Rincon Goes Yard In Reading’s 6-1 Loss To Erie

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (66-66, 36-27) dropped their series opener 6-1 against the Erie SeaWolves (78-54, 42-22) in the first of a six-game set to end the regular season.

Erie, who clinched a playoff berth on Sunday, struck first with a four-spot in the third stanza. Luke Shliger (4) lifted a two-run home run to right center field, scoring Chris Myers in the process. Zyhir Hope (Tigers no. 2 prospect) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field shortly after, scoring Seth Stephenson.

The SeaWolves’ exclamation point was a Thayron Liranzo RBI single, sending Woody Haden home before Raylin Heredia threw out Liranzo on his way to second base.

Reading responded in the bottom half of the inning with a Bryan Rincon (24) solo shot to right field. Rincon, the Phillies no. 5 prospect, leads all active R-Phils players in long balls with five games to go in the season. This cut the team’s deficit to 4-1.

Erie found another run in the fourth, as Chris Meyers (8) throttled a solo home run to right field to extend the lead to 5-1.

Neither side scored in the fifth or sixth innings before the SeaWolves used another Shliger (5) solo homer to push the lead back out to 6-1. Fightins reliever Evan Gates finished his day off with two innings of one-run ball.

Daniel Harper covered the seventh and eighth innings, retiring all six batters he faced for his second consecutive outing without allowing a run.

The R-Phils put runners on second and third in the ninth frame, but Caleb Ricketts struck out on a pitch at the knees to end the ball game.

Max Alba (3-5) claimed the win for Erie. The starting right-handed pitcher dialed up five innings of one-run ball, allowing one free pass and striking out two hitters. Alba allowed 10 earned runs across four innings over his last two outings combined before today's performance.

Shliger led the way for the Detroit Tigers’ Double-A affiliate, as the SeaWolves’ starting backstop went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three runs batted in.

Rincon accounted for the team’s only run of the evening, as the Fightin Phils went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

The R-Phils hold a 2.5 game lead over the Somerset Patriots (New York Yankees, Double-A) with five contests to go, and they are 3.5 games up on the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets, Double-A) and the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox, Double-A). Reading’s magic number to get into the postseason is three. It would be the team’s first playoff bid since the 2019 campaign.

Reading returns to the field on Wednesday against the Erie SeaWolves at 6:45 p.m. RHP Gage Wood is scheduled to start for Reading, and he will go opposite RHP Lucas Elissalt. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 6:25 p.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The Fightin Phils remain home through Sunday against the Erie Seawolves, Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Wednesday features a Game-Worn Pinstripe Jersey Auction/Raffle, while Thursday will be a Throwback Jersey Auction/Raffle. Friday night is a Prost Oktoberfest Tribute with fireworks (Savage Auto Group). It will be another Prost Oktoberfest Tribute on Saturday, with Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks (Penske). The series and regular season end on Sunday with Dinosaur Day, featuring Interactive Dinosaur Exhibits.

If the Fightin Phils make the Eastern League Playoffs, they will open the first postseason series on Tuesday, September 15, against the Hartford Yard Goats, Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Reading's magic number is four, with six games to play.

Tickets to all games are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL, or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.