Phillies Minor League Report: Severino Gonzalez, Mark Leiter both record 10 strikeouts
Here's how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Thursday, Aug. 14:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A
A rough start for pitcher Brad Lincoln and a poor offensive showing led to the IronPigs dropping their third consecutive game to the Columbus Clippers, this time by a score of 7-4 at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Lincoln only lasted 2.2 innings Thursday where he allowed five runs on six hits and four walks. Three of those six hits were home runs. Lincoln was dealt the loss, which dropped his record to 6-9 on the season.
Not helping the IronPigs' cause was a lackluster performance from the plate. The IronPigs recorded a mere seven hits, as designated hitter Tyler Henson led the way by going 2-for-4. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez led the team with two RBI.
After dropping three out of four to the Clippers, the IronPigs return home Friday to open a three-game series with the Buffalo Bisons at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. First pitch is schedule for 7:05 p.m.
Left-hander Greg Smith (8-9, 4.49 ERA) is scheduled to start for Lehigh Valley.
Reading Fightin Phils – Double-A
A season high 10 strikeouts from Severino Gonzalez and three hits from shortstop KC Serna lifted the Fightin Phils to a 5-2 victory over the Harrisburg Senators at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg.
Gonzalez earned his eighth win of the season Thursday in dominant fashion. On top of striking out 10 batters, he allowed only two runs on four hits.
With Gonzalez dealing on the mound, the Fightin Phils didn't have to provide a ton of run support. The bulk of their run support came during the first inning when they plated four runs thanks to RBI hits from Serna, right fielder Kelly Dugan and third baseman Edgar Duran.
Reading's fifth and final run came during the second inning when Serna hit his second home run of the season.
Serna led the Fightin Phils offensively by going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Dugan wasn't far behind, as he went 2-for-4 and drove in his 31st RBI of the season.
After earning a series victory over Harrisburg, the Fightin Phils will return home Friday to open a four-game set with the Binghamton Mets at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Ryan O'Sullivan (5-7, 3.66 ERA) is slated to start for Reading.
Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced
Not to be outdone, pitcher Mark Leiter also struck out 10 batters Thursday.
Except his stellar performance came in a losing effort, as the Threshers fell to the Dunedin Blue Jays by a score of 3-1 at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Fla.
Leiter's 10 strikeouts were a career high, but his outing ended in a loss after giving up three runs on nine hits during 6.2 innings of work. With the loss, Leiter's record fell to 2-4 in Clearwater.
Part of the reason Leiter was dealt the loss was because of a sub-par performance from the Threshers' offense. The Threshers mustered seven hits, but went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. They also left 11 runners on base.
Clearwater's lone run came courtesy of a Harold Martinez hit during the fourth inning.
After being swept by the Blue Jays, the Threshers return home Friday to open a three-game series with the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Jordan Guth (2-3, 2.41 ERA) will take the mound for Clearwater.
Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A
The BlueClaws only played six innings due to rain Thursday, but they made the most of their outing, as they came away with a 8-0 victory over the Hagerstown Suns at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood Township, N.J.
The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the BlueClaws and ended Hagerstown's seven-game winning streak.
The BlueClaws recorded 11 hits Thursday and wasted little time getting runs on the scoreboard, as they plated two in both the first and second innings.
Lakewood then managed to plate four more runs in the sixth inning before the game was called.
Three Lakewood batters recorded two hits apiece. Shortstop Malquin Canelo led the way, as he somehow went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer, which came during the second inning.
Second baseman Andrew Pullin and right fielder Aaron Brown followed Canelo by both going 2-for-4 with an RBI. First baseman Zach Green led the team with three RBI to give him 37 on the year.
Left fielder Dylan Cozens drove in a run to increase his total to 54 while Pullin upped his to 53.
As a result of the short outing, pitcher Ranfi Casimiro was credited with a two-hit, complete-game shutout. However, he still managed to walk six batters.
Casimiro's complete-game shutout was the first by a BlueClaw since Jarred Cosart back on June 1, 2010.
After taking the series opener from Hagerstown, the BlueClaws will host the Suns again at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Lefty Matt Imhof (0-1, 3.00 ERA) will start for Lakewood.
Williamsport Crosscutters – Class A-Short Season
A stellar offensive performance from left fielder Wilmer Oberto helped the Crosscutters snap a four-game losing streak by defeating the Batavia Muckdogs, 9-0, at Susquehanna Bank Park at Bowman Field in Williamsport.
Oberto went 3-for-4 from the plate Thursday and hit a solo homer during the eighth inning. Oberto drove in a total of four runs and crossed the plate on two occasions. The homer was his first of the season.
With Oberto leading the way, the Crosscutters recorded 11 hits against the Muckdogs. Third baseman Jan Hernandez, designated hitter Wilson Garcia and right fielder Cord Sandberg all went 2-for-4 from the plate.
Sandberg drove in two runs to increase his total to 22 on the year.
The Williamsport pitching staff had a banner night as well, as it allowed a combined five hits to the Muckdogs.
Starter Ricardo Pinto gave up four of those hits, but allowed only one run during six innings on the mound to earn his first win of the season.
Scott Harris, Matt Hockenberry and Calvin Rayburn allowed a combined one hit in one inning apiece.
The Crosscutters hit the road Friday to travel to Niles, Ohio to take on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Eastwood Field. David Whitehead (3-3, 2.68 ERA) is scheduled to start for Williamsport.