Phillies Minor League Report: Cody Asche hits a grand slam; Art Charles homers Saturday

Saturday was a good day not only for the Phillies, but their minor league teams as well as all four won their respective games.

Here's a rundown on how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Saturday, May 11:

Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A

The IronPigs snapped their four-game losing streak Saturday by way of a 9-3 win over the Durham Bulls at the Durham Bulls Athletic Center in Durham, N.C.

The IronPigs held a 2-0 lead heading into the seventh inning. But they extended that lead after putting up seven runs.

Four of those seven runs came by virtue of a grand slam from third baseman Cody Asche.

Left fielder Darin Ruf recorded two hits and an RBI while second baseman Cesar Hernandez only had one hit, but drove in two runs in the process.

Eight of the nine IronPigs in the lineup recorded a hit.

Ethan Martin picked up the win (3-2) with seven strikeouts during six innings of work.

The IronPigs play the third game of their four-game set with the Bulls at 5:05 p.m. Sunday. B.J. Rosenberg (0-3, 5.28 ERA) will take the hill for Lehigh Valley.

Reading Fightin Phils – Double A

The Fightin Phils loss, 4-3, to the Akron Aeros in a game that was suspended due to rain Friday night.

The game was tied, 3-3, until the top of the ninth inning when Akron's Roberto Perez hit a solo homer to left field to give the Aeros the lead.

In the second game of the impromptu doubleheader, Reading used four home runs to power past the Aeros, 7-5, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading.

Reading trailed, 5-2, heading into the sixth inning when the Fightins scored three runs to tie the game thanks to home runs from left fielder Derrick Mitchell and catcher Cameron Rupp.

The Fightins tacked on two more runs, including a solo home run from first baseman Jim Murphy (3-for-4, two RBIs) in the eighth inning to give them the win.

The win for the Fightins ended a four-game losing streak of their own.

Reading wraps up its four-game series against Akron at 1:35 p.m. Sunday. Hector Neris (3-1, 3.41 ERA) will get the start.

Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced

A four-run sixth inning propelled the Threshers to a 9-4 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.

The Thresher were tied with the Flying Tigers, 4-4, heading into the sixth when a pair of doubles from second baseman Carlos Alonso and left fielder Cameron Perkins brought in the four runs.

The Threshers tacked on an insurance run in the seventh inning when right fielder Kelly Dugan hit a single to right field that scored catcher Logan Moore.

Clearwater recorded 13 hits on the night. Dugan, Perkins, center fielder Kyrell Hudson and first baseman Brock Stassi each recorded two hits.

The Threshers used four pitchers during the win with Mario Hollands (1-0) picking up the win.

After taking two of three from Lakeland, the Threshers will get Sunday off before hosting the Bradenton Marauders at 7 p.m. Monday. The starters have yet to be announced.

Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A

Three runs in the third inning and six runs in the fourth inning were all the BlueClaws needed to defeat the Greensboro Grasshoppers, 9-4, at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, N.C.

In the third inning, the BlueClaws manufactured three runs thanks to an RBI single from right fielder Brian Pointer and a sacrifice fly from first baseman Art Charles.

The BlueClaws used the long ball to put up six runs in the fourth. Designated hitter Zach Taylor and Charles each hit two-run homers while Pointer plated two more runners with an RBI double.

Charles led the way for Lakewood with three RBIs on the day.

Miguel Nunez (4-0) got the nod for the win after six innings of work.

The BlueClaws will look to take three of four from the Grasshoppers when they finish up their series at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Yoel Mecias (0-2, 5.48 ERA) is scheduled to start for the BlueClaws.