Jesse Biddle turns in solid start amid up-and-down season

READING - He took a serious step back during a 2014 season that went awry after he suffered a concussion, but Jesse Biddle is attempting to pitch his way back into the Phillies' future.

This is the sixth minor-league season and the third at double-A Reading for Biddle, the Phillies' first-round draft pick in 2010 out of Germantown Friends School.

Once considered the franchise's top pitching prospect, Biddle has been far from dominating this season. Still, he is getting the ball every fifth day and will look at his most recent start as a step in the right direction.

Tying a season high by pitching six innings, Biddle allowed seven hits and two earned runs Wednesday as Reading beat Altoona, 5-3, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

He struck out four and walked none. Biddle allowed a home run, the fourth in 57 innings this season.

"Tonight was probably the best curveball I have seen from him in some time, maybe the best all year," Reading manager Dusty Wathan said. "I thought his command was pretty good and he pitched inside well."

Biddle had struggled at home this season. He entered the game with a 5.95 ERA in four home starts and a 3.16 ERA in six road starts. (His ERA at home is now 5.27.)

It was Biddle's first win at home since May 4, 2014, and the first game this season in which he didn't walk a batter.

"I feel healthy, something I am happy with and something I haven't been able to say the last couple of years," said Biddle, who is 5-1 with a 4.11 ERA.

Biddle threw 81 pitches (54 for strikes) but was lifted after six innings. After he allowed three earned runs and walked five in four innings on May 16, he skipped a start to work on his mechanics.

"We skipped him a couple of starts ago, and I thought he did his job tonight," Wathan said.

Biddle, 23, insists that through the ups and downs his confidence has not wavered. "I still feel really good where I am at and where the team is at," he said.

Wathan said he can still see a bright future for Biddle.

"He is still a young guy," Wathan said. "It is not like we are talking about a 27-year-old guy in double A."

Wathan conceded that Biddle needs to be more consistent.

"He has the stuff, has the command at times," the manager said. "It's about being consistent, and I look forward to seeing him pitch next time."

@sjnard