Down on the Phillies Pharm: Nick Williams Shows Up
James Russell and the Iron Pigs could not overcome two first inning home runs by the Louisville Bats Saturday night.
Russell went five innings giving up just four hits and the two home runs while striking out four. The Iron Pigs bullpen pitched four one-hit innings with three strikeouts.
Outfielder Nick Williams raised his batting average to .286 with three hits in four at bats. The rest of the lineup failed to much as only three other starters managed a single hit.
J.P. Crawford, Cody Asche (on rehab assignment), Darin Ruf, and Andrew Knapp combined to hit 1-16 with three strikeouts.
Both Cam Perkins and Brock Stassi had a pinch-hit apiece.
Taylor Featherston had two strikeouts and was caught stealing and picked off. Not a very good night for the third baseman.
Lehigh Valley will send Zach Eflin (5-0) to the mound to prevent the sweep by Louisville.
Next: Reading
After a hard-fought win last night, the Fightin Phils could only score one run against New Hampshire. Roman Quinn had two hits and a walk, but was caught stealing second.
Designated hitter Jake Fox was the only other Reading player to have a multi-hit game, as he went 2-4.
Outfielder Dylan Cozens was 0-4, but he did drive in Roman Quinn for the only run of the game.
Catcher Jorge Alfaro and his .339 batting average had the night off. Back-up Joel Fisher was 0-3 with a strikeout.
Nick Pivetta fell to 4-4 despite a strong outing. He went seven innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He struck out six batters, but also allowed three free-passes to first base.
Ricardo Pinto (1-1) will get the start for Reading after allowing five runs in six innings during his last outing.
Next: Clearwater
The Threshers were the only team in the Phillies organization to pull out a win Saturday as they fought off the Flying Tigers.
Outfielder Carlos Tocci had a big game going 2-4 with two doubles, a walk, and a run scored. He stole his eighth base of the year, but was also picked off and caught stealing.
Scott Kingery was 1-5 and also grounded out into a double play.
Thomas Eshelman, acquired in the Ken Giles trade, earned his third win of the year. He pitched seven innings, giving up seven hits, two runs, and throwing six strikeouts.
The Threshers bullpen closed the game out with two shutout innings with five strikeouts and only one hit allowed.
Matt Imhof (4-2) will take the mound in the series finale as he looks to rebound from a rough start last week in which he walked seven batters in four innings.
Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?
The Blueclaws decided to join the struggling-offense party in the Phillies organization Saturday as they were blown out by Delmarva.
Second baseman Josh Tobias had the only multi-hit game for Lakewood with a single and double in four at bats.
Starter Drew Anderson could not get out of the sixth inning after allowing five hits and three runs, only two of which were earned. He walked two but struck out nine.
Kenny Koplove had a four run eight inning for Lakewood, all-but slamming the door on his teams chances to come back late. He only got two outs and was pulled after allowing the four runs and walking two batters.
Jose Taveras (1-3) will pitch in the series finale for Lakewood against a pitcher to-be-determined for Delmarva. Taveras went six innings in a loss his last outing but struck out seven.