Reading one win away from Eastern League title

Jake Thompson, image- Jay Floyd

Jake Thompson starred once again for the Double-A Reading Fightins on Thursday, as he led his club to a 9-3 victory over the Bowie Baysox to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Eastern League Championship Series.

The 21-year-old right-hander got the win, allowing one earned run on four hits over seven innings while striking out five and walking three.

The victory for Thompson put his record at 6-1 with a 1.48 ERA over nine starts for Reading since he was acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade this summer.

Eight of the nine Fightin Phils batters collected at least one hit. Center fielder Nick Williams, another talented youngster the Phils brought over from Texas, notched two hits including a home run, his third of the postseason, and drove in a pair of runs.

Shortstop J.P. Crawford went 2-for-3 with a walk while driving in a run on a sacrifice fly. The organization's top prospect is 10-for-21 (.476 avg) in six postseason contests.

Third baseman Harold Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI.

Reading will look to win the EL title for the first time since 1995 on Friday night in game 4 at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie.

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