Reading got off to a horrible re-start immediately after the EL all-star game losing their first three games to Trenton (2 by one run) but rebounded to take three in a row after shutting out Trenton on Sunday.
Matt Rizzotti went 7/20, hitting in all six games, blasting 3 HR and drawing 3 walks. He’s slugged .900 since the break and has a .370 OBP giving him a 1.270 OPS over the last week. Honestly, people need to start looking past his age, since as soon as he qualifies by reaching 2.7 PA per Reading game (which should happen next week), he’ll be leading the EL in BA, OBP, and SLG (currently at .355/.425/.645/OPS 1.071, better than Domonic Brown’s stats in Baseballtown).
Newcomer Harold Garcia certainly contributed as well, going 8/24 and drawing five walks while drilling three doubles. A .448 OBP certainly helps out at the top of the lineup. Mike Spidale hit .308 over the week, Rich Thompson chipped in with six hits and three walks, and Freddy Galvis added five hits and, unusually, three walks himself.
J.C. Ramirez had a decent start at Trenton, scattering 10 hits over 8 innings while striking out 9, but then struggled with the lead at Erie. Vance Worley pitched an eight-inning shutout (now with the big club) and Flande added a victory, while Drew Naylor took a loss, although he pitched decently over 8 innings.
The R-Phils finish up with lowly Erie tonight, then come home to face a solid Akron team.
Who is Freddy Garcia? 🙂
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Typo: .425/.645/1.071 is his OBP/SLG/OPS line, not BA/OBP/SLG. Still awesome.
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Don’t want to see an overall nice guy, great player like Rizzotti leave Reading, but given all he has done for us so far…Wouldn’t one think he should be in line for at LEAST a promotion to AAA? I mean I’ve seen this kid in action for sometime now and he is absolutely smashing!
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Freddy Galvis, of course. Freddy Garcia’s too slow to play SS.
Fixed.
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don–
Thnx, fixed.
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Interestingly that the top two hitters who currently qualify for the EL batting lead played against each other today on opposite sides in the IronPigs/Indianapolis game. So when they lose eligibility and Rizzotti gains his eligibility he might be leading the EL in batting average by 35 to 40 points. Right now according to Milb he has the fourth highest batting average in all the minor leagues. Rizzo has had to overcome alot of adversity to get to where he is. I remember going see him play in Harrisburg soon after he was called up from Clearwater but only to find old Roadie having him ride the bench that game. Matt came up to pinch hit late in that game and promptly lined a double down the left field line. He has overcome alot and is someone anyone can easily root for.
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Paul Hoover was playing 1b for Lehigh tonight. I dont see why were not bringing Rizz up a level.
Garcia had another good night.
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The night that Naylor got the CG loss, they got hosed in the 9th. Was at the game, with one out in the night I believe Thompson was on third and the batter hit a high chopper to the back of the mound. Thompson was under the tag with a head first dive. He beats Romine by a lot. But gets called out anyway. Rizzotti’s bomb in the game was atleast 450. If you have never been to Trenton, they have a “monster” style wall that has to be 40-50 ft high. He cleared it and then some.
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Someone should be brought up to LHV. Didn’t I read the other night that Happ hit for himself in the 3rd before being removed because they only had 2 position players on the bench. Savery would be a 3rd hitter off the bench but if he pitches an inning or two, he won’t be available to pinch hit. Tracy pinch hit last night so I guess he can’t play the field yet but he can hit.
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“Paul Hoover was playing 1b for Lehigh tonight. I dont see why were not bringing Rizz up a level. ”
Gads I hope you are wrong. Blocked by a virtual vacuum
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With Cisco getting the start at AAA last night and Worley getting the call to Philly, it would appear that Hyatt and Sanchez could get their call up to Reading.
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At the R-Phils game right now. Naylor leading 3-1. He is hitting High 80 s on the gun but his curveball has been filthy. Garcia hit his first AA homer and it was a no doubter. Spoke to Tyson Gillies who was quite friendly. He said he has been cleared to run and hopes to play soon.
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