Prospect Biddle shaves ERA with best start of season

After not making it out of the fourth inning in his last start, left-hander Jesse Biddle delivered his best start of the season Friday, leading Double-A Reading to a 6-2 victory against Harrisburg.

Biddle, the Phillies No. 2 prospect and No. 51 overall, struck out 11 batters in seven innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk. He threw 94 pitches and won his first game of the season.

Biddle had struggled in his first three starts this year and entered the game with a 5.02 ERA. With his start Friday, he shaved more than a run off his ERA now has a 28-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 21 1/3 innings.

Reading's offense provided Biddle with plenty of support. They scored five runs off left-hander Matt Purke, the Nationals No. 6 prospect. Third baseman Cesar Hernandez went 3-for-4 with a home run and left fielder Cam Perkins, the Phillies No. 14 prospect, added an RBI single.