Reading drops Lehigh Valley in final preseason tune up

Mickey Moniak, image- Jay Floyd

ALLENTOWN, PA-- Double-A Reading batted around in the opening frame, plating five runs against Triple-A Lehigh Valley starter Drew Anderson and never looked back, dropping the host team by a score of 7-3 in the annual Rt. 222 Showcase exhibition.

Right fielder Adam Haseley led off the first with a double and came around to score on a single by center fielder Mickey Moniak.  Shortstop Arquimedes Gamboa also drove in two with a key hit in the first.

Anderson would calm down following the shaky start, looking in control and retiring 10 in a row and recording four K's as he completed four innings of work.

Reading starting pitcher Mauricio "MoYo" Llovera surrendered a pair of runs in the second inning on an error and a run scoring single by Shane Robinson.

Left fielder Cornelius Randolph notched three hits on the night, including an RBI double.

The Fightins lead the all-time exhibition series six games to four.

The IronPigs will open their season at home on Thursday when they host Rochester with Jerad Eickhoff taking the hill.

The remainder of Lehigh Valley's six-man pitching rotation will feature, in order, Cole Irvin, Enyel De Los Santos, Ranger Suarez, Drew Anderson and lastly JoJo Romero.

Reading opens the regular season on the road, as they visit Portland to open a four-game series starting Thursday.  Ramon Rosso will get the start on the mound in the opener.

Per Fightins manager Shawn Williams, the opening day starter was slated to be Connor Seabold, but he is sidelined with an injury for, at least, the first turn through the rotation. Reading's pitching rotation will be rounded out by, in order, Adonis Medina, David Parkinson, Llovera and Bailey Falter.