Phillies Minor League Roundup - April 16, 2014

Syracuse 6, Lehigh Valley 5

David Buchanan - 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K, 7 GB, 3 FB
Phillippe Aumont - 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, K
Jeremy Horst - 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, K, WP
Tyson Gillies - 0 for 5, K
Maikel Franco - 2 for 4, R, BB
Jim Murphy - 1 for 5, HR, K

Another heartbreaker for the Iron Pigs as Aumont and Horst blew it for Buchanan and the lineup. Buchanan didn't have a fantastic game, but did enough to keep the lead. Lehigh Valley got big production out of the bottom of the lineup (Reid Brignac, Koyie Hill, Ronny Cedeno). Jim Murphy has been off to a slow start. Not a prospect in any sense, but a decent bat that can mash a homer or two, hit his first HR of the year. Maikel Franco with a two hit, one walk day! He's back! Horst loses this one by giving up the go ahead run in the bottom of the 8th. He had been pretty stellar until this outing. LHV plays a doubleheader against the 'Cuse today with Greg Smith and Brad Lincoln making the starts.

Richmond 4, Reading 1

Perci Garner - 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 8 GB, 4 FB
Mike Nesseth - 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB
Ken Giles - 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 K
Cesar Hernandez - 1 for 2, RBI, 2 BB (fielding error)
Zach Collier - 1 for 4
Cam Perkins - 1 for 4, K
Albert Cartwright - 1 for 4
Edgar Duran - 1 for 4, R (throwing error)

Perci Garner had a mixed game despite the boxscore. Only threw half his pitches for strikes and was relieved in the top of the 5th after only throwing 63 pitches. That is rather odd, so if anyone was watching or listening to this game, feel free to comment on this one. I suspect injury, though he did pinch bunt in the top of the inning before coming out. Ryan O'Sullivan was the culprit for the loss in this one despite lowering his ERA in the process. An unearned run came around to score in the bottom of the 6th, in what would be the winning run. Cesar Hernandez continues to play 3B, but commits his 2nd fielding error. Fielding errors are going to happen; if it was throwing errors I'd be a bit more concerned. Ken Giles with another 2 K performance. Reading has the day off today.

Clearwater 4, Tampa 1

Miguel Nunez - 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 K, HR, 5 GB, 7 FB
Brian Pointer - 0 for 5, R, 2 K
Peter Lavin - 0 for 5, 3 K
Aaron Altherr - 1 for 3, R, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K, SB
Harold Martinez - 2 for 4, R, 2B, RBI, K

I'll tell you what, Miguel Nunez is missing bats early this season and doing so in crucial situations. His lone mistake came off a solo home run to Yankees prospect Dante Bichette Jr.. It was apparently a windy day down in Tampa and many sure home runs were pushed back by the wind (according to the Tampa beat anyway). Good to see Brian Pointer in the game as he was pulled out of the last game early on. He did DH in the game, so obviously this is likely a lower body injury. Aaron Altherr with another big game during his rehab stint. Not sure what they are waiting for in calling him back up to Reading. Cole Hamels with another rehab start tonight.

Lakewood 3, Greensboro 2

Tyler Viza - 7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 3 K, 12 GB, 2 FB
JP Crawford - 0 for 3, BB, K, SB
Carlos Tocci - 1 for 4, 2 RBI, K
Dylan Cozens - 1 for 4, K
Zach Green - 2 for 3, BB, SB, picked off
Andrew Pullin - 0 for 4, 4 K (throwing error)
Samuel Hiciano - 1 for 4, 2 K, CS
Larry Greene - 1 for 3, R, K, SB
Gabriel Lino - 1 for 3, HR, K
Willians Astudillo - 3 for 3, R, 2B

Tyler Viza was really dialed in for this game and was a groundout machine. After a rough start, this was much needed for Viza (who had the luck of drawing Lucas Giolito in his last start). Odd lines for all Lakewood batters last night. Larry Greene with his 2nd stolen base. He needs only 1 more to have as many XBH as he currently has. We all anxiously await his power to develop. Any day now.... JP Crawford held hitless, but picks up his 4th stolen base. Lucky for Viza and the bullpen that Lino blasts a homer (1st of season) to put the Blue Claws up 3-0. Lakewood would get a scare in the top of the 9th as Manny Martinez would give up a leadoff double and then hit two batters to load the bases. Tyler Buckley would come in, get a strikeout and then give up a 2 run double to bring the game within one. After an intentional walk, Buckley would be replaced by Cody Forsythe. He would close out the game with a strikeout and groundout. Should also be noted that Andrew Pullin had a really really bad game. Astudillo continues to rake out of the 9 hole. Maybe he should be hitting closer to the middle of the lineup, no? Alejandro Arteaga draws the short straw and get Lucas Giolito in tonight's game. Poor guy.