Phillies Minor League Report: Maikel Franco records three RBI in IronPigs' loss
Here's how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Wednesday, August 13.
Here's how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Wednesday, August 13:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A
The IronPigs blew a lead in extra innings and lost to the Columbus Clippers, 6-5, in 10 innings at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Lehigh Valley surged out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, thanks to designated hitter Maikel Franco's solo home run in the first and two-run single in the second. Third baseman Cesar Hernandez added an RBI groundout.
Franco now has 11 home runs and 62 RBI to go along with a .246 average on the season.
The four-run lead wasn't enough for right-handed starter Jason Marquis, who gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings.
The game would head to extras tied at four apiece until first baseman Russ Canzler blasted a solo home run to give the IronPigs the lead in the 10th inning.
However, right-handed closer Luis Garcia surrendered two unearned runs on two hits, a walk and a costly error for the loss.
The IronPigs (58-67) will look for a series split with righty Brad Lincoln (6-8, 4.69 ERA) on the bump in the finale on Thursday.
Reading Fightin Phils – Double A
The Fightin Phils split a doubleheader with the Harrisburg Senators at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg, Pa.
In the first game, the Fightin Phils won, 8-4.
Right-handed starter Aaron Nola was roughed up in his second double-A start. Nola served up three solo home runs in four innings of work. He allowed six hits and walked one while striking out two.
A six-run fourth lifted the Fightin Phils to victory.
Right fielder Kelly Dugan (2-for-4 with a triple, a run scored, two RBI and a strikeout) and first baseman Jake Fox (2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI) powered the offense.
Reading fell, 9-6, in the second game.
Center fielder Aaron Altherr started things off right with a three-run home run in the first.
Unfortunately, a three-run first off right-handed starter Mike Nesseth and a six-run sixth off relievers Austin Wright and Colton Murray sunk the Fightin Phils.
Reading (54-69) will turn to righty Severino Gonzalez (7-12, 5.05 ERA) when the series concludes on Thursday.
Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced
The Threshers were outlasted by the Dunedin Blue Jays, 9-5, in 10 innings at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.
The offense handed right-handed starter Miguel Nunez leads of 2-0 and 3-2, but he couldn't hold them. Nunez was charged with four runs on five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.
Trailing 5-3 in the eighth, left fielder Brandon Short evened the score with a two-run homer to send the game to extra innings. It was Short's fourth homer of the season.
Righty Ulises Joaquin was rocked in the 10th as he gave up four runs on five hits in the frame.
Center fielder Roman Quinn went 1-for-5 with a strikeout, but crushed his fifth homer of the season.
The Threshers (22-30 in second half, 39-81 overall) will hand the ball to righty Mark Leiter (2-3, 5.26 ERA) as the series shifts to Dunedin on Thursday.
Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A
The BlueClaws fell to the Greensboro Grasshoppers, 7-5, in 10 innings at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, N.C.
Lakewood was swept in a three-game series and lost five games in a row.
Like most of the Phillies' farm system, the BlueClaws also blew a pair of leads en route to a loss. The offense created leads of 4-0 and 5-4 before the pitching staff imploded.
Left fielder Willians Astudillo (4-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored) and third baseman Mitch Walding (3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored, three RBI and a strikeout) combined for half of the BlueClaws' 14 hits.
Right-handed starter Yacksel Rios struggled in his outing and gave up four runs on nine hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings.
Righty Frank Rivas served up a walk-off, two-run home run without recording an out in the 10th inning.
The BlueClaws (19-34 in second half, 46-76 overall) return home to for a four-game series with the Hagerstown Suns. Righty Ranfi Casimiro (4-9, 5.21 ERA) is slated to start the opener on Thursday.
Williamsport Crosscutters – Class A-Short Season
The Crosscutters lost both ends of a doubleheader to the Batavia Muckdogs at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa.
In the first game, the Crosscutters fell, 5-2.
Right-handed starter Feliberto Sanchez (2-7, 5.93 ERA) took the loss as he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, a walk and a hit batsman over five innings.
Catcher Sean McHugh delivered a two-run double in the sixth to prevent a shutout.
Things didn't get better in the second game as the Crosscutters suffered a 4-1 defeat.
The Crosscutters' lone run came in the first. Center fielder Jiandido Tromp singled and scored on first baseman Rhys Hoskins' RBI groundout.
Right-handed starter Alejandro Arteaga (1-7, 4.90 ERA) couldn't hold the lead and was stuck with the loss. He gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk in five innings.
The Crosscutters (26-33) will turn to righty Ricardo Pinto (0-3, 2.57 ERA) in the series finale on Thursday.