For the first time since 2001, the Phillies Double-A affiliate is headed to the Eastern League Championship Series after a three-game sweep of the defending champion Binghamton Mets. The Fightin Phils won game one behind a four-RBI night from Brock Stassi on Wednesday. On Friday night, after a Thursday rainout, Jake Thompson hurled a three-hit shutout, pushing Reading one game closer to advancing. On Saturday night in Reading, home runs by top prospects J.P. Crawford and Nick Williams paired with a strong performance on the mound from Phillies 12th ranked prospect Ben Lively led the Fightin Phils to a 4-2 win. They will take on the Bowie Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in the best-of-five championship series, beginning on Tuesday.
J.P. Crawford got Reading started with a one-out solo home run to right center field in the first inning.
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In the second, Dylan Cozens led-off with a double. Harold Martinez singled, moving Cozens to third and Angelo Mora plated Cozens with a sacrifice fly to left. After Ben Lively went down on strikes, Nick Williams extended the Reading lead to 4-0 on a two-out, two-run homer to right, his second of the postseason.
Crawford finished the night 1-for-2 at the plate with a home run and three walks. Nick Williams lone hit in five at-bats was his two-run home run to extend Reading's lead to 4-0 in the second inning. Meanwhile, Dylan Cozens continued his hot swing at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored.
The B-Mets got their two runs courtesy of a Joe Benson two-run homer in the fourth.
Ben Lively pitched an effective five innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five and walking one. Reinier Roibal took over for him in the sixth and retired the side in order. Ryan walked two in and struck out one in a scoreless seventh while Jimmy Cordero didn't allow a run in the eighth. Closer Stephen Shakleford earned the save in the ninth, sending Reading to the championship series.
Reading and Bowie will begin the 2015 Eastern League Championship Series on Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. First pitch is set for 7:05pm. The Fightin Phils will host the first two games of the series before playing game three and games four and five, if necessary, in Reading. Though starters aren't announced, it is likely that Zach Eflin will get the call in game one for Reading. He pitched in game one against Binghamton and allowed two runs in seven innings. He struck out four and walked one.
