READING, PA - Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. both logged multi-RBI performances for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) in a 5-4 loss to the Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies) on Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Vlad Jr. drove in his first of two runs in the opening stanza. After back-to-back walks to Jonathan Davis and Bo Bichette were followed by a wild pitch to put runners on second and third, the top Blue Jays prospect rapped a ground ball to third base to score Davis and make it 1-0.

Reading tied it in the second but another RBI groundout for Guerrero Jr. in the third helped the 'Cats retake a one-run advantage.

A four-run fourth for the Fightins put them up for good after they sent nine men to the plate and tallied four hits plus a walk against New Hampshire starter Nick Tepesch (L, 1-2).

Both of Bichette's runs batted in came with two outs in the ninth. After hits from Gunnar Heidt and Pat Cantwell, Baseball America's #8 prospect in all of baseball lined a single to left to plate a pair and made it 5-4. Up stepped Vlad Jr. with a chance to tie the game or take the lead, but a fly out ended the threat and the game.

Conor Fisk tossed three innings of scoreless relief in which he struck out four, allowed two hits and walked one. Andrew Guillotte had two hits in the contest.

The series continues tomorrow night in Baseballtown. #10 Blue Jays prospect (MLB.com) Sean Reid-Foley gets the nod for the Fisher Cats while LHP Ranger Suarez is set to start for the Fightin Phils. Coverage begins with the Fisher Cats Pregame Show at 5:45 p.m. and continues with first pitch at 6:15 p.m. on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network.

New Hampshire returns to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium on Friday, April 27 for the first of three games against the Trenton Thunder. Highlights of the upcoming homestand include 80s Hits Atlas Fireworks on April 28, Kids Run The Bases presented by the New Hampshire State Liquor Commission, Division of Enforcement on April 29, Tall Boy Tuesday featuring $5 Miller, Coors and Twisted Tea before first pitch on May 1 and Education Day presented by EnergyNorth Propane - featuring a special 10:35 a.m. start - on Wednesday, May 2.

►  MORE 2018 Fisher Cats Coverage.


Posted 4/20/18