The Richmond Flying Squirrels fell behind early and couldn’t recover in a 5-3 loss to the Reading Fightin Phils on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond.

Reading (24-49, 4-2 second half) used a five-run burst through the first four innings to take the series win over Richmond (23-50-1, 2-4), which dropped the final two games of the set to open the Eastern League’s second half.

The Fightin Phils struck early against Squirrels starter Manuel Mercedes (3-9), who gave up a leadoff double to Aidan Miller in the first inning. Miller later scored on a single by Jose Rodriguez to give Reading a 1-0 lead.

Mercedes escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third but couldn’t hold back the Fightins in the fourth. Dylan Campbell drove in Felix Reyes with a double, then scored on an RBI single by Alex Binelas. Later in the inning, Carson DeMartini added a two-run single to push the lead to 5-0 and chase Mercedes from the game.

Richmond’s bullpen held strong, with five relievers — Nick Sinacola, Helcris Olivarez, Michael Stryffeler, Marques Johnson and Braxton Roxby — combining for 5.1 scoreless innings. The Squirrels bullpen has now posted a 0.60 ERA (3 earned runs in 45.1 innings) over the last 11 games.

The Squirrels broke up the shutout in the fifth with a run-scoring groundout by Aeverson Arteaga. Onil Perez cut the deficit to 5-3 in the sixth with a two-run double.

Reading reliever Andrew Bechtold entered for the final out of the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save. Jean Cabrera (3-4) picked up the win for the Fightins.

The Squirrels had Monday off before a home series against the Chesapeake Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The team will also host Star-Spangled Squirrels Fest on Friday night, featuring fireworks, music and holiday-themed food and drinks.