Phillies Minor League Report: Tyler Cloyd rocked in IronPigs loss
Here's a rundown on how the Phillies' minor league teams fared on Thursday, May 16:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Triple A
The IronPigs lost their third in a row to the Norfolk Tides, this time 8-6 at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Va.
The IronPigs got on the scoreboard first during the top of the first inning when third baseman Cody Ashce hit an RBI double, which scored shortstop Michael Martinez to give them a 1-0 lead. It proved to be the IronPigs' only lead of the game.
The IronPigs' lead was short-lived as the Tides knocked around the their pitching from the outset, scoring in each of the first four innings.
Phillies prospect Tyler Cloyd suffered the brunt of the damage as he gave up seven earned runs, including four homers on 11 hits in only 3 1/3 innings of work.
Cloyd was dealt the loss, which dropped him to 1-4 on the year.
The IronPigs entered the fourth inning down 6-1, but closed that gap to 6-4 with home runs from first baseman Cody Overbeck and catcher Humberto Quintero.
Norfolk scored one run in the bottom half of the fourth to push its advantage to 7-4.
After a scoreless fifth, the IronPigs plated two more runs in the sixth after an RBI double from right fielder Leandro Castro and a sacrifice fly from Quintero to close the gap to 7-6.
The IronPigs were unable to score another during the next three innings, however. Norfolk tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.
Asche was the only IronPig to record multiple hits Thursday, going 2-for-5 during the loss.
The loss drops the IronPigs to 16-24 on the season.
Lehigh Valley will try to avoid being swept by Norfolk at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Ethan Martin (3-2, 5.77 ERA) will get the start for Lehigh Valley.
Reading Fightin Phils – Double A
The Fightin Phils had the night off Thursday, but will back in action against the Harrisburg Senators Friday on a night where the Human Cannonball will fire himself out of a cannon after the game at FirstEnergy Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Reading (15-23) and Harrisburg (18-22) are currently both in last place in their respective divisions in the Eastern League.
Greg Smith (1-1, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to start for Reading.
Clearwater Threshers – Class A-Advanced
Two home runs from third baseman Maikel Franco powered the Threshers to a 6-3 victory over the Bradenton Marauders at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.
The win for the Threshers improved them to 21-18 and was their second in a row.
They also earned a split in their four-game series with the Marauders after dropping the first two.
After each team went scoreless through the first two innings, the Threshers scored a run over the next four to lift them to a 6-1 lead after six.
Left fielder Aaron Altherr started the scoring in the third after an RBI single that scored second baseman Carlos Alonso.
Bradenton tied the game in the top half of the fourth, but the tie was short-lived as Franco hit a two-run homer to give the Threshers a 3-1 lead.
After scoring on a balk in the fifth, the Thresher pushed their to 5-1 in the sixth with an RBI single from catcher Logan Moore.
Bradenton closed the gap to 5-3 in the seventh inning, but Franco put the finishing touches on the win with a solo homer in the eighth.
Gabriel Arias (5-1) picked up the win for Clearwater after giving up three runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. Arias struck out six batters during his time on the mound.
The Threshers begin a three-game series at 7 p.m. Friday against the Tampa Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.
The Threshers' starter has yet to be determined.
Lakewood BlueClaws – Class A
A walk-off hit from right fielder Brian Pointer completed a BlueClaws comeback over the Greensboro Grasshoppers, 6-5, at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood Township, N.J.
The win was the BlueClaws' second in a row and their fifth in a row over the Grasshoppers.
Dating back to last Thursday, the BlueClaws have won six out of their last eight.
The BlueClaws seemed to be out of it heading the sixth inning as they trailed Greensboro, 5-0. But that quickly changed.
Lakewood scored four runs in the sixth thanks to an RBI single from first baseman Art Charles and RBI doubles from third baseman Mitch Walding and center fielder Carlos Tocci to pull the deficit to 5-4.
After a scoreless seventh inning, left fielder Larry Greene, Jr. tied the game in the eighth after he doubled to right center, which brought home Charles.
Before Pointer came through with the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth, he was 0-for-5 on the day.
Pitcher Miguel Nunez gave up five runs (four earned) on 11 hits in six innings of work. Geoff Broussard (2-0) picked up the win for the BlueClaws after pitching three shutout innings.
Lakewood looks to make it three in a row overall and six in a row over Greensboro in the second game of the three-game set Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Left hander Yoel Mecias (1-2, 4.76 ERA) will take the hill for Lakewood.