My First Look at the R-Phils

About 40 minutes from my home, New Britain Stadium is the home of the Twins Eastern League farm club. Their opponents, the Reading Phillies, feature 1st baseman Matthew Rizzotti, a former Manhattan College star enjoying a breakout year in 2010, hitting well over .300 with home run power.
After a few pre-game practice swings, he gave a ball to a young fan.
Reading scored a 1st inning run when Rich Thompson slid in just ahead of the tag.
From Rizzotti's second at-bat of the game, where he eventually grounded out.
Below, in a cozy park without the traditional on-deck circles, Rizzotti waits his third turn at bat just in front of the foul screen.
The bat boys chatting between innings.
Reading came from behind in the 8th inning, with a three-run rally that gave them a lead. Rizzotti got his only hit of the evening, a hard-hit single through the middle of the infield.
Following the final out of their 4-2 victory, time to congratulate R-Phils reliever Sergio Escalona.

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