Phillies Minor League Report: Jesse Biddle dominates again

Here's a rundown on how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Tuesday, May 21:

Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A

The IronPigs defeated the Rochester Red Wings, 9-2, at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.

Lehigh Valley's offense picked up where it left off Monday night and jumped out to an early lead, thanks to a five-run first inning. The IronPigs sent 10 men to the plate in the inning. Left fielder Darin Ruf knocked in the first run with a single to left field. First baseman Cody Overbeck (3-for-5) followed Ruf with a three-run home run. They weren't done in the inning; however, catcher Steven Lerud capped it off with an RBI single to make the score 5-0.

The score stayed like that until the fifth inning as Lerud added a two-run single to his line. Third baseman Cody Asche also had an RBI double in the inning.

Those runs were more than enough for left-handed starter Greg Smith, who pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.

The Red Wings pushed two runs across in the eighth inning off right-hander J.C. Ramirez.

Relievers Joe Savery (1 1/3 innings) and Michael Stutes (one inning) did not allow a run in the win.

The IronPigs improved to 20-25 on the season. After an off day on Wednesday, they will open a four-game series at home with the Norfolk Tides on Thursday. Right-hander Ethan Martin (4-2, 5.23) is scheduled to take the hill for Lehigh Valley.

Reading Fightin Phils – Double A

The Fightin Phils shut out the Altoona Curve, 3-0, at FirstEnergy Field in Reading.

Left-hander Jesse Biddle continued his dominance of the Eastern League with another stellar outing. Biddle (3-3, 2.50 ERA) struck out nine batters over 7 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and four walks.

Reading got on the scoreboard in the second inning. Right fielder Zach Collier and third baseman Tommy Mendonca started the inning with back-to-back singles. Collier scored when second baseman Troy Hanzawa grounded into a double play.

In the fifth inning, Biddle helped his own cause by drawing a two-out walk. Center fielder Tyson Gillies made the Curve pay with an RBI double.

Collier added another insurance run in the seventh inning with a leadoff home run.

Southpaw Mauricio Robles pitched 1 1/3 innings to pick up the save and preserve the shutout.

The Fightin Phils are now 17-26 on the season. They continue a four-game series on Wednesday. Right-hander Hector Neris gets the ball for Reading.

Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced

The Threshers dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the Charlotte Stone Crabs at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida.

In the first game, The Threshers fell, 4-2, in seven innings.

After three innings of scoreless baseball, the Stone Crabs finally was able to solve Threshers right-hander Gabriel Arias in the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead.

Clearwater erased the deficit with a two-run sixth inning to tie the game. Second baseman Jonathan Roof led off the inning with a home run to cut the lead in half. Back-to-back doubles with one out from right fielder Kelly Dugan and third baseman Maikel Franco tied the game at two.

However, Arias couldn't hold the Stone Crabs in the bottom of the frame. Charlotte posted another two-run inning to take a 4-2 lead.

Arias (5-2, 2.22 ERA) picked up the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits over six innings.

In the second game, The Threshers fell, 3-1, in seven innings.

The Threshers took an early lead in the first inning. Left fielder Aaron Altherr reached base with a one-out single and quickly stole second base. Dugan wasted no time and drove Altherr in with a single to right field.

That was all the offense Clearwater could muster.

Threshers starter Luis Paulino (1-5, 7.40 ERA) allowed three runs in the second inning and picked up the loss. Paulino lasted only three innings.

The losses dropped the Threshers to 22-22 on the season. Clearwater will continue the four-game series on Wednesday.

Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A

The BlueClaws powered past the Delmarva Shorebirds, 9-2, at Arthur W. Purdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland.

The Lakewood offense scored early and often on the way to victory by scoring in each of the first four innings.

The first two BlueClaws batters of the game reached base via a hit batsman and walk, which led to a RBI single from right fielder Brian Pointer. Left fielder Larry Greene added a two-out RBI single for an early 2-0 lead before Delmarva could bat.

In the second inning, the top of the order added another run with a two-out rally. Shortstop Roman Quinn drew a walk and allowed Pointer to record another RBI single.

Lakewood scored three times in the third inning to extend the lead. A Shorebirds error led to two runs and Quinn capitalized with two outs and a runner in scoring position with an RBI single to give Lakewood a 6-0 lead.

The BlueClaws enjoyed another three-run inning in the fourth inning. Again, a Shorebirds error allowed two runs to score. Third baseman Mitch Walding earned the last RBI of the game for the BlueClaws with a ground out that scored designated hitter Willie Carmona.

While the BlueClaws were battering Delmarva pitching, Lakewood right-handed starter Shane Watson (3-3, 4.71 ERA) pitched five scoreless innings of one-hit ball to earn the win.

Lakewood (19-24) goes for a series sweep Wednesday with righty Miguel Nunez (4-0, 3.26 ERA) on the mound.