Photo courtesy Terry Byrom

Aiming for their fifth straight win, the Senators struggled against the Phillies’ top prospect pitcher Jesse Biddle, but relied on late-game heroics by Sandy Leon to erase a two-run deficit with one swing and send the game into extra innings. Unfortunately, Harrisburg couldn’t cash in with a 10th inning rally and Reading walked off with a 4-3 victory two batters later.

Senators starter Paul Demny worked out of trouble numerous times and did his best to minimize damage as he allowed only 3 runs despite giving up ten hits in 5.2 innings of work. Relievers Matt Swynenberg, Ian Krol, and Aaron Barrett held Reading scoreless until the game went extra frames.

In the tenth inning, the Senators had a great chance as they loaded the bases on a fielding error, a hit batsman, and a base on balls. That brought Leon up with two outs and an opportunity to put the Senators up for the first time all night. A flyout to right field ended the threat and the top half of the inning. The Senators wouldn’t get another chance as Reading plated the gamewinner in the bottom half of the inning.

Player of the Game: Sandy Leon (2-4, 1 R, 3 RBI)

From the Windup

• The game marked the third extra-inning affair the Senators have played, and the first one they’ve lost.

• Matt Skole is scheduled to undergo surgery tomorrow from the injury he suffered in the second game of the season.

• Justin Bloxom recorded the Senators first Golden Sombrero of the season as he struck out in all five of his plate appearances.

• It took Marcos Frias all but four pitches to collar the loss as he surrendered a triple to Albert Cartwright and game-winning single to Edgar Duran.

• The newest members of the Senators, Francisco Soriano and Randolph Oduber, were both in the starting lineup and went a collective 1 for 8 with four strikeouts.

• Josh Johnson drew a pinch-hit walk in the ninth inning to mark his first game action since last Thursday night.

• The Reading Baseball Club came into the game leading the Eastern League with 16 stolen bases and they kept running Tuesday night. They stole three bases off the Demny/Leon battery, but were also caught stealing twice as well.

• The Phillies’ #14 prospect Sebastian Valle made his first-ever professional appearance in left field after seemingly being passed over on the organizational depth chart at catcher by Tommy Joseph and Cameron Rupp.