The Philadelphia Phillies fell to the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday night, but Spencer Howard, the organization’s top pitching prospect, gave fans a reason to head to bed happy.
Howard took the mound for Double-A Reading in Game 1 of the Eastern League Divisional Series on Wednesday night against the Trenton Thunder. Howard came out pumping strikes, striking out five of the first eight batters he faced, topping out at 98 mph.
The Fightin Phils built a 3-0 lead going into the sixth inning, and by this time, Howard had still not allowed a hit. Howard would lose his no-hitter with one out in the sixth, and the Thunder would push a run across the plate in the inning.