Phillies Minor League Report: Jonathan Pettibone shaky in rehab start in Reading

Here's how the Phillies' minor-league teams fared on Thursday, August 15:

Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A

Despite a solid performance from pitcher David Buchanan, the IronPigs dropped a low-scoring affair to the Syracuse Chiefs by a score of 2-1 at Coca-Cola Field in Allentown Thursday.

Lehigh Valley has lost six out of its last seven to the Chiefs this season.

The IronPigs held a 1-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh. Lehigh Valley didn't plate that run until the bottom of the sixth when third baseman Josh Field grounded into a force out at second base in which second baseman Pete Orr scored.

Buchanan pitched six scoreless innings, but things began to unravel for him during the seventh.

Buchanan walked the first batter he faced during the frame. During the next at-bat, Buchanan gave up an RBI-single that tied the ball game.

Buchanan retired the next batter, but left the mound soon after.

Buchanan's outing ended after 6 1/3 innings of work where he was credited with both of the Chiefs' runs, six hits and recorded three strikeouts. He also walked three batters.

The IronPigs recorded two hits in the bottom of the ninth, but was still unable to plate a run and lost for the second time in three games.

The IronPigs struggled from the plate Thursday as they recorded a mere six hits.

Four of those hits came off the bats of catcher Cameron Rupp and center fielder Tyson Gillies as they both went 2-for-4.

The other two hits came from Orr (1-for-3) and Fields (1-for-4).

The IronPigs left eight batters on base and went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position against the Chiefs.

The IronPigs will look to clinch the series victory over the Chiefs in the rubber match at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Left-hander Greg Smith (7-2, 2.42 ERA) is scheduled to start for Lehigh Valley.

Reading Fightin Phils – Double A

A shaky rehab start from pitcher Jonathan Pettibone contributed to the Fightin Phils being handed a 9-3 loss by the Binghamton Mets at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading Thursday.

Pettibone made his first rehab start for the Phillies since being placed on the disabled list Aug. 2 and was less than stellar during his outing.

Pettibone threw five innings where he surrendered three runs on five hits, but did record four strikeouts.

Pettibone left the mound with the score tied 3-3. By the time the bottom of the seventh rolled around, the Fightin Phils trailed the Mets, 8-3.

That's because Juan Sosa, who took the mound during the sixth in relief of Pettibone, allowed five runs during the seventh, which put the Fightin Phils in a deep hole that they could not get out of.

Sosa was on the mound for only 1 1/3 before he was taken off of it. He gave up those five runs on five hits and was handed his third loss of the season in the process.

The Mets plated an insurance run during the top of the eighth off Tyler Knigge.

The Fightin Phils actually held a 2-0 lead after the first inning. During the second at-bat of the frame, center fielder Zach Collier hit his eighth homer of the season for the game's first run.

Third baseman Maikel Franco followed Collier's homer with a single to left field. First baseman Jim Murphy made it two singles in a row with a base hit to center.

After left fielder Kelly Dugan flied out, right fielder Anthony Hewitt reached base due to a throwing error from Binghamton third baseman Richard Lucas. Franco crossed the plate in the process.

Hewitt was involved in the play again when the Fightin Phils plated their third and final run in the bottom of the fourth.

Hewitt hit an RBI-single that scored Dugan, who led off the inning with a double. That was the end of the damage the Fightin Phils could cause Thursday.

Like the IronPigs, the Fightin Phils only recorded six hits. Two of those hits came from Collier as he went 2-for-4 on the night.

After dropping two out of three to the Mets, the Fightin Phils will travel to Akron, Ohio to begin a three-game set against the Aeros at Canal Park.

Friday's contest is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. as the Fightin Phils will trot out the lefty Bobby Bramhall (0-3, 4.21 ERA) to take the mound.

Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced

The Threshers didn't plate their first run until the top of the seventh, but they still managed to pull out a series-clinching victory over the Daytona Cubs, 4-2, at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla. Thursday.

Because of previously scheduled games between the two teams being rained out, the Threshers played the Cubs five times over the last three days, including back-to-back doubleheaders Tuesday and Wednesday.

The two teams only played one game Thursday and it was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Cubs finally plated the game's first run.

Trailing 1-0 heading into the top of the seventh, the Threshers plated three runs to surge ahead of the Cubs.

After first baseman Chris Serritella led off the inning by flying out to center field, second baseman Carlos Alonso hit a single to left. Alonso advanced to second during the next at-bat after a passed ball by Daytona catcher Chadd Krist.

During the same at-bat designated hitter Brock Stassi hit a single to center that brought Alonso home for Clearwater's first run.

Third baseman Harold Martinez kept the momentum during the next at-bat courtesy of a single to center that put runners on first and second.

Two batters later, Stassi and Martinez combined to perform a double steal with two outs. During the same at-bat shortstop Jose Mojica brought both Stassi and Martinez home after he hit yet another single and made the score 3-1.

The Cubs cut into their deficit with a run during the bottom half of the inning.

Alonso and Stassi were at it again during the top of the ninth as they were responsible for plating Clearwater's insurance run.

Alonso led off the inning with only his second triple of the season. Stassi followed Alonso with an RBI-single to center.

Ken Giles surrendered only one hit during his four-out save, which was his sixth of the season.

Martinez led the Threshers in hitting as he finished 3-for-4 from the plate. Stassi and Mojica posted identical numbers from the plate as they both went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs.

Alonso also went 2-for-4 Thursday and crossed the plate on two occasions. The Threshers recorded 10 hits overall.

Starting pitcher Severino Gonzalez posted a strong outing as well against the Cubs. Gonzalez recorded nine strikeouts during his 6 1/3 innings of work. He surrendered five hits, but gave up only two runs and walked two batters.

His performance earned him his third win with the Threshers.

The Threshers' busy week continues as they return home to host the Dunedin Blue Jays for a three-game series that begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Bright House Field.

The Threshers' starting pitcher has yet to be announced.

Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A

The Kannapolis Intimidators completed a three-game sweep of the BlueClaws Thursday by a score of 2-0 at CMC-NorthEast Stadium in Kannapolis, N.C.

The BlueClaws were not only swept, but they also lost six out of their seven meetings with the Intimidators this season. The BlueClaws have lost six out of their last seven overall.

The Intimidators plated their two runs in the first and eighth innings while the BlueClaws' offense could never get things going.

The BlueClaws recorded only five hits Thursday from five different batters. Third baseman Mitch Walding, designated hitter Willie Carmona and second baseman Alejandro Villalobos all went 1-for-4.

First baseman Art Charles and shortstop Angelo Mora recorded the other two hits as they both went 1-for-3. The BlueClaws did not record a hit after the seventh inning.

A silver lining of sorts for the BlueClaws was a good performance from starting pitcher Jeb Stefan.

Stefan allowed only one run on four hits during his six innings of work. Unfortunately, the lack of run support contributed to Stefan's record dropping to 4-7. The other run was given up Lino Martinez.

The BlueClaws will continue their seven-game road trip at 7:05 p.m. Friday when they travel to Salisbury, Md. to take on the Delmarva Shorebirds at Perdue Stadium.

The teams have yet to announce their starting pitchers.

Williamsport Crosscutters – Class A-Short Season

The Crosscutters earned a two-game split with the Auburn Doubledays by a virtue of a 3-2 win at Bowman Field in Williamsport Thursday.

The Crosscutters jumped on top of the Doubledays with two runs during the bottom of the second.

Third baseman Zach Green led off the inning with his 11th homer of the season and the game's first run.

First baseman Logan Pierce accounted for the second run of the frame after he crossed the plate courtesy of shortstop Jairo Cardozo grounding out, which allowed him Pierce to score.

Auburn finally got on the scoreboard by plating a run during the top of the fourth. The Doubledays tied the game with another run during the top of the sixth.

But a two-out, RBI-single from center fielder Gustavo Martinez in the bottom of the eighth put the Crosscutters in front for good.

Mark Meadors kept the Doubledays off the scoreboard during the final two innings and was credited with the win in the process.

Starter Shane Martin posted an impressive outing as he allowed only one run on one hit in five innings on the mound.

Martin did not did not get the decision, however, after relief pitcher Manny Martinez surrendered Auburn's second run of the game during the sixth. Manny Martinez was handed his first blown of the season as a result.

Despite the win, the Crosscutters were not special offensively. They recorded only five hits with two of them coming from Gustavo Martinez (2-for-4).

The Crosscutters are back in action at 7:05 p.m. Friday when they face the Batavia Muckdogs for a two-game series at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia, N.Y.

Mitch Gueller (3-5, 4.93 ERA) is scheduled to take the hill for the Crosscutters.

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