Phillies Minor League Report: Jesse Biddle struggles in loss

Here's a rundown on how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Sunday, May 26:

Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A

The IronPigs held on to beat the Norfolk Tides, 5-4, to complete a four-game sweep at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Right-handed starter Zach Miner allowed a home run in the first inning to put the IronPigs in an early hole, but settled in nicely. Miner didn't factor in the decision, allowing the one run on four hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings while striking out eight.

The IronPigs seized the lead in the fourth inning with a two-out rally. Center fielder Leandro Castro singled and scored on right fielder Steve Susdorf's double. After catcher Steven Lerud drew a walk, shortstop Troy Hanzawa hit a two-run double to give Lehigh Valley a 3-1 lead.

Leading 3-2 in the sixth inning, Susdorf sparked another two-run rally. He singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Lerud.

Yet again in the seventh inning, a two-out rally resulted in another run for the IronPigs. This time, second baseman Cesar Hernandez received a base on balls, stole second and scored on third baseman Cody Asche's RBI single.

Lehigh Valley turned the ball over to left-handed closer Jake Diekman with a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning. Diekman struggled with control and allowed two runs on two hits, a walk and a hit by pitch. Diekman (6.45 ERA) was able to nail down the win and earn his seventh save of the season.

The IronPigs are 24-25 after the win. Lehigh Valley will try to extend a six-game winning streak when they begin a four-game series against the Rochester Red Wings on Monday. Southpaw Greg Smith (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to take the hill against Vance Worley.

Reading Fightin Phils – Double A

The Fightin Phils fell to the Harrisburg Senators, 8-2, at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Reading's offense got off to a good start early in the game.

In the first inning, First baseman Jim Murphy delivered a two-out single to give the Fightin Phils a 1-0 lead.

The Senators answered in the bottom half of the first with a run of their own off left-hander Jesse Biddle.

Right fielder Tyson Gillies gave Reading another lead with a solo home run in the second inning.

The score remained that way until the the fourth inning. Biddle struggled and allowed five runs. He took the loss. Biddle (3-4, 3.15 ERA) finished with six runs (five earned) allowed on seven hits (one home run) and three walks over four innings. He struck out six.

Biddle did go 2-for-2 at the plate to raise his batting average to .556 on the season.

The Fightin Phils were unable to muster any more offense in the game.

The loss dropped the Fightin Phils to 25-25. Reading will go for a series split on Monday at 2 p.m.

Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced

The Threshers defeated the Brevard County Manatees, 7-5, to salvage a game in a three-game series at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida.

Clearwater took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with back-to-back, one-out doubles by shortstop Jonathan Roof and right fielder Cameron Perkins.

The Manatees took the lead off Clearwater right-handed starter Gabriel Arias with two runs in the third inning. After hitting a batter with two outs and nobody on base, Arias allowed a single and a double to give up the lead.

Brevard County added another run in the fifth inning to make the score 3-1.

However, the Threshers answered with a three-run sixth inning to regain the lead. Clearwater loaded the bases with no outs. After a force out at home, designated hitter Chris Serritella drew a walk to force in a run. Then after a strikeout, first baseman Brock Stassi followed with a two-out, two-run single to give the Threshers a 4-3 lead.

The timely runs made a winner out of Arias (6-2, 2.47 ERA), who allowed three runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.

Roof added a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and an RBI single in the ninth inning to close out the win. He finished the game 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, two RBI, a walk and a strikeout.

Right-handed closer Luis Garcia (1.45 ERA) notched his sixth save of the season with two perfect innings.

The Threshers improved to 24-25 on the season. Clearwater will now host the Manatees for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday. A starter has not been announced yet.

Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A

The BlueClaws were swept by the West Virginia Power with a 8-3 loss at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, West Virginia.

Lakewood got out to an early lead in the first inning with the speed of leadoff hitter shortstop Roman Quinn. He reached on an infield single and stole second base. After a ground out moved the runner, third baseman Willie Carmona knocked in the run with a base hit to center field to give the BlueClaws a 1-0 lead.

It stayed like that until the third inning in which right-handed starter Shane Watson ran into trouble. Watson allowed all five of his runs and was pulled with two outs in the inning. In his outing, Watson (3-4, 5.44 ERA) gave up six hits and three walks to take the loss.

The BlueClaws pushed two runs across in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 5-3, but they wouldn't get any closer as the Power put the game out of reach in their next two at bats.

Lakewood fell to 19-29 with the loss and will try to snap a five-game losing streak when they open a three-game series against the Delmarva Shorebirds on Monday. Righty Miguel Nunez (4-1, 3.74 ERA) is scheduled to take the hill for the BlueClaws.