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Phillies Double-A catcher delivers go-ahead grand slam in championship-clinching game: ‘Pretty unbelievable’

READING, Pa. — The ball clanged off a light pole in right-center field, sending the announced crowd of 7,010 into a frenzy. It had been 31 years since the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils had won an outright Eastern League title…

By Ty Daubert · Phillies Nation

Published: Wednesday, 23 September 2026 at 10:26 PM

Key Things to Know

Reading defeated Erie 13-4 to capture their first outright Eastern League title in 31 years.
Caleb Ricketts hit a decisive go-ahead grand slam off Colin Fields in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The victory concluded Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series in front of 7,010 fans.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Philadelphia Phillies minor-league catcher Caleb Ricketts hit a go-ahead grand slam on Tuesday night to lead the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils to a 13-4 championship-clinching victory over Erie at FirstEnergy Stadium. With the score tied in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 2, Ricketts hit a full-count pitch off Colin Fields to secure Reading's first outright Eastern League title in 31 years.

The 26-year-old catcher split the season between Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Reading, having been reassigned in June following a difficult start. Fightins manager Al Pedrique praised Ricketts for his swing adjustments and resilience after returning to Double-A, where he recorded a .773 OPS over 54 games.

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