0 deficit, scoring nine of the next 10 runs.
Chesapeake jumped on the scoreboard early, as they pushed three runs across the plate in the opening inning. Wehiwa Aloy (3), the Orioles’ fifth-ranked prospect, smacked a three-run home run into the left field bleachers, scoring both Brandon Butterworth and Victor Figueroa.
The Bay Sox kept their foot on the gas in the second frame. Tavian Josenberger smacked a triple before Aron Estrada (Orioles No. 9 prospect) hit him home on an RBI groundout. This lifted Baltimore’s Double-A affiliate to a 4-0 advantage through two innings.
Reading’s bats jolted awake in the third inning after striking out in six of the team’s first seven plate appearances to start the ball game. Raider Tello started the rally with a lead-off single. Nick Biddison, Pedro León and Aroon Escobar (Phillies No. 4 prospect) all drew walks to load the bases, with Escobar’s walk scoring Tello. Raylin Heredia (Phillies No. 28 prospect) smacked a line-drive single to left field, plating Biddison. Alex Binelas (24) then kicked off his remarkable night with a grand slam, pushing the Fightins to a 6-4 lead.
This marked the first time Chesapeake has allowed more than three runs since they fell 4-3 to the Altoona Curve on Aug. 2.
The R-Phils notched another run across in the fourth inning, as Aroon Escobar hit a fly ball to left field that bounced off the glove of Thomas Sosa. Raider Tello scored on the play to build the Fightins’ lead to 7-4.
The Bay Sox answered in the fifth inning on an Estrada (17) solo homer to left-center field. This cut Reading’s lead to 7-5.
Alex Binelas (25) returned for more in the bottom half of the frame, clubbing a two-run home run to center field to score Luke Ritter. This ties a career-high in home runs for Binelas, and it sets a new RBI record with 71. The 26-year-old is the first R-Phil to reach the quarter century mark in long balls in a season since Mitch Walding did it in 2017. This pushed the lead to 9-5.
Daniel Harper (1-2) got the win, firing a pair of scoreless innings with a pair of hits allowed and a walk. Harper notably stranded the bases loaded in the sixth frame to preserve the team’s lead.
Chesapeake starter Caden Hunter (1-2) took the loss, firing three innings of six-run ball with four walks and six punchouts.
Binelas finished his night off with two homers, six RBI and a pair of runs scored with a walk.
Alloy stood out for Chesapeake, going 1-for-3 with a homer and three runs batted in.
Reading holds a two-game lead in the Eastern League-Northeast second half standings.
Reading returns to the field on Wednesday against the Chesapeake Baysox at 7 p.m. RHP Luke Russo is scheduled to start for Reading, and he will go opposite LHP Joseph Dzierwa for Chesapeake. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 6:40 p.m. on the Reading Fighitn Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.
The Fightin Phils remain home through Sunday against the Chesapeake Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Wednesday is SU2C "Stand Up To Cancer" and Fightin Cancer Night with the R-Phils Wearing Fightin Cancer Jerseys. Thursday and Friday both feature fireworks, with Thursday's show sponsored by Recovery Awareness Night thanks to Berks Counseling Center and SOS Berks and Friday's by PSECU. Saturday is the 28th Annual Harley Night with a R-Phils Harley Game Cap Giveaway for the first 2,500 adults, along with postgame fireworks, thanks to American Crane and Equipment Corporation. The series ends Sunday with a R-Phils Team Photo for the first 2,000 kids with a pre-game player autograph session for kids at 4 PM, thanks to Berkshire Hathaway.
Tickets to all games are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in-person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.
The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.