Phillies Minor League Roundup - April 23, 2014

Lehigh Valley 5, Norfolk 4

Barry Enright - 5 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, HR, 7 GB, 2 FB
Brad Lincoln - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K
Jeremy Horst - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, K
Luis Garcia - 1 IP, 0 H, 0  R, BB
Tyson Gillies - 3 for 4, R, 2B, RBI, BB, K, SB
Clete Thomas - 2 for 3, R, 2 BB
Maikel Franco - 2 for 5, K
Steve Susdorf - 3 for 5, R, K
Sebastian Valle - 2 for 5, R, 2B

Typical Barry Enright start, does enough to keep the Iron Pigs in the game. The bullpen was lights out and Brad Lincoln making a relief appearance after starting a game last week. He has been pretty phenomenal since being sent down. Multi-hit games from Gillies and Franco were encouraging. The Iron Pigs were down 5-2 going into the bottom of the 8th before a Gillies RBI-double and a run scoring wild pitch would bring the score to a tie. In the bottom of the 9th with runners on 1st and 3rd with one out, Steve Susdorf would get the walk-off sac fly. Exciting game for LHV as they have won 4 in a row (and 6 of their last 8). They outhit the Norfolk Tide 15-5 in this one as well. Sean O'Sullivan with the start tonight.

Reading 1, Richmond 0

Jesse Biddle - 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 10 K, 6 GB, 4 FB, WP
Kyle Simon - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 GB, 0 FB
Ken Giles - 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, K
Carlos Alonso - 2 for 4
Cesar Hernandez - 0 for 3, BB, K
Cam Perkins - 2 for 4, R (missed catch error)
Kelly Dugan - 1 for 4, K, SB
Aaron Altherr - 0 for 4, K
Tommy Joseph - 1 for 3, RBI, BB
Zach Collier - 1 for 3
Edgar Duran - 0 for 2, BB

As noted by my colleague Cormican, Jesse Biddle's last two starts are eerily similar to his 4th and 5th starts from last season. I hope he can continue on this success because the Phillies just desperately need some hope on the starting pitching front for the future. Ken Giles worked out of a jam in the 9th allowing 2 singles to leadoff the game. Thankfully, he would strike out the next batter and then induce a game-ending double play.  Cam Perkins with 2 more hits and has reached base in 15 of 16 games this season. Dugan with a stolen base, but isn't a noted speed demon. He stole all of 1 base in 2013, but has 23 in his professional career. Reading has a day off today. Well deserved as they sit only 1.5 games back with a 11-6 record.

Clearwater 6, Daytona 3

Jeb Stefan - 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, K, 4 GB, 5 FB
Brian Pointer - 1 for 4, R, K
KC Serna - 1 for 3, R, RBI, BB, CS
Peter Lavin - 1 for 3, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 K
Art Charles - 1 for 4, R, 2B, K
Nick Ferdinand - 2 for 4, 2B, RBI
Jesus Posso - 1 for 4, HR, K
Justin Parr - 2 for 3, R, RBI

Jeb Stefan with his best start of the season, though he wasn't missing very many bats. Threshers would put up a 4 run inning in the 5th to provide a comfortable lead. Peter Lavin continues to rip the ball, but is of course way too old to still be at this level. He should get a shot at Reading when either Dugan or Altherr get called up to Lehigh. Ethan Stewart (not Martin, philly.com) gets the mound this evening.

Charleston 9, Lakewood 3

Alejandro Arteaga - 3.2 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 5 GB, 2 FB
JP Crawford - 1 for 2, R, 3 BB, CS
Carlos Tocci - 2 for 3, RBI, K, HBP (throwing error)
Dylan Cozens - 0 for 4
Willians Astudillo - 1 for 4 (pickoff error)
Andrew Pullin - 1 for 4, HR, K
Jan Hernandez - 0 for 2, 2 BB
Larry Greene - 0 for 4, K
Samuel Hiciano - 2 for 4, R, 3B, K

Alejandro Arteaga has had a rough go of it early this season. Everyone is just hitting him (.351 AVG). The Blue Claws hitters never really had a shot at trying to tie this up (was already 8-1 after 4 innings). JP Crawford working 3 walks to give him 8 on the season through 16 games. He was also caught stealing again for the 3rd time. I like aggressiveness on the base-paths, but it looks as though he needs better jumps. Andrew Pullin with his first full-season league home run. Jan Hernandez getting called up in place of the injured Zach Green and working some walks. He is a player I have high hopes for this season. We won't speak about Larry Greene, for fear of ruining Wet Luzinski's day even further. Lakewood opens up the next series against Savannah. No starter identified via milb.com yet.