Phillies Minor League Report: Lehigh Valley sweeps Rochester
Here's how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Friday, August 1:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A
The IronPigs earned a two-game sweep and their third win in a row overall over the Rochester Red Wings after a 6-4 victory Friday at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.
After taking an early 1-0 lead, he IronPigs fell behind during the third inning after starting pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes allowed three runs during the frame.
Reyes recovered in time to earn his first victory with the IronPigs after allowing nine hits during six innings of work. He also struck out five batters.
Reyes received most of his run support during the fourth inning when the IronPigs plated four runs to make the score 5-3.
Designated hitter Russ Canzler put up an insurance run for the IronPigs with a solo homer during the fifth. The homer was his eighth of the season and was his only hit of the night. His RBI total is now up to 48.
The IronPigs recorded eight hits as a team with shortstop Freddy Galvis leading the way by going 2-for-3.
Galvis, Canzler, second baseman Cesaro Hernandez, right fielder Tyler Henson and first baseman Jim Murphy all chipped in one RBI apiece.
The IronPigs will remain at home to open up a four-game series against the Durham Bulls, starting at 6:35 p.m. Saturday. Sean O'Sullivan (4-9, 4.77 ERA) is scheduled to start for Lehigh Valley.
Reading Fightin Phils – Double A
The Fightin Phils scored a combined four runs Friday, as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats swept them during a doubleheader at Northeast Dental Stadium in Manchester, N.H.
During Game 1, the Fightin Phils were held off the scoreboard until the top of the sixth when center fielder Aaron Altherr and first baseman Brock Stassi drove in a run to make the score 5-2.
Despite the recent momentum, the Fightin Phils went down in order during the seventh to take the loss.
Starting pitcher Chris Bootcheck ran into some considerable trouble against the Fisher Cats, especially during the fourth inning where he gave up four runs.
Bootcheck too the loss after he allowed five runs overall (three earned) on six hits during only four innings.
Things only got worse during Game 2, as the Fisher Cats held a 5-0 lead before the Fightin Phils scored again. This time, it was during the fourth as Altherr and left fielder Peter Lavin both drove in a run.
Altherr's RBI total is now up to 41 with the Fightin Phils. Lavin finished 2-for-3.
The Reading pitching staff was pounded again as starter Mike Nesseth surrendered five runs (three earned) on seven hits in 2.2 innings. Nesseth was dealt the loss, which dropped his record to 1-5.
After Kyle Simon tossed 2.1 scoreless innings, Matt Hoffman proceeded to allow four runs on four hits.
The Fightin Phils will get another crack at the Fisher Cats at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. Severino Gonzalez (6-12, 5.12 ERA) will get the start for Reading.
Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced
An early deficit halted the Threshers' winning streak at three games, as they fell to the St. Lucie Mets by a score of 8-3 Friday at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.
Starter Mark Leiter stumbled out of the gates by allowing three runs during the first inning to put the Threshers in an early hole.
Leiter fell to 2-2 on the season after he surrendered a total of six runs (four earned) on five hits during only three innings on the mound. He also walked four batters.
The Threshers' problems on the mound were compounded by the fact that they could not keep up with the Mets offensively. The Threshers recorded six hits from six different batters Friday.
The Threshers did receive RBI hits from shortstop J.P. Crawford, left fielder Brandon Short and right fielder Brian Pointer. Pointer's RBI came courtesy of his 11th homer run of the year during the second inning.
After dropping the series opener, the Threshers will take on the Mets again at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Jordan Guth (2-3, 2.63 ERA) is slated to start.
Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A
A four-run fifth inning and homers from left fielder Samuel Hiciano and third baseman Mitch Walding helped the BlueClaws defeat the Delmarva Shorebirds at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Md.
The BlueClaws went into the fifth trailing 3-1, but the BlueClaws pulled ahead thanks in part to RBI hits from Hiciano and Larry Greene.
The BlueClaws then plated insurance runs during the eighth and ninth innings to secure their second straight win over the Shoreibirds.
One of those insurance runs came courtesy of a solo homer from Walding. The homer was his fourth of the season.
Hiciano hit his ninth homer of the season during the third to lead the BlueClaws in hitting at 2-for-3. Right fielder Dylan Cozens and catcher Willians Astudillo weren't far behind as they both went 2-for-4. Cozens also drove in a run, which was his 51st of the year.
The BlueClaws shut down the Shorebirds thanks in part to starter Ranfi Casimiro, who allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits during six innings of work. His record improved to 3-9 as a result.
The BlueClaws wrap up their series with the Shorebirds at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. Matt Imhof (0-1, 3.38 ERA) will take the mound for Lakewood.
Williamsport Crosscutters – Class A-Short Season
The Connecticut Tigers shut down the Crosscutters during a 5-1 loss Friday that finished the Tigers' sweep of the Crosscutters at Susquehanna Bank Park at Bowman Field.
The Crosscutters were held to a mere three hits, as Connecticut pitcher Fernando Perez stifled them. Williamsport pitcher Ricardo Pinto posted a good outing.
Pinto allowed only two runs on seven hits in five innings of work. But the lack of run support gave Pinto his third loss of the season.
The Crosscutters will remain at home to open up another three-game series against the Aberdeen IronBirds, starting at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. David Whitehead (2-3, 3.06 ERA) is scheduled to start.