Phillies Minor League Report: Jonathan Pettibone knocked around in IronPigs' loss

Here's how the Phillies' minor-league teams fared on Tuesday, August 20:

Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A

The IronPigs fell to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 3-1, at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pa.

Center fielder Cesar Hernandez hit a leadoff single in the second and scored on an error to give Lehigh Valley a 1-0 lead.

Right-handed starter Jonathan Pettibone (0-2, 6.75 ERA), making a rehab start, squandered the lead. He allowed three runs on 10 hits over six innings to suffer the loss. He walked none and struck out one.

The IronPigs managed only six hits in the game. Hernandez went 2-for-3 with a run scored, a stolen base and a strikeout. The stolen base was Hernandez's 31st of the season for Lehigh Valley.

The loss dropped the IronPigs to 67-64. Lehigh Valley is idle on Wednesday.

Reading Fightin Phils – Double A

The Fightin Phils blanked the Altoona Curve, 2-0, at Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona, Pa.

Left-handed starter Ryan Demmin (1-0, 0.00 ERA) and righty Mike Nesseth combined for a seven-hit shutout.

Demmin allowed five hits over seven innings for the win in his Reading debut. He struck out one.

Nesseth pitched two innings and earned his ninth save of the season.

The Fightin Phils manufactured the first run of the contest in the sixth. Third baseman Maikel Franco led off the inning by reaching on an error, moved to second on first baseman Jim Murphy's single and third on right fielder Kelly Dugan's sacrifice bunt. Catcher Sebastian Valle cashed in by lifting a sacrifice fly for the 1-0 lead.

Second baseman Matt Tolbert led off the eighth with a single and scored on left fielder Albert Cartwright's RBI groundout.

Cartwright had Reading's only multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-5 with an RBI.

The Fightin Phils improved to 54-74. The series wraps up Wednesday when Reading turns to southpaw Bobby Bramhall (0-3, 3.70 ERA) to make the start.

Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced

The Threshers continued their winning ways and romped to a 11-2 win over the Tampa Yankees at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.

Right-handed starter Luis Paulino (6-6, 4.64 ERA) surrendered one hit, but walked four, in his five-inning effort for the victory.

The Threshers' offense only scored in three innings, but put two crooked numbers on the scoreboard: a six-run fifth and a four-run eighth.

Center fielder Jiwan James and second baseman fueled the rout from the top two spots in the lineup. James went 3-for-5 with two RBI, a run scored and a strikeout. Alonso went 2-for-5 with a double, four RBI, and a run scored.

Shortstop Jonathan Roof (2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored) and third baseman Harold Martinez (2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and three runs scored) had multi-run games.

The win pushed the Threshers (63-60) to a six-game winning streak. The series continues Wednesday. Clearwater has not announced a starting pitcher yet.

Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A

The BlueClaws topped the Hagerstown Suns, 3-2, at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood Township, N.J.

Phillies right-handed starter Roy Halladay made a rehab start with Lakewood. He surrendered two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out four over six innings.

The Inquirer's Matt Gelb and the Daily News' David Murphy were at the game and have detailed breakdowns of Halladay's outing.

Trialing 1-0 in the second, left fielder Larry Greene doubled with two outs to spark a rally. Center fielder Carlos Tocci followed with an RBI single to tie the game.

An inning later, the BlueClaws took the lead when right fielder Jiandido Tromp and second baseman Angelo Mora started the frame with back-to-back triples for a 2-1 lead.

Halladay would leave with the score tied, 2-2, after six.

The winning run would come in the eighth as shortstop J.P. Crawford reached with a one-out base knock, moved to third on designated hitter Willie Carmona's single and scored on third baseman Alejandro Villalobos' two-out RBI double.

Righty Lee Ridenhour earned the win after pitching three shutout innings in relief of Halladay.

The win lifted the BlueClaws to 50-75. Lakewood will look to extend a four-game winning streak when the series continues Wednesday with right-hander Jeb Stefan (4-7, 3.65 ERA) on the hill.

Williamsport Crosscutters - Class A-Short Season

The Crosscutters were routed by the State College Spikes, 10-4, at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa.

Right-handed starter Shane Martin (3-4, 4.20 ERA) had leads of 2-0 and 3-1, but coughed them up and took the loss. He allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk over four innings. Martin served up two home run balls.

Williamsport did manage to score a run in each of the first four innings.

Left fielder Justin Parr led off the game with a walk and scored on a passed ball.

First baseman Logan Pierce led off the second with a double and later scored when a fielder misplayed catcher Chad Carman's grounder.

Designated hitter Andrew Knapp hit a leadoff home run in the third. It was his fourth blast of the season.

Parr would add a two-out RBI triple in the fourth to score shortstop Malquin Canelo, who singled.

The Crosscutters bullpen couldn't keep the game close and was charged with five runs in five innings of work.

Parr (2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, a run scored, a walk and a strikeout), second baseman Andrew Pullin (2-for-5) and Pierce (2-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored) notched multi-hit games.

The Crosscutters fell a game below .500 to 29-30. The series will continue Wednesday as Williamsport hands the ball to righty Mitch Gueller (3-6, 5.28 ERA).

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