Phillies Minor League Report: Fightin Phils break attendance during win
Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A
The IronPigs may have donned Thriller uniforms Thursday, but there was nothing thrilling about their losing streak climbing to five games after being swept by the Pawtucket Red Sox at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.
Due to their game being suspended because of rain Wednesday, the IronPigs and the Red Sox had to play a makeshift doubleheader Thursday that saw Pawtucket win the first game 7-2 and the second 5-1.
The first game picked up in the bottom of the fourth with the IronPigs trailing only 3-2. The Red Sox managed to extend their lead during the fifth thanks to a run off Ethan Martin.
The Red Sox pulled away from the IronPigs with three runs during the eighth off Jeremy Horst. As a result, starter Sean O'Sullivan was dealt the loss after tossing four innings where he gave up three runs on five hits. He also walked five batters.
What made matters worse was the fact that the IronPigs recorded only two hits, which came from center fielder Leandro Castro and designated hitter Russ Canzier. Both Castro and Canzier were responsible for Lehigh Valley's runs.
Game 2 was more of the same, as the IronPigs continued to struggle from the plate. The IronPigs managed four more hits, but plated one less run, which came courtesy of an RBI hit from right fielder Tyler Henson. The RBI was his 38th of the season.
Starter Brad Lincoln was handed the loss after he allowed four runs on seven hits during 6.1 innings of work. He also recorded eight strikeouts. His record now sits at 5-6.
The IronPigs will continue their road trip at 7:05 p.m. Friday when they play the Buffalo Bisons at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, N.Y. Left-hander Greg Smith (7-7, 4.12 ERA) is scheduled to start for Lehigh Valley.
Reading Fightin Phils – Double A
In front of the largest crowd in franchise history, and a national television audience watching on the CBS Sports Network, the Fightin Phils slugged their way to a 6-1 win over the Akron RubberDucks at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading.
A crowd of 9,967 packed into FirstEnergy Stadium and was rewarded right off the bat when designated hitter Jake Fox launched a two-run homer to give the Fightin Phils an early advantage.
Both teams were kept off the scoreboard until the bottom of the seventh when third baseman Carlos Alonso hit Reading's second two-run homer to increase the lead to 4-0.
After Akron plated a run during the top of the eighth, Fox and center fielder Aaron Altherr came through with RBI hits to put the game out of reach.
Fox finished 2-for-3 with three RBI. The homer was his 14th of the season and he is now up to 42 RBI.
Alonso's homer was his ninth of the year and his only hit of the night, as he went 1-for-4. He now has 29 RBI on the season. Altherr drove in his 38th run during the eighth.
Right fielder Kelly Dugan joined in the on the fun as well, going 2-for-3 and crossing home plate on two occasions.
The Reading pitching staff held up its end as well by allowing a total of six hits between three pitchers. Despite walking five batters, starter Ryan O'Sullivan tossed five scoreless innings where he allowed only two hits. He earned the win, which improved him to 5-5 on the season.
Colton Murray followed suit with two scoreless innings of his own. Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez didn't garner the save, but allowed only two hits and struck out three batters during two innings.
After taking the series opener, the Fightin Phils will take on the RubberDucks again at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Adam Loewen (1-3, 4.00 ERA) will start.
Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced
Catcher Gabriel Lino spurred a six-run fourth inning for the Threshers, as they defeated the Jupiter Hammerheads, 7-4, at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla.
Lino drove in four runs Thursday, including three on a bases-clearing double during the fourth. Lino finished the game 2-for-4 and increased his RBI total to 19.
However, Lino wasn't alone in his offensive showcase. The Threshers recorded 12 hits as a team, including two from both designated hitter Everett Williams and shortstop J.P. Crawford.
Center fielder Roman Quinn posted a good outing as well by going 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Starter Miguel Nunez improved his record to 4-7 after tossing six innings where he allowed only one run on two hits. Ulises Joaquin shut the door on the Hammerheads to gain his second of the season.
The Threshers and the Hammerheads will lock up again at 6:35 p.m. Friday. Aaron Nola (1-3, 3.80 ERA) will take the mound for Clearwater.
Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A
Hits from seven members of the lineup helped the BlueClaws bounce back to defeat the Greenville Drive, 8-3, at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood Township, N.J.
The BlueClaws recorded 11 hits Thursday, as four members of the lineup recorded two hits. Among them were Dylan Cozens, center fielder Carlos Tocci and second baseman Andrew Pullin, who all went 2-for-4 and first baseman Zach Green, who went 2-for-3.
Cozens led the way as he drove in two runs to bring his total on the season to 44. Third baseman Mitch Walding also drove in two runs and now has 35 and designated hitter Willians Astudillo increased total 48 with one RBI.
Starting pitcher Jon Prosinski put together a good outing as well, as he allowed only one run (none earned) on five hits during six innings. He earned the win, which moved him to 4-3 on the year.
Delvi Francisco earned a three-inning save to gain his first of the season.
After splitting the first two games in the series, the BlueClaws will play the Drive again at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Yacksel Rios (3-0, 3.45 ERA) will start for Lakewood.
Williamsport Crosscutters – Class A-Short Season
The Crosscutters earned their third victory in a row by way of a 5-1 win over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Susquehanna Bank Park at Bowman Field in Williamsport Thursday.
After falling behind 1-0, the Crosscutters surged ahead of the Scrappers during the bottom of the third thanks to RBI hits from center fielder Jiandido Tromp and designated hitter Aaron Brown.
The Crosscutters plated some insurance runs during the eighth thanks to a sacrifice fly from first baseman Rhys Hoskins and an RBI-triple from right fielder Cord Sandberg.
Tromp led the way for the Crosscutters by going 3-for-3 from the plate with an RBI and a triple. Sandberg only went 1-for-4, but drove in two RBI in the process.
Williamsport starter Feliberto Sanchez allowed all five of the Mahoning Valley hits. He earned the victory after he only one run during his five innings of work.
Edubray Ramos, Manny Martinez and Jesen Therrien all stymied the Scrappers, as they collectively tossed four hitless innings. Therrien earned his first save of the season as a result.
The Crosscutters get another crack at the Scrappers at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Alejandro Arteaga (1-4, 4.89 ERA) is scheduled to start for Williamsport.