Phillies Minor League Report: Threshers clinch first playoff berth since 2007
Here's how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Wednesday, June 24:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (29-45) – Triple A
The IronPigs fended off a late rally to defeat the Buffalo Bisons by a score of 5-4 for the second night in a row at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, N.Y.
The IronPigs held a comfortable five-run advantage heading into the eighth inning thanks in part to three RBI from Russ Canzler. Aaron Altherr also drove in a run for his first while with the squad.
However, the Bisons plated four runs during the eighth inning to cut their deficit to one run.
Adam Loewen was able maintain the IronPigs' advantage on his way to picking up his first save with Lehigh Valley.
Three of the Bisons' four runs came at the expense of Aaron Nola, but it didn't spoil a strong outing from the Phillies prospect.
Nola pitched 7.2 innings where he allowed only six hits and struck out seven batters.
The IronPigs will go for the sweep at 1:05 p.m. Thursday. Anthony Vasquez (3-2, 3.16 ERA) is scheduled to start for Lehigh Valley.
Reading Fightin Phils (37-34) – Double-A
The Fightin Phils were shut down during a 4-0 loss to the Akron RubberDucks at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading.
The RubberDucks held the Fightin Phils to a meager four hits on their way to handing the Fightin Phils their second straight loss.
Despite taking the loss, starting pitcher Mark Leiter posted a strong outing, yielding only one run on three hits during 6.2 innings of work. Leiter also fanned six batters.
Tyler Knigge struggled in relief of Leiter, as he coughed up three runs on four hits.
The Fightin Phils will look to bounce back when they play Akron again at 7:05 p.m. Thursday. Ben Lively (5-5, 3.82 ERA) is slated to start for Reading.
Clearwater Threshers (37-33) – Class A-Advanced
The Threshers took home the Florida State League North division first-half title and clinched their first playoff berth since 2007 after completing a three-game sweep of the Daytona Tortugas at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.
The Threshers' victories capped off an improbable surge to end the firs half, as they erased a five-game deficit in the standings by winning their last five games and won their last five series.
The first game Wednesday was the completion of Tuesday's contest, which was suspended due to rain. The Threshers won that won by a score of 6-4
The Threshers took home the second contest thanks in part to eight strikeouts from starting pitcher Colin Kleven.
Kleven picked up his fifth win of the season while Ulises Joaquin collected his seventh save.
Kleven's prowess on the mound took some pressure of the lineup, which mustered only four hits during the game.
The Threshers will try to make it six victories in a row when they travel to Dunedin, Fla. to take on the Dunedin Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. David Whitehead (4-6, 4.39 ERA) will take the mound for Clearwater.
Lakewood BlueClaws (33-35) – Class A
The BlueClaws are off until Thursday due to the South Atlantic League All-Star Game that took place Tuesday night.
They will take the field again as a team at 7 p.m. Thursday when they face Hickory Crawdads.
Williamsport Crosscutters (6-0) – Class A-Short Season
A walk-off single from Jose Pujols in the bottom of the 15th gave the Crosscutters their sixth consecutive victory to start the season at Susquehanna Bank Park at Bowman Field.
During the game where they picked up their sixth win, the Crosscutters used six pitchers, including starter Denton Keys, who tossed five scoreless where he only allowed one hit. He also struck out six batters.
The victory, however, went to Skylar Hunter after he pitched the final three frames. The victory was his first as a professional.
Offensively, six of the Crosscutters' nine hits came from Zachary Coppola, Wilson Garcia and Jan Hernandez, who all had two apiece.
The Crosscutters will look to keep their momentum going when they host the Batavia Muckdogs at 7:05 p.m. Alejandro Arteaga (1-0, 3.60 ERA) is scheduled to start for Williamsport.