(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (55-58, 25-19) fell 9-3 to the Chesapeake Bay Sox (54-58, 24-19) 6-4 at FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday night.
Chesapeake got on the board immediately, as Aron Estrada (20) ambushed for a lead-off solo home run. It’s the fourth home run in as many starts this week for the Orioles’ 13th ranked prospect, and it’s also his second lead-off homer of the week.
Reading answered, finding the equalizer in the bottom half of the inning. The Fightins loaded the bases, and Aroon Escobar (Phillies No. 6 prospect) grounded into a fielder’s choice, plating Bryan Rincon (Phillies No. 5 prospect) to even up the score.
Estrada (21) kept his remarkable night rolling in the third inning, smacking the second pitch he had seen to left field. His second homer of the night gave the lead back to the Baysox. Thomas Sosa followed up shortly after, clubbing an RBI double to left field to plate Frederick Bencosme. This lifted the Orioles’ Double-A affiliate to a 3-1 advantage.
Chesapeake scored again in the fourth, this time on a Victor Figueroa (3) solo homer to left-center field. Estrada then punched a single through the infield, scoring Anderson De Los Santos to expand the Bay Sox lead to 5-1.
In the fifth inning, the Baysox struck again on a Dom Keegan (5) two-run homer, sending Aloy trotting home to make the game 7-1. This was Keegan’s third home run in as many games and the team’s ninth over the course of the last three contests.
Estrada’s historic day continued in the eighth inning. The second baseman hit a two-run double, serving as his fifth hit of the night. The extra base hit bolstered Chesapeake’s lead to 9-1.
The R-Phils found some runs in the final frame. Rincon hit home Carson DeMartini (Phillies No. 24 prospect) on a fielder’s choice, and Pedro León sent Caleb Ricketts across the plate on an RBI single. The Fightins’ rally stopped with the score reading 9-3.
Trace Bright (1-2) got his first win of the 2026 season, firing five relief innings of two-run ball (none earned) on four hits with seven punchouts.
Braydon Tucker (7-8) took the loss for the Fightin Phils, allowing seven runs on 10 hits with a pair of punchouts in five innings.
Estrada stood above everyone for the Baysox, becoming their 30th player in franchise history to toss up a five-hit performance. Estrada finished the day going 5-for-5 with three home runs and five RBI.
Rincon flashed for the Fightins, going 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
Reading holds a two-game lead over the Portland Sea Dogs and Somerset Patriots in the Eastern League-Northeast division.
Reading returns to the field on Saturday against the Chesapeake Baysox at 5:15 p.m. RHP Jean Cabrera is scheduled to start for Reading, and he will go opposite LHP Caden Hunter for Chesapeake. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 4:55 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. Friday night features 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 an 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 an 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.