Today's Probables
Lehigh Valley: Nick Pivetta @ Pawtucket
Reading: Ricardo Pinto @ Akron
Clearwater: Shane Watson vs. Brevard County
Lakewood: Tyler Gilbert vs. Greensboro
Williamsport: Adonis Medina @ West Virginia
Lehigh Valley 8, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 0 [box]
If the big club was going to lose by eight, at least someone in the minors won by that margin, right? The Pigs put a hurting on Scranton pitching Tuesday night. Everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit, and there was some pretty good pitching to speak of, too.
Ben Lively went six shutout innings, allowing just one hit in the process. He only had one strikeout, but didn't walk anyone and got through his six innings on just 48 (!) pitches. That's not a misprint. Elvis Araujo, Patrick Schuster, Luis Garcia, and Dalier Hinojosa combined to finish the game off.
At the plate, it took until the 5th inning to get the offense going, but once the bats were found everyone was pitching in. Nick Williams was 2-for-5 with a double and a run. Jesmuel Valentin went 2-for-3 with a two-run 8th inning homer. Brock Stassi added two hits, and J.P. Crawford was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Akron 4, Reading 1 [box]
That four-game winning streak seems like it was weeks ago at this point. The Fightin Phils' offense was silenced again as Reading lost their third in a row.
Mark Leiter started and lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits.
Andrew Pullin did put together a 2-for-3 night and added a walk. The lone run of the evening came in the 4th inning on a Scott Kingery RBI single. Reading's Eastern Division lead over Trenton stands at 2.5 games.
Clearwater 3, Brevard County 0 [box]
A three-run 4th inning was enough for the Threshers as they took care of business against the Manatees. Josh Tobias was 1-for-3 with an RBI single in that 4th inning, and Kyle Martin followed him with a two-run homerun, his 18th of the season.
Brandon Leibrandt got the ball for Clearwater and pitched well in his five innings of work, allowing just two hits and no runs. He walked three batters and struck out six. Leibrandt has a 1.71 ERA in four starts with the Threshers.
Lakewood 6, Greensboro 1 [box]
The biggest news of the evening in Lakewood came before the game, as the Phillies and Blue Claws announced that their partnership will now run through the 2020 season. Not much of a surprise there, but good news nonetheless.
The game itself wasn't too bad, either. Jan Hernandez powered the offense with a two-homer game, Lakewood's first of the 2016 season. His 7th homerun of the season was a solo blast in the 6th inning. He added a two-run shot in the 8th.
Harold Arauz gave up just one run over six innings and struck out seven. The Blue Claws have won 14 of their last 18 games and are over .500 for the first time this season.
Williamsport 4, State College 3 [box]
Two runs in the first and two runs in the ninth ended up doing the job for the Crosscutters.
Darick Hall was 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI, while Jesus Alastre sparked the top of the order with a 2-for-5 night.
Bailey Falter gave Williamsport five scoreless innings, while Alexander Kline shut the door on State College in the 9th for the victory.
GCL Phillies 7, GCL Pirates 4 [box]
Alec Asher, who will be eligible to come off the suspended list on September 8, got the ball for the GCL squad yesterday afternoon. Suspended players are permitted to start a rehab assignment 16 days before coming off the suspended list. Asher went just one inning and allowed an unearned run. He will likely join the big club once he is eligible as the Phillies will be looking for arms in the big leagues.
Catcher Lenin Rodriguez was 2-for-3 with a homerun, while Danny Zardon added 3 RBI.