Harrisburg spoils opener for record crowd

By Tony Zonca

READING, Pa. – Playing from behind much of the night, the Harrisburg Senators broke through for single runs in the ninth and 10th innings and defeated the Phillies 6-5 Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Reading’s bullpen surrendered four runs and 10 hits the last four innings, Josh Shortslef taking the loss on Marvin Lowrance’s RBI single.

The loss disappointed a record Opening Night crowd of 8,412, which bettered last year’s record of 8,251.

The Phillies wasted a strong outing from Tyson Brummett, who allowed two runs and five hits over six innings. He struck out two and walked a batter.

Not even five double plays could save this one from becoming a loss.

RBI singles by Tuffy Gosewisch and Neil Sellers had put the Phillies up 2-0 after three innings.

The Senators began flexing their muscles with one out in the fifth, Edgardo Baez shooting a double to right. One out later, Marvin Lowrance, batting for the pitcher, tripled off the wall in center.

They tied it in the sixth on Ian Desmond’s mammoth solo homer to left.

The Phillies scored three runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Ozzie Chavez and Quintin Berry and a wild pitch.

Sergio Escalona blew the save in the ninth when Seth Bynum led off the inning with a homer to right.

The win went to Matt Avery, who pitched two scoreless innings. Zech Zinicola got the save.

PHILLERS: Second baseman Brad Harman, who appeared in six games with the major league Phillies last season, received his championship ring prior to Thursday’s game. Representing the organization were John Nickolas, chief financial officer, and Steve Noworyta, minor league director. . . . Former Phillies John Morris (Reds) and Sean Barton (Diamondbacks) were back at the yard wearing their scouting hats. . . . . Phillies special assistant Dallas Green also was in the house. . . . The Phillies lost a run in the sixth when Brian Stavisky’s line drive to the right side hit the runner, Michael Taylor. . . . Tuffy Gosewich led Reading’s 14-hit attack with three hits, including two doubles. . . . Stavisky also had three hits. . . . Edgardo Baez was 4-for-4 for the Senators. . . . Marvin Lowrance, who entered as a pinch hitter in the fifth, singled in the winning run, tripled and walked twice in four at-bats. . . . The Phillies had hits in each of the first nine innings; they stranded 12 runners.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Shortstop Ozzie Chavez saved a run and took a hit away from Harrisburg’s Seth Bynum when he dove to his right to snare a line drive to end the fifth inning.

This story was posted on April 9, 2009