The Reading Fightin’ Phils with rehabbing Chase Utley came to Trenton’s Arm And Hammer Stadium and hammered the arms of the Thunder. Reading pounded out fifteen hits and scored seven runs while tagging starting pitcher Caleb Smith for four runs on eight hits. He was lifted for reliever Cesar Vargas in the fifth inning.
Tonight, though, all eyes of the 6,626 people in attendance were on Chase Utley. The Philadelphia Phillies star second baseman attempting a return to the big club by restoring to form in double A after an ankle injury put him on the disabled list. In the first inning, hitting in his usual three spot in the order, with a ton of scouts and Ruben Amaro looking on, Utley smacked a 2-0 fastball right at the right fielder. In the third he struck out on a 2-2 breaking ball. Utley hit a seeing- eye single to right in the fifth. His only hit of the evening. He moved to second on another single to right by first baseman Brock Stassi. Chase scored on a two RBI double to center by catcher Andrew Knapp. In the seventh with men on first and second, no outs, he hit a shot back at the pitcher who made a nice reflex catch, threw to third forcing out the lead runner and Utley reached first on a fielder’ choice. After that Chase Utley’s night was done and was replaced at second base in the bottom of the seventh by Brodie Greene.
Defensively, Utley had a lot of fielding opportunities. In the first inning he recorded three consecutive assists (ties the record). In the second he turned a slick 4-6-3 double play with J.P. Crawford. Recorded a couple of put outs on fly balls and made a nice heads up double play in the sixth tagging a runner then throwing to first.
Chase Utley’s struggles at the plate this year are etched in the fans’ minds. Tonight his defense was there but his offense not so much.
Since Sunday Chase Utley went from Lehigh Valley –to- Reading- to- Trenton. He’s getting closer to Philadelphia but I think he’s going to need a lot more at bats to return to form and get him the rest of the way down I95.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
