Phillies Minor League Report: Cesar Hernandez records four hits

Here's how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Thursday, Aug. 28:

Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A

Despite garnering 15 hits, the IronPigs fell to the Pawtucket Red Sox, 8-5, Thursday at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.

Shortstop Cesar Hernandez led the IronPigs from the plate by going 4-for-4 with an RBI, a double and a triple.

Right fielder Cam Perkins also posted a productive outing, finishing 3-for-4. Despite the abundance of hits, the IronPigs went a mere 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position and left 14 runners on base.

To make matters worse, the Lehigh Valley pitching staff let up 13 hits, including seven at the expense of starter Jeff Manship.

Manship only lasted 3.1 innings where he gave up four runs (three earned). He did manage to record five strikeouts.

The loss, however, was dealt to Phillippe Aumont after he surrendered four runs during the seventh inning that put the Red Sox firmly in front. Aumont's record dropped to 3-3 as a result.

After splitting a two-game series with the Red Sox, the IronPigs will host a three-game set against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, beginning at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Jason Marquis (2-1, 4.20 ERA) is scheduled to start.

Reading Fightin Phils – Double-A

A solid outing from starting pitcher Hoby Milner helped the Fightin Phils shut down the Portland Sea Dogs during a 3-1 victory Thursday at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine.

The Fightin Phils took the last three games of the four-game set and held the Sea Dogs to no more than three runs during all four games.

The Sea Dogs recorded 10 hits Thursday, seven of which came off Milner. Milner earned his 10th win of the season after allowing only one run in six innings of work.

Kyle Simon took over for Milner and tossed a three-inning save where he allowed only three hits. The save was Simon's second of the season.

The Fightin Phils only recorded five hits, but received timely ones from second baseman Carlos Alonso.

Alonso finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI, which brought his season total up to 41. Shortstop KC Serna joined Alonso by also going 2-for-4.

After taking three out of from the Sea Dogs, the Fightin Phils will wrap up the 2014 season with a four-game series with the Trenton Thunder Arm & Hammer Park in Trenton, N.J., starting at 7:05 p.m. Friday.

Aaron Nola (1-0, 3.32 ERA) is slated to start for Reading.

Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced

For five innings, Colin Klevin was putting together a strong start, but ran into a heap of trouble during the sixth, which contributed to the Threshers falling to the Tampa Yankees, 8-2 in the home finale at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.

Klevin let up seven runs during the frame, which turned the game from a 1-1 tie to a commanding 8-1 lead for the Yankees.

Klevin was unceremoniously removed from the mound after 5.1 innings where he let up seven runs on eight hits and walked four batters. He also recorded seven strikeouts and let up two homers.

While Klevin was being battered, the Threshers only answered back with seven hits, two of which were from left fielder Herlis Rodriguez, who also drove in one of the Threshers' two runs.

After dropping two out of three to the Yankees, the Threshers will close out the 2014 season with a three-game series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. Kevin Walter (2-3, 4.61 ERA) will start for Clearwater.

Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A

Six scoreless innings from Yoel Mecias and 10 hits from the lineup helped the BlueClaws defeat the Hickory Crawdads by a score of 3-0 Thursday in the home finale at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood Township, N.J.

Mecias struck out seven batters while letting up only four hits, as he earned his third win of the season. Joey Denato secured the win during the ninth for his first save of the year.

First baseman Willians Astudillo led the way offensively, as he went 3-for-4 with an RBI, which increased his total to 61 on the season.

Second baseman Andrew Pullin went 2-for-4 and drove in his 56th run of the season.

The BlueClaws will wrap up the season with a four-game series against the Hagerstown Suns at Municipal Stadium Hagerstown, Md., beginning at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Ranfi Casimiro (5-9, 4.97 ERA) will take the mound for Lakewood.

Williamsport Crosscutters – Class A-Short Season

For the fifth time in their last seven games, the Crosscutters were kept completely off the scoreboard Thursday, this time during a 1-0 loss to the State College Spikes at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College.

Pitcher Ricardo Pinto tossed a gem against the Spikes, as he allowed only one run on three hits during seven innings and struck out nine batters.

His only blemish came during the fifth inning when State College catcher Brian O'Keefe hit a solo homer for the game's lone run.

Pinto took the loss, which dropped his record to 1-5 on the year.

Pinto's biggest problem wasn't the Spikes, however, it was the fact that he received no run support and the offense mustered only four hits. The Crosscutters struck out 12 times Thursday.

After being swept by the Spikes, the Crosscutters return home to Susquehanna Bank Park at Bowman Field to take on the Jamestown Jammers at 7:05 p.m. Friday. David Whitehead (4-3, 2.38 ERA) is scheduled to start for Williamsport.

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