Phillies Minor League Report: Losing streaks aplenty in Phillies' system
Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A
The IronPigs' game against the Rochester Red Wings Friday was postponed due to rain at Coca-Cola Field in Allentown.
The game has been pushed to Saturday as apart of a doubleheader, which will start at 5:35 p.m.
Sean O'Sullivan, who was slated to start Friday's game, will start Game 1 of the double dip Saturday. Jonathan Pettibone (1-0, 5.40 ERA) will take the mound for Game 2.
Reading Fightin Phils – Double A
For the second time this week, a Fightin Phils game was postponed due to rain. This time, it was against the Harrisburg Senators at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg.
Like the IronPigs, the Fightin Phils are now scheduled to play a doubleheader against the Senators, which will begin at 5 p.m.
Perci Garner's start has now been pushed back to the first game of the doubleheader while Luis Paulino will get the nod for Game 2.
Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced
The Threshers' losing streak has now reached six games Friday after they fell to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 2-0, at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.
The Threshers are now 1-7 on the season and were shut out for the second time.
Clearwater recorded a mere five hits from five different batters and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Starting pitcher Miguel Nunez was dealt his first loss of the season despite putting forth a solid effort. Although he allowed nine hits, Nunez only surrendered two runs, both of which came during the third inning.
But the lack of production from the plate doomed the Threshers. In eight games so far this season, the Threshers have scored more than three runs only once.
Although the Threshers are in the midst of a poor stretch, Phillies fans will have a keen eye on them Saturday, as Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels will make second start with the club against the Flying Tigers at 6 p.m.
Hamels was served a loss in his first outing after throwing four innings and allowing two home runs.
Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A
The Threshers aren't the only team in the Phillies organization in the midst of a losing streak.
The BlueClaws dropped their fifth straight contest Friday at the hands of the Hagerstown Suns, 5-1, at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood Township, N.J.
The Suns offense started the game on a hot pace and knocked around Lakewood starter Alejandro Arteaga to take a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.
The BlueClaws finally got on the scoreboard during the frame after back-to-back hits from catcher Gabriel Lino and first baseman Willians Astudillo. Astudillo's hit proved to be Lakewood's last for the game. The BlueClaws only mustered five overall.
Lino's hit during the fifth was the only that went for extra bases.
The BlueClaws will try to gain their first win a week when they host the Suns again at 4:05 p.m. Saturday. Ranfi Casimiro (0-0, 7.71 ERA) will take the mound for Lakewood.