Phillies Minor League Report: Anthony Vasquez, Tyler Viza post strong performances
Here's how the Phillies' minor-league teams fared on Monday, July 27:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (47-56) – Triple A
A strong start from Anthony Vasquez helped the IronPigs defeat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 3-1, at PNC Field in Moosic.
Vasquez (7-3, 3.73 ERA) allowed only one run on five hits in eight innings. Dustin McGowan worked the ninth for his seventh save.
Because of Vasquez's dominance, the IronPigs needed only seven hits to defeat the RailRiders. Four of those hits came from Tyler Henson (2-for-3) and Chase D'Arnaud (2-for-4).
Two of the IronPigs' three runs came off the bat of Aaron Altherr, who drove in two runs to increase his RBI total to 28 since being promoted to triple-A. Altherr knocked in 29 runs for Reading before his promotion.
The IronPigs will look to make it two in a row against the RailRiders at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday. Jesse Biddle (2-0, 4.80 ERA) is scheduled to start.
Reading Fightin Phils (54-48) – Double-A
The Fightin Phils fell all the way to third place after suffering their third loss in a row, 4-3, to the Erie SeaWolves at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading.
Although the Fightin Phils are still 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Binghamton Mets (55-46), they also trail the Trenton Thunder (55-47), who moved into second place in the Eastern League's Eastern Division with a victory over the Portland Sea Dogs.
Against the SeaWolves, the Fightin Phils received solo home runs from Cam Perkins and Andrew Knapp in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, but didn't get much else from the rest of the lineup.
Whereas Erie racked up 10 hits, the Fightin Phils mustered only five, two coming from Angelo Mora (2-for-3). Mora also scored a run, on an error.
For Perkins, the homer was his 10th of the season. Knapp hit his second.
Although his outing was cut short because of an injury to his pitching hand, Zach Eflin (5-6, 3.47 ERA) was rocked -- he allowed four runs on six hits in only two innings.
The Fightin Phils will attempt to get things back on track when they face the SeaWolves again at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday. Reading's starter was not announced as of this writing.
Clearwater Threshers (57-44) – Class A Advanced
The Threshers were scheduled to play the Bradenton Marauders, but the game was postponed because of rain at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Victor Arano (3-9, 4.34 ERA) will take the mound in Game 1 for Clearwater, and Yacksel Rios (5-2, 2.56 ERA) is set to start Game 2.
Lakewood BlueClaws (52-47) – Class A
Despite a complete game from Tyler Viza, the BlueClaws' three-game winning streak ended with a 1-0 loss to the Kannapolis Intimidators at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, N.J.
Viza (4-6, 3.66 ERA) allowed the game's only run during the seventh inning, but yielded only six hits. He also struck out six.
Unfortunately for Viza, he received no run support, as Kannapolis pitcher Luis Martinez held the BlueClaws to a mere two hits in eight innings. Those hits came from Kyle Martin and Jiandido Tromp.
Despite the loss, the BlueClaws still have a chance to take three of four from the Intimidators and will look to do so at 11:05 a.m. Tuesday. Ranfi Casimiro (6-5, 3.23 ERA) is scheduled to start for Lakewood.
Williamsport Crosscutters (24-12) – Class A-Short Season
The Crosscutters had Monday off, and will return to the field at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday to begin a three-game set against the Lowell Spinners at Bowman Field in Williamsport. Alejandro Arteaga (3-0, 2.12 ERA) is scheduled to start for Williamsport.