(Hartford, CT) - The Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies, Double-A) took down the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies, Double-A) by a score of 5-4 to win the Eastern League Divisional Series two games to none. This pushes the Fightin Phils to the Eastern League Championship Series for the first time since Sept. 12, 2015.
Reading scratched across its first run in the second inning, Carson DeMartini (Phillies No. 24 prospect) made his way to third after a leadoff single against Hartford starter Jackson Cox (Rockies No 8 prospect), and Pedro León drew a walk on a wild pitch to score DeMartini. This gave the Fightins an early 1-0 advantage.
Bryan Rincon (Phillies No. 4 prospect) led off with a no-doubt blast into the second deck of the right-center field bleachers. Rincon has surged up prospect rankings, entering the Eastern League playoffs as MLB Pipeline’s No. 100 overall farmhand.
Back-to-back walks by Dante Nori (Phillies No. 7 prospect) and Aidan Miller (Phillies No. 2 prospect) applied more pressure before a DeMartini single loaded the bases with only one out. This forced Cox out of the game to get into the bullpen. Yard Goats starters have gone a combined 3.1 innings over the last two games. Nori, the lead baserunner, came around to score on another wild pitch to build the R-Phils lead to 3-0.
The Rockies’ Double-A affiliate retaliated in the bottom of the third frame, as Braylen Wimmer roped a two-run double to right center field, sending both Jared Thomas and Dyan Jorge to the plate. This cut Reading’s lead to 3-2.
The Fightins extended their lead in the fourth when Aidan Miller (Phillies No. 2 prospect) roped a line drive through the right side of the infield to score Rincon. It was Miller’s third straight plate appearance where he reached base safely, this time extending Reading’s nod to 4-2.
The R-Phils tacked on another run, in the seventh when León roped a single through the left field, scoring DeMartini. Escobar tried to score from second, but Jared Thomas (Rockies No. 10 prospect) threw him out to hold the Fightins’ lead to 5-2.
Thomas followed his impressive throw with a lead-off solo homer in the eighth, ejecting the ball into the second-deck right field bleachers. His round-tripper cut the lead to 5-3 against Fightin Phils reliever Christian McGowan. McGowan then walked Dyan Jorge before getting Andy Perez (Rockies No. 15 prospect) to ground out.
That would be all for McGowan, as Estibenzon Jimenez induced a pair of flyouts to get out of the eighth stanza.
Jimenez continued through the ninth, retiring the first two hitters before Cole Messina blasted a solo shot over the right field wall. Zach Kokoska then stepped in as a pinch-hitter, representing the tying run. Jimenez struck him out swinging on a breaking ball, sending Reading to its first Eastern League Championship series since Sept. 12, 2015.
Graves (1-0) got the win, firing an inning and a third of scoreless baseball to hold down the fort for the Fightins.
Cox (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts over 2.1 innings of work.
DeMartini accounted for three of the team’s six hits, scoring two runs with a double on the night.
Reading returns to the field on Sunday at the Erie SeaWolves at 5:05 p.m. for game one of the Eastern League Championship Series. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 4:45 p.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.
The Fightin Phils return home on Tuesday and Wednesday, (if necessary) against either the Erie SeaWolves. Both games will begin at 6:45 p.m and tickets for all Fightin Phils postseason 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 playoffs is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.