Pharm Phocus: Manship struggles, Mayberry doubles

Mar 25, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jeff Manship (60) in the dugout before he pitched against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

WILLIAMSPORT CROSSCUTTERS:

Ricardo Pinto turned in a gem  for Williamsport on Thursday, but the Cutters were unable to produce offensively as they fell 1-0 to the State College Spikes.

The right-hander gave up a solo home run as one of only three hits he allowed while he struck out nine in seven innings of work.  Pinto moved to 1-5 with a 2.11 ERA.

Williamsport had just four hits in the game, all from different players.  Five Cutters struck out multiple times.

LAKEWOOD BLUECLAWS:

Lakewood scored three runs off ten hits to blank the Hickory Crawdads 3-0 Thursday.

Yoel Mecias was strong over six shutout innings, striking out seven and picking up his third win.

Joey DeNato, owner of a 1.17 ERA, picked up his first save.

The offensive stud of the game was Willians Astudillo.  The first baseman went 3-for-4 with an RBI.  He is batting .500 in his last ten games and .340 on the season.

CLEARWATER THRESHERS:

Clearwater lost 8-2 to the Tampa Yankees Thursday, as Tampa took the series 2-1.

Colin Kleven struggled in 5.1 innings as he gave up seven earned runs.  He gave up eight hits, including two home runs.  His ERA is 4.38 and he took the loss to fall to 6-10.

J.P. Crawford went 1-for-4 with a strikeout and hit his seventh double of the season.

READING FIGHTIN’ PHILS:

Reading topped the Portland Sea Dogs 3-1 Thursday for its third straight win.  The Phils took the series 3-1.

Portland stranded 10 runners and Hoby Milner pitched his way around seven hits and five walks.  Milner (10-6, 4.21) went six innings and struck out two.

Second baseman Carlos Alonso went 2-for-4 with a walk as he drove in two runs for Reading.

LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS:

A 28-hit game resulted in an 8-5 IronPigs loss against the Pawtucket Red Sox Thursday.

Pawtucket used two four-run innings to take the game.  Jeff Manship and Phillippe Aumont each allowed four runs, although only three of Aumont’s were earned.  Manship, who started, lasted just 3.1 innings.

Cesar Hernandez went 4-for-4 and drove in a run.

Maikel Franco went 1-for-2 and drove in a run, giving him at least one hit in nine of his last ten games.

John Mayberry, expected to be back with the Phillies soon, scored twice as he doubled and walked with an RBI.  The outfielder also struck out twice.