J.P. Crawford helps Reading win Game 3 of Eastern League Championship Series

Jake Thompson and J.P. Crawford led the way as the Reading Fightin' Phils beat the Bowie Baysox, 9-3, to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern League Championship Series.

Crawford got Reading on the board first at Bowie's Prince George's Stadium, hitting a sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning that drove in KC Serna. In the fourth, Harold Martinez's two-run double extended the Fightins' lead to 3-0.

Nick Williams kept the hit parade going in the fifth inning, leading off the frame with a solo home run on the second pitch of the at-bat. Reading then scored five runs in the sixth inning, including a RBI single by Williams and a ground rule double by Andrew Knapp that drove in two more.

Meanwhile, Fightins' starting pitcher Jake Thompson was cruising. He allowed one run on four hits in seven innings, with five strikeouts and three walks. Closer Stephen Shackleford gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but recovered and finished the game off.

Game four of the series, at Bowie, is set for Friday night at 7:05 p.m.