READING, Pa. — The start to the Hartford Yard Goats postseason could not have gone worse on Tuesday night as the Reading Fightin Phils rode a 12-run second inning to a 21-4 win in Game 1 of the best-of-3 Eastern League Division Series.
The series now moves to Dunkin’ Park for Games 2 and 3 on Thursday and Friday. Both games are at 6:30 p.m.
Reading did most of their damage against Hartford starter Conner Staine and the two relievers who followed, Bryson Hammer and Fisher Jameson.
After a scoreless first inning, the Yard Goats jumped out to the early lead with three runs in the top of the second.
The Phils wasted no time in answering as they got to Staine for six runs on six hits before he was replaced by Hammer, who allowed six more runs on three walks and three hits. Jameson got out of the second but was touched up for four more runs in the third. In all, Yard Goats pitchers allowed 12 walks in addition to 19 hits.
Reading leadoff batter Bryan Rincon had two hits and five RBI and Raylin Heredia and Pedro Leon each had three hits as every member of the starting lineup had at least one. Hartford catcher Cole Messina had two hits and an RBI.