Phillies Minor League Report: Jim Murphy hits two home runs in Reading's win

Here's how the Phillies' minor-league teams fared on Wednesday, July 17:

Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A

The IronPigs (50-48) were idle Wednesday for the Triple A All-Star Game.

Third baseman Cody Asche represented Lehigh Valley at the game as Cesar Hernandez continued his stretch in Double A Reading to play center field. Asche gounded out to the first baseman in his only at bat.

Lehigh Valley's schedule resumes Thursday as the Columbus Clippers comes to town for a four-game series at Coca-Cola Park.

Reading Fightin Phils – Double A

The Fightin Phils edged the Trenton Thunder, 6-5, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa.

Designated hitter Jim Murphy blasted two home runs, a two-run shot in the first and a solo bomb in the third, in the win. He finished 2-for-4 to raise his average to .294. Murphy now leads the Eastern League in homers (18) and is tied for fifth in RBI (61).

Right-handed starter Seth Rosin (7-4, 4.33 ERA) earned the win despite a poor start. He allowed five runs on six hits (one home run) and two walks over six innings.

Relievers Hector Neris, Jay Johnson and Mike Nesseth combined to give up only one hit and throw three scoreless innings to secure the win.

The top of the order, along with cleanup hitter Murphy, lifted the offense. Center fielder Cesar Hernandez (1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored), left fielder Zach Collier (3-for-4 with a triple, a double, an RBI, and two runs scored) and third baseman Maikel Franco (1-for-4 with an RBI) got it done in front of Murphy.

The Fightin Phils improved to 40-55. Left-hander Jesse Biddle will make a start Thursday when a four-game series with the Portland Sea Dogs begins.

Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced

The Threshers fell to the Bradenton Marauders, 9-3, at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla.

Right-handed Severino Gonzalez (1-2, 2.51 ERA) got off to a rocky start in the game, putting Clearwater in a 3-0 hole after two innings.

The Threshers were able to storm back. In the fourth, they crawled within a run with a two-out rally. Center fielder Aaron Altherr drew a walk to allow second baseman Carlos Alonso and left fielder Peter Lavin to notch back-to-back RBI doubles. In the fifth, Clearwater evened the score with a bases-loaded RBI groundout from designated hitter Cameron Perkins.

However, Gonzalez allowed a three-run fifth en route to the loss. He finished with six runs (four earned) allowed on seven hits (one home run) and three walks while striking out five over five innings.

Lavin had two of Clearwater's six hits in the game.

The Threshers dropped to 46-45. The series continues Thursday. Clearwater has not announced a starter yet.

Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A

The BlueClaws defeated the Augusta GreenJackets, 5-4, in 10 innings at Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta, Ga.

Lakewood blew two leads in the game, but came out victorious in extra innings.

The first lead came in the second, when shortstop Angelo Mora delivered a two-out, two-run double.

Trailing 3-2 in the sixth, the BlueClaws took another lead. This time, first baseman Art Charles knocked a two-run homer out of the park for a 4-3 lead. It was hit ninth jack of the season.

The bullpen couldn't hold the lead, but third baseman Mitch Walding scored on a wild pitch for the winning run.

Second baseman Jonathan Roof (2-for-5), designated hitter Willie Carmona (2-for-5) and Mora (2-for-3) had multi-hit games.

The win lifted the BlueClaws to 38-55. Righty Jonathan Musser (1-4, 5.21 ERA) gets the ball for Lakewood as the series continues Thursday.

Williamsport Crosscutters - Class A-Short Season

The Crosscutters lost to the Hudson Valley Renegades, 7-3, at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa.

Right-hander Shane Martin (1-2, 4.39 ERA) was let down by his defense and suffered the loss. He allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk over four innings.

The bullpen couldn't stop the bleeding and Williamsport was down 7-1 in the middle of the sixth.

Catcher Gabriel Lino (2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored) and first baseman Logan Pierce (2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored) were bright spots on offense for the Crosscutters.

The Crosscutters are now 15-13. Williamsport will trot right-hander Mitch Gueller (3-1, 3.63 ERA) out to the mound as the series continues Thursday.

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