(Reading, PA) - In the penultimate game of the 2026 regular season, the Reading Fightin’ Phils (39-29; 69-67) defeated the Erie SeaWolves (43-25; 79-57) 13-10 in another battle between two of the Eastern League's best offenses.
It was a shaky start for Reading's starter Brayden Tucker, who after allowing a leadoff double, walked Tigers No. 2 prospect Zyhir Hope. With two runners on, Seawolves designated hitter Thayron Liranzo blasted a ball to deep right center field onto the veranda of the Redners Event Center to put Erie ahead 3-0 before an out was recorded.
A stellar double play turn between a pair of top prospects, second baseman Aroon Escobar and shortstop Aidan Miller, got Reading out of the inning without allowing any more damage.
The Fightin Phils were quick to live up to their name in the bottom half of the first. With two runners on, Reading third baseman Raider Tello flicked a Carlos Pena slider into shallow right center field to plate Miller. Up next was designated hitter Carson DeMartini, with runners on first and second, who shot a ball the other way to left fielder Roberto Campos.
It appeared that both Reading baserunners would settle with moving up just one base, but Campos booted the ball and Pedro Leon capitalized by racing home to score a second run. Two batters later Caleb Ricketts joined the party, sending an opposite field single to left that brought in two more Fightin’ Phils to put Reading in the lead 4-3.
The one run home lead would not last long. The first batter of the inning, Seawolves catcher Luke Shliger, sent his sixth homer of the season to deep center field to tie the game at 4. Erie would add another three runs in the inning after an RBI single by shortstop Peyton Graham and a two-run opposite field homer by Hope (6).
Following a scoreless Reading half of the inning, Erie would add on again. Graham recorded his second RBI of the game on a triple to right-center field, and Hope recorded RBI number two as well on a single to make the score 9-5.
Not afraid of a slugfest, Reading jumped on Seawolves reliever Dariel Fregio in the bottom of the third with a pair of home runs. First to leave the yard was Leon, who after taking the first pitch, blasted his fifteenth home run of the season into the Reading bullpen. After the following two batters reached base, left fielder Bryson Ware stepped into the box.
Ware (16) hammered the first pitch he saw, sending a laser beam into the left field seats to bring the deficit to one. Ware’s steady presence at the plate is a big reason for the Fightin’ Phils second half surge. Ware has hit safely in eight out of 10 games to start September and has an OPS over 1.000 across the month.
After combining for 17 runs across the first three innings, the two teams exchanged zeros through the middle innings. Reading had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth after Erie walked the bases loaded, but they were unable to score.
Unfazed by the missed opportunity, the R-Phils got right back to work in the bottom of the sixth. Miller led off the inning by depositing a ball into no-mans-land behind first base that landed just inside of the foul line. Running hard out of the box, Miller ended up on second base on a ball that traveled all of 200 feet.
Miller’s double play partner Escobar was next and followed suit by dumping the third pitch of his at-bat into right field in a play nearly identical to Miller’s. The Fightin Phils shortstop, running hard again, got a great read on the ball and scored easily from second to tie the game at nine apiece.
Two batters later, with Escobar still on second, DeMartini kept Hope busy in right field. With the green light in a 3-0 count, DeMartini laced a ball into right field that scored the go-ahead run and pushed Reading into double digits.
After an August that saw Demartini hit .304 with nine extra-base hits, the 2024 fourth round pick has already driven in eight runs in 11 September contests including five in the series versus Erie.
After taking over for Tucker in the fourth inning, the Fightin Phils bullpen was in full control of the Erie offense. The unit didn’t allow a hit, but their lone mistake proved almost proved costly. After a leadoff walk, the usually dominant Mavis Graves quickly recorded two outs. A fastball to Hope sailed over the head of Ricketts and allowed the go-ahead run to move to third.
Two pitches later, Hope squibbed a swinging bunt toward Graves who couldn’t field the ball cleanly. Hope reached safely on the error with the unearned run tying the game at 10.
Refusing to go quietly, Reading loaded the bases for DeMartini in the bottom of the eighth. As the left handed hitter looked to do damage. Erie did it for him.
SeaWolves reliever Wandisson Charles spiked the fourth pitch of the at-bat which skipped past the Erie catcher. Shliger, who pinch-hit for Miller to start the inning, dashed home to put Reading back on top. DeMartini would walk and watch from first base as Ware did the same, putting Reading up 12-10. Reading would add one more insurance run when right fielder Nick Biddison was hit by a 3-2 with the bases loaded.
Entering with a three-run lead, Wen-Hui Pan took the mound looking for his third Double-A save in as many attempts. Pan used his blazing fastball - touching 96 mph - and mixed in his splitter to keep Erie hitters guessing.
Pan needed just nine pitches to retire the SeaWolves in order, finishing a dominant night for the bullpen. Over six innings the unit didn’t allow a hit, struck out five and allowed just one unearned run on the Graves error.
Reading looks to win the series on Sunday afternoon before hosting their first playoff game in seven years against the Hartford Yard Goats on Tuesday.
Reading returns to the field on Sunday against the Erie SeaWolves at 1:15 p.m. Reading's starter is yet to be announced, while RHP Max Alba is scheduled to start for Erie. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 12:55 p.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.
The series ends on Sunday with Dinosaur Day, featuring Interactive Dinosaur Exhibits. Reading will open their first postseason series on Tuesday, September 15, against the Hartford Yard Goats, Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. 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.