MANCHESTER, NH – It was certainly a good night for home runs.
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats dropped their second straight contest to the Reading Fightin’ Phils on Thursday night, falling 13-3 in a game that saw plenty of balls leave the yard.
Reading’s five-run second inning, highlighted by a Jiandido Tromp grand slam, proved to be enough to keep the lead throughout the evening. However, the Fightins’ were not done. They put runs on the board in four more innings, with Deivi Grullon and Zach Green also adding long balls for the visitors.
Grullon joined Tromp with four RBI on the night, going 3-for-5. Jan Hernandez also went 3-for-5 for Reading with an RBI single and a walk, with Green, Tromp and Austin Listi also contributing multi-hit performances.
New Hampshire also sent a trio of pitches beyond the fence, with Connor Panas, Cavan Biggio and Harold Ramirez each posting a solo shot in the losing effort.
Also of note, Jon Berti submitted a 2-for-4 game, giving him at least one hit in 18 of his 23 games for New Hampshire this year.
Tayler Saucedo lasted five innings in his Double-A debut, giving up six runs off nine hits and two walks, striking out six.
He would get the loss while Reading starting pitcher Harold Arauz exorcised some of his Fisher Cat demons.
Arauz (6-4) allowed all three homers but scattered only three other hits, leaving after 5 2/3 innings to earn the win.
Seth McGarry and Josh Tols combined to allow just two Fisher Cat runners about the minimum for the rest of the night.
With the loss, New Hampshire falls out of first place in the Eastern League’s Eastern Division, with Trenton taking the lead after defeating Altoona 8-2 in other action on Thursday night.
The two teams return on Friday with a battle of Romero versus Romano; Jordan Romano (8-4, 4.11 ERA) will pitch for New Hampshire against Reading’s JoJo Romero (6-6, 3.68 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m
