Phillies Minor League Report: Dylan Cozens posts four hits, drives in four runs in win
Here's how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Sunday, May 31:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A
The IronPigs' bats were silenced during a 2-0 loss in the rubber match with the Charlotte Knights Sunday at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, N.C.
Lehigh Valley was held to only three hits during the contest and put a runner in scoring position only once.
Although the Lehigh Valley pitching staff let up nine hits to Charlotte, it allowed only two runs to cross the plate. The first run came at the expense of starter Chris Leroux during the third inning.
Leroux lasted only three innings in his first loss of the season where he let up three hits and struck out five batters.
The IronPigs will receive a day off Monday, but will be back on the field at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday when they host the first-place Rochester Red Wings at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. Joely Rodriguez (2-4, 5.27 ERA) is scheduled to start for Lehigh Valley.
Reading Fightin Phils – Double-A
The Fightin Phils plated all six of their runs during the eighth inning to earn a come-from-behind victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading.
Trailing 3-0 heading into the eighth, the Fightin Phils began the frame with back-to-back walks from Gabriel Lino and Brian Pointer.
During the next at-bat, KC Serna reached first base after Richmond second baseman Myles Schroder dropped the ball during a force attempt, which allowed Lino to cross the plate and advance Pointer to second.
A sacrifice bunt from Gustavo Pierre advance the runners to second and third, which set up Cam Perkins to hit a double to right field that brought home both Pointer and Serna to tie the game.
However, the Fightin Phils weren't finished. During the next at-bat, Roman Quinn hit a single to right field that allowed Perkins to cross the plate and give Reading its first lead of the game.
After J.P. Crawford struck out swinging, a triple from Aaron Altherr and a single from Brock Stassi plated the final two runs of the frame. The Fightin Phils recorded four of their nine hits during the inning.
Reading pitcher Stephen Shackleford took the mound in the ninth and retired the side to give the team its second straight victory over Richmond and earn his 10th save of the season.
Quinn led the Fightin Phils from the plate as he went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Starting pitcher Jesse Biddle didn't get the decision Sunday after he allowed three runs on four hits in 5.2 innings of work. The victory went to Adam Loewen, who held Richmond scoreless during his lone inning on the mound.
The Fightin Phils will host the Flying Squirrels again at 11:05 a.m. Monday with the hopes of earning a series victory. Zach Eflin (4-3, 3.48 ERA) is slated to start for Reading.
Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced
A season high in runs and hits allowed the Threshers to cruise to an easy 18-5 victory over the Daytona Tortugas Sunday at Jackie Robinson Park in Daytona Beach, Fla.
In order to get 18 runs, the Threshers pounded the Daytona pitching staff to the tune of 22 hits. The Tortugas used seven pitchers and the Threshers recorded a hit against five of them.
Leading the way for Clearwater was Dylan Cozens, who went 4-for-5 and drove in four runs. Drew Stankiewicz wasn't too far behind, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBI. Chace Numata, Devin Lohman and Aaron Brown drove in two runs apiece.
The Clearwater pitching staff didn't have as stellar of an outing as the offense, letting up 11 combined hits, but still managed to hold Daytona to five runs.
Starter Yacksel Rios fell short of the decision after he tossed four innings where he allowed two runs on five hits. The decision was handed to Harold Guerrero after he tossed 2.1 innings.
The Threshers will look to keep the offensive momentum going, and land a series victory when they face the Tortugas again at 7:05 p.m. Monday. Victor Arano (0-5, 6.03 ERA) will take the mound for Clearwater.
Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A
The BlueClaws squandered a seven-run deficit in only two innings during an 8-7 loss to the Greensboro Grasshoppers Sunday at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, N.C.
Despite plenty of cushion, starting pitcher Josh Taylor and reliever Scott Harris coughed up eight runs during the seventh and eighth innings.
Taylor was charged with giving up three while Harris was hit with five in only one-third of an inning. Taylor avoided the loss after he gave up three runs on five hits during seven innings of work.
The BlueClaws jumped out to such a big lead thanks to a quick start, where they ran out to a 30 lead after the first.
The lead ballooned to seven thanks to RBI hits from Rhys Hoskins, Damek Tomscha, Joel Fisher, Derek Campbell and Herlis Rodriguez.
Hoskins led the team by going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Rodriguez also posted three hits while driving in one run.
After dropping three out of four to the Grasshoppers, the BlueClaws will travel to Salisbury, Md. Monday to take on the Delmarva Shorebirds at Perdue Stadium at 7:05 p.m. Tyler Viza (3-1, 3.45) is scheduled to start for Lakewood.