SENATORS NIPPED BY PHILLIES IN 10TH, 5-4
Reading avoids sweep
The Harrisburg Senators couldn’t make it a series sweep Wednesday against the Reading Phillies. The Senators took a lead in extra innings, but the Phillies came back for a 5-4 walk-off win in the bottom of the 10th. Reading jumped out to a lead in the bottom of the first. Neil Sellers ripped an RBI double which put runners at second and third with one out. Luke Appert followed with a sacrifice fly to make it a 2-0 Phillies lead. The Senators took the lead in the top of the fourth. Luis Jimenez laid down a bunt to lead off the inning with a single and Yurendell de Caster followed with a single to right. Roger Bernadina hit a ground ball to short, but after stepping on second, the shortstop’s throw was errant and Jimenez came around to score and make it 2-1. Bernadina then stole second and third. Javi Herrera walked and William Bergolla doubled down the left-field line to drive in Bernadina and tie the game. Pitcher Josh Hall followed with an RBI groundout to make it 3-2 Senators. Brad Harman made sure the lead was short-lived. Leading off the bottom of the fourth, the native Australian lined a home run over the wall in left to tie it up at 3-3. It stayed tied until the 10th inning when Bernadina bunted his way on base and Herrera bunted him to second. Then with two out, Jorge Padilla bounced to short. The Reading shortstop backhanded deep in the hole and froze. Bernadina never broke stride, coming all the way around to score as the throw from the shortstop to the plate was off line and the Senators led 4-3. Reading quickly tied it when Jeremy Slayden hit a wind-aided home run to left-center. Harman walked, went to second when Juan Tejeda reached on an error and both advanced on a bunt. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Greg Golson sliced a liner down the right-field line to plate the winning run for a walk-off single. Tim Bittner (0-1) took the loss for the Senators, who are 8-5 on the season. They went 4-3 on the road trip. R.J. Swindle (1-0) picked up the win for Reading, who improves to 7-6. The Senators welcome the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to Commerce Bank Park, Thursday night at 6:05. It kicks off a seven-game homestand for Harrisburg.
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