(Hartford, CT) – The Reading Fightin' Phils (35-24, 65-63) defeated the Hartford Yard Goats (23-37, 62-66) by a final score of 10-5 on Thursday night at Dunkin’ Park.
The Fightins sent RHP Gage Wood (PHI’s top prospect) to the mound, while Hartford countered with RHP Jackson Cox (COL’s no. 8 prospect)
Reading wasted no time getting on the board in the second inning. Raylin Heredia led off the frame with a solo home run to left field, his 22nd of the season, giving the Fightins an early 1-0 lead.
After a Carson DeMartini flyout, Aroon Escobar (PHI’s No. 6 prospect) drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Caleb Ricketts followed with a ground-ball single into center field, scoring Escobar and extending the Fightins' lead to 2-0.
Wood and the Fightins' defense kept Hartford off the scoreboard through the first four innings. Wood struck out four of the first 10 batters he faced and worked around a pair of walks to keep the Yard Goats scoreless.
Reading added to its lead in the fourth. Carson DeMartini (PHI’s No. 24 prospect) drew a leadoff walk and promptly stole second base for his 16th stolen bag of the season. Escobar then lined a single into center field, plating home DeMartini to make it 3-0. In the bottom half of the inning, Wood tied his professional career-high of nine strikeouts with getting Braylen Wimmer to chase at a low-and-away slider. The right-hander froze Cole Messina for a called-strike three, setting his new career-high in strikeouts at 10.
The Yard Goats finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth as Wood returned back out to the mound for his fifth inning of work. He immediately seemed to be quite at this point as he struck his leadoff hitter in Mike Antico with a pitch before Andy Perez (COL's No. 16 prospect) singled to put runners on first and second. Rockies’ rehabber Kyle Karros followed with an RBI single to score Antico and cut the Reading lead to 3-1.
Wood's night came to an end after the Karros single, with RHP Sam Carlson entering in relief. Wood finished his career outing with surrendering a pair of runs on four hits through four frames of work. The 22-year-old issued a pair of walks and set a new career-best of 10 strikeouts. Carlson recorded a pair of back-to-back strikeouts before a fielder’s choice from Dyan Jorge brought Perez home, making it a one-run game at 3-2.
Reading would respond with its biggest inning of the night in the sixth.
Escobar opened the inning with a walk before Ricketts singled, and Bryson Ware followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Austin Murr then delivered the big blow, lining a two-run double to right field to score both Escobar and Ricketts and push the Reading lead to 5-2. After a strikeout, a balk from Hartford’s Connor Staine allowed Ware to score from third, making it 6-2. Dante Nori (PHI’s No. 7 prospect) followed up with an RBI single to bring Murr home for Reading's seventh run of the night. The speedy Nori then swiped second for his 17th stolen base of the season, before Pedro León singled to put runners on the corners. Heredia capped the six-run frame with a two-run double to right field, scoring both Nori and León. The double was Heredia's 33rd of the season and gave Reading a commanding 9-2 advantage.
Hartford managed to get two runs back in the seventh off of Reading’s Aaron Combs. After a throwing error from Carson DeMartini allowed Braylen Wimmer to reach and advance to second, Jorge singled him home to make it 9-3. Jack O'Dowd then struck with a two-run home run to right-center field, his seventh homer of the season, cutting the deficit to 9-5.
Christian McGowan entered in the eighth for Reading and retired the Yard Goats in order around a single, keeping Hartford from adding to its comeback attempt. The Fightins did add an insurance run in the ninth. DeMartini drew another walk and stole second for his second stolen base of the night. Escobar then lined a single to right field, scoring DeMartini and making it 10-5.
McGowan returned for the bottom of the ninth and worked out of a jam to close out the victory. After a leadoff single from Wimmer, Jorge reached on a force out before O'Dowd grounded into a game-ending double play.
Carlson earned his first win of the season as an R-Phil, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Aaron Combs posted for 1.1 innings, allowing two earned runs, while McGowan closed out the game with two scoreless frames. Cox (2-3) took the loss for the Yard Goats.
Reading's offense collected 14 hits in the victory and went 8-for-18 with runners in scoring position. Heredia led the way going 2-for-5, including a home run and a two-run double, driving in three runs on the night. Escobar went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and two RBIs while scoring twice. Ricketts collected three hits, drove in a run, and scored and walked both once.
Reading returns to the field on Friday against the Hartford Yard Goats at 7:10 p.m. RHP Luke Russo is set to start for Reading, and he will go opposite LHP Konner Eaton for Hartford. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.
The Fightin Phils return home from Tuesday, September 8, through Sunday, September 13, against the Erie Seawolves, Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. On Tuesday, the first 1,000 fans receive a Pride Night R-Phils 32-ounce cup (Kutztown University and LGBTQ+ Resource Center at Kutztown University). Wednesday features a Game-Worn Pinstripe Jersey Auction/Raffle, while Thursday will be a Throwback Jersey Auction/Raffle. Friday night is a Prost Oktoberfest Tribute with fireworks (Savage Auto Group). It will be another Prost Oktoberfest Tribute on Saturday, with Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks (Penske). The series and regular season end on Sunday with Dinosaur Day, featuring Interactive Dinosaur Exhibits.
If the Fightin Phils make the Eastern League Playoffs, they will open the first postseason series on Tuesday, September 15 against the Hartford Yard Goats, Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Reading's magic number is seven, with nine games to play.
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.