Phillies Minor League Report: Willians Astudillo's four RBI lifts BlueClaws to victory
Here’s a rundown on how the Phillies’ minor league teams fared on Saturday, April 5:
Here's a rundown of how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Saturday, April 5:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A
The IronPigs attempted a late rally, but fell to the Pawtucket Red Sox, 6-4, at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I.
Right-handed starter Sean O'Sullivan surrendered four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings to put the IronPigs in an early hole. O'Sullivan served up a two-run home run in the second inning to put the Red Sox on the scoreboard.
Relievers Phillippe Aumont and Shawn Camp struck out a batter in their scoreless innings of work.
The Lehigh Valley offense was quiet for much of the game, but came alive in the seventh. Trailing 6-0, designated hitter Jim Murphy and first baseman Reid Brignac drew walks to start the inning and scored on catcher Koyie Hill's two-RBI double. Hill would come around to score on a fielding error. Right fielder Steve Susdorf also drew a walk and scored on a RBI groundout from shortstop Andrew Blanco.
That's as close as the IronPigs would get as the Red Sox closed out the win.
Third baseman Maikel Franco went 1-for-4 with a double in the eighth inning.
The IronPigs dropped to 1-2 on the season and will look to split their opening series with the Red Sox on Sunday. Righty Jonathan Pettibone makes the start for Lehigh Valley.
Reading Fightin Phils – Double A
The Fightin Phils edged the Portland Sea Dogs, 3-2, for their first win of the season at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa.
Left-handed starter Hoby Milner gave up a run in each of the first two innings, but the offense let him off the hook. Milner allowed those two runs on six hits and three walks over five innings. He recorded three strikeouts. Milner did not factor in the decision.
Trailing 2-0 in the second inning, designated hitter Sebastian Valle and third baseman Carlos Alonso reached on singles to start the threat. Valle would be wiped out at the plate as left fielder Anthony Hewitt grounded into a fielder's choice. A batter later, right fielder Edgar Duran tied the game with a two-run double. The Fightin Phils loaded the bases, but were unable to plate any more runs.
The game remained tied until the seventh inning when Reading pushed across the game-winning run. First baseman Cam Perkins reached on a lead-off double and scored a batter later on right fielder Kelly Dugan's RBI single.
Right-handed closer Ken Giles walked one and allowed another baserunner with a single, but struck out three in nail down the win in the ninth inning and record his first save.
Perkins (2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and a run scored), Dugan (2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk) and Duran (1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a strikeout) fueled the offense.
The Fightin Phils are now 1-2 on the season. The series concludes Sunday as Reading will send righty Perci Garner to the mound.
Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced
The Threshers were pounded by the Dunedin Blue Jays, 8-2, at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Fla.
The Clearwater pitching staff served up 17 hits in the loss. Righty Jon Prosinski took the loss for his four-inning start. He was charged with four runs (three earned) on nine hits and a walk.
Former Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ earned the win, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out five over five innings.
The Threshers only managed five hits in the loss.
In the third inning, second baseman Anthony Phillips drew a one-out walk and later scored on shortstop KC Serna's RBI groundout. Left fielder Justin Parr doubled and scored on center fielder Peter Lavin's two-out single.
Lavin accounted for three of the Threshers' five hits. Lavin tripled and singled twice in four at bats.
The Threshers fell to 1-2 on the season. Righty Miguel Nunez takes the ball for Clearwater in the series finale Sunday.
Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A
The BlueClaws surged ahead of the Savannah Sand Gnats early and won, 6-2, at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Ga.
Right-handed starter Alejandro Arteaga allowed a home run in the first inning, but settled down for the win. He gave up two runs on five hits over five innings, striking out six batters.
Lakewood took the lead in the second and never looked back. Third baseman Zach Green and designated hitter Larry Greene walked and scored on catcher Gabriel Lino's two-out, two-RBI double for a 2-1 lead.
In the fourth inning, first baseman Willians Astudillo delivered another two-out double for the BlueClaws to clear the bases. Left fielder Samuel Hiciano and Greene both singled and Lino drew a walk to load the bases and set the table for Astudillo.
Astudillo would add an RBI single in the sixth to score Lino for cap the scoring for the BlueClaws.
Right fielder Dylan Cozens (2-for-5 with two strikeouts) and Astudillo (2-for-4 with a double and four RBI) had multi-hit games.
The BlueClaws improved to 2-1 and will wrap up the series Sunday with right-hander Ranfi Casimiro toeing the rubber.