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This was a two day get away for Jill and I. We started out the day on Saturday driving to Reading, PA and shopping at the Vanity Fair Outlets. When we had exhausted most of our shopping options in Big Red and Big Blue, we went to the Buca di Beppo on Paper Mill Road in Wyomissing. After lunch, we tried to hit a couple of other outlet centers in Reading, both of which were located downtown, only to find that both were now vacant. Considering the condition of the neighborhoods around the outlet centers, it wasn't surprising that they couldn't attract buisnesses there anymore. We headed back to Vanity Fair and shopped in the smaller buildings up front, and then headed to the baseball game.
FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading is one of my favorite parks to visit. Granted, this was only the third time I had ever been there, but there is something about this place that draws me back. The main stands of the stadium are somewhere in the range of 40 to 50 years old, but the space remains as roomy and comfortable as the newer stadiums we have been in. As you sit and look out over the rest of the stadium, it's obvious that much of it has been tastefully piecemealed together, and pretty much anywhere they could put seating around the field, they have. It's warranted too, since Reading is always one of the top draws in all of AA ball, this night being no exception. One problem we did have though was parking. One would think with as consistent as the Phillies are at drawing large crowds night after night, they would do a better job of giving people a place to park. Around the stadium, various parking lots exist, but no signage exists to actually tell people where they can park, if it costs anything, if it's 'restricted' parking, etc.
Stayed at Hampton Inn Philadelphia/King of Prussia (530 West Dekalb Pike Route 202, King of Prussia, PA)
On Sunday, we got up bright and early and headed for Trenton. We found the Mercer County Waterfront Park without a problem, and parked just outside of the main entrance. After getting our tickets from will call, we made our way into the stadium via the main staircase. Mercer County had a large open concourse that looked out onto the field, with a wide array of concessions along it. It was pretty hot that day, and we got a bit sun burned sitting in the sun. We headed home after the game.
Merchan deep sixes Aeros
By Tony Zonca
Reading, PA -- Jesus Merchan is not a home-run hitter. The Phillies shortstop goes yard about as often as Dick Cheyney bags a quail, Paris Hilton pulls on pantyhose or Andy Reid gives his boys the key to the car these days.
Unless you've been wintering in Outer Mongolia, you know how often those events have happened lately.
Merchan, whose home run total the last three seasons was a grand total of one, smacked a pair of bombs, singled twice and tied a career high with six RBIs as the Phillies slammed five homers and routed the Akron Aeros 13-7 Saturday night before 8,813 on -- you guessed it -- fireworks night.
The 9-hole hitter, the nine-season veteran began the night batting .273 with two RBIs and a pair of doubles in 33 at-bats. He walked off with a .351 batting average, eight ribbies and those two homers.
"It was one of the greatest nights of my career," Merchan said, "and I'm going to enjoy it. It was one of those nights when you feel pretty comfortable and you think you can hit anything they throw."
In case you were wondering, the last time the Phillies totaled five home runs in a game came on June 25, 2005, at Trenton.
Home runs by Merchan, Brian Burgamy and Greg Jacobs -- the latter a three-run shot -- were the big blows in a six-run third inning. Jacobs' bomb, which hit a billboard above the pool in right field at FirstEnergy Stadium, came two pitches after he fouled a pitch off his left knee, which needed the attention of athletic trainer Jason Kirkman.
The Aeros (7-5), who had gone down in order the first three innings off Tim McClaskey (1-1), got two runs back in the fourth on Jordan Brown's two-run homer.
The fun had just started. Phillies DH Juan Tegeda slugged a solo homer off the scoreboard to make it 8-2 after four innings. Rodney Choy Foo, off to a torrid start, ripped a solo shot to right in the fifth to cut the lead to 8-3. Any comebacking thoughts the Aeros had were shattered in the Phillies' half on Merchan's three-run clout, which jacked the lead to 11-4.
With the victory, the Phillies (9-5) jumped over the Aeros into first place in the Eastern League's Southern Division.
And somewhere Jesus Merchan is toasting a career night.
PHILLIES: With a double in the fourth inning, the Aeros' Asdrubal Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 12 games. . . . Home runs accounted for 12 of the first 14 runs Saturday. . . . Jesus Merchan's other six-RBI game came July 26 in Portland. . . . Three Aeros were hit by pitches. . . . The Phillies set team highs for the season in runs scored in a game (13) and an inning (6), most hits in a game (17) and an inning (6, tied), most home runs (5) in a game and an inning (3) and tied for most extra-base hits in a game (7).. . . The last time a Phillie had four hits in a game came August 23 -- Brandon Gemoll in New Hampshire. . . Everybody in the Phillies lineup had at least one hit. The previous two nights, both losses to the Aeros in which they scored a run each game, they totaled seven hits. . . . Mike Costanzo was 3-for-5 with two runs and Greg Jacobs doubled and homered and knocked in three runs. . . . Oddly, the only Phillie who didn't score was leadoff man Javon Moran, who began the night leading the league in runs with 14. . . . Almost lost in the offensive onslaught were outstanding defensive plays by Phillies second baseman Joey Hammond, center fielder Moran and left fielder Burgamy, a diving snag in foul territory that was the capper of the night.
Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Akron
BATTING
BASERUNNING
FIELDING
a-Grounded into a forceout for Cabrera, A in the 8th.
Reading
BATTING
FIELDING
Akron
Reading
Balk: McClaskey, T.
Thunder top B-Mets
Matt Carson's two-run single keyed a four-run second inning that carried Trenton to a 7-4 victory over visiting Binghamton on Sunday.
Leading, 1-0, the Thunder (11-2) took command in the second with a rally sparked by Carson's bases-loaded single, driving in P.J. Pilittere and Justin Christian. Juan Franco also had an RBI base hit during the outburst, while Brett Gardner's ground-ball double play brought home the final run of the inning.
Christian chipped in his first homer of the season, a solo shot in the eighth.
Mike Carp went 3-for-5 for the Mets (3-7), hitting his second home run of the campaign, also a solo blast in the eighth.
Jason Jones (1-0) went five innings, allowing one run on six hits while fanning four without issuing a walk to earn the win. Gerardo Casadiego pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up one hit while striking out three and walking one in picking up his third save.
Salvador Aguilar (0-1) surrendered five runs -- four earned -- on six hits over 3 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking three in the loss. --Alan Friedman/MLB.com
Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Binghamton
BATTING
BASERUNNING
FIELDING
Trenton
BATTING
BASERUNNING
FIELDING
Binghamton
Trenton
WP: Aguilar.
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Page Last Updated: January 19, 2010
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