Phillies Minor League Roundup - May 9-11, 2014

Gwinnett 9, Lehigh Valley 8 (May 9, 2014)

Greg Smith - 5 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, BB, 5 K, 2 HR, 6 GB, 6 FB
Justin De Fratus - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
Cesar Jimenez - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
Ken Giles - 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, K
Seth Rosin - 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, HR
Tyler Henson - 2 for 5, 2 R, 2B, 2 K, SB
Maikel Franco - 2 for 5, 2 R, HR
Leandro Castro - 2 for 5, 2 R, 2 RBI, K
Tyson Gillies - 1 for 5, R, 3 K
Sebastian Valle - 2 for 3, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, BB, K

Greg Smith had been fairly lucky through his first 5 starts, not receiving much damage despite all the walks and hits he's given up. That all ended Friday. Cesar Jimenez continues his strong presence in the Iron Pig bullepen and we saw "Good De Fratus" as well. Ken Giles made his AAA debut, but struggled. I'm kind of glad this happened because expectations from the general fanbase needed to be tempered. He gave up a run to cut the Iron Pig lead to 8-7 going into the top of the 9th. Seth Rosin would implode and give up the lead. Tyler Henson continues to impress. Franco collects two hits, one of them being his 3rd homer on the season. Sebastian Valle with his 2nd homer and has 5 RBI's in the game (and even has a walk!). Former Iron Pig Derrick Mitchell has a 3 home run game.

Gwinnett 10, Lehigh Valley 8 (May 10, 2014, 11 innings)

Barry Enright - 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 K, HR, 12 GB, 3 FB
Kyle Simon - 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB
Jeremy Horst - 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, K
Seth Rosin - 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, K
Leandro Castro - 1 for 4, 3 R, 2B, RBI, BB
Freddy Galvis - 1 for 5, R, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 K
Maikel Franco - 1 for 5, 2B, RBI, BB, K
Koyie Hill - 3 for 4, RBI, 2 BB, 2 CS

Barry Enright pitches competently enough for the win, but the bullpen blows it once again, allowing 5 runs to score in the 8th/9th inning to send the game into extras. Kyle Simon remains really bad and Seth Rosin couldn't find the strike-zone. Maikel Franco with another hit and walk! Tyler Henson also collected his 8th stolen base in this game.

Lehigh Valley 5, Gwinnett 2 (May 11, 2014)

Sean O'Sullivan - 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, HR, 8 GB, 7 FB
Cesar Jimenez - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Justin De Fratus - 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
Tyson Gillies - 2 for 3, R, BB, K, HBP, SB
Maikel Franco - 2 for 3, R, RBI, HBP
Sebastian Valle - 0 for 3, R, BB, K

The Iron Pigs are just STACKED with AAA starters guys, I'm just so excited! O'Sullivan pitches a good game and Jimenez comes on in relief to earn the win. Aside from Cesar's 4-run gaff back on April 26, he has been pretty darn good (hitters are batting .164 against). Scary moment in this one as Freddy Galvis collides with Maikel Franco on a play. Galvis injures his should and will require surgery, effectively ending his season most likely (perhaps even mercifully. Franco meanwhile picked up another 2 hits and has raised his average to .231. This is quite impressive given his struggles in April.

Trenton 8, Reading 2 (May 9, 2014)

Jesse Biddle - 5.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 5 GB, 4 FB, 3 WP
Austin Wright -1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K
Cesar Hernandez - 1 for 3, RBI, BB, CS
Cam Perkins - 1 for 4, K (outfield assist, home)
Aaron Altherr - 1 for 4, R, K (fielding error)
Tommy Joseph - 1 for 3, K
Zach Collier - 0 for 4, K

The walking bug has bit Jesse Biddle already and it's getting bad. Biddle struggles overall in this one, despite the unearned runs and 3 wild pitches. Reliever Jay Johnson gave up 3 runs (2 earned), 3 walks and a hit in his 1 inning of work. The offense didn't have much going for it either. And yes, Cesar Hernandez is still for some reason playing third base.

Reading 4, Trenton 3 (May 10, 2014, 14 innings)

Mike Nesseth - 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HR, 7 GB, 2 FB
Colton Murray - 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB
Hector Neris - 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, K
Nefi Ogando - 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
Tyler Knigge - 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, K
Carlos Alonso - 3 for 7
Cesar Hernandez - 2 for 6, BB, K
Cam Perkins - 0 for 6, 2 K
Aaron Altherr - 1 for 6, K
Zach Collier - 2 for 6, R, 2B, 2 K, CS

Mike Nesseth is apparently a starter now; think of that what you will. The Fightin's win the game via a run scored on a passed ball by Yankees top prospect, Gary Sanchez. Reading had 14 hits, but could only plate 4 runs. Reading hitters also struck out 14 times! They win this one largely because of an excellent showing from the bullpen.

Trenton 15, Reading 0 (May 11, 2014)

Severino Gonzalez - 3.2 IP, 10 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 4 K, 2 HR
Austin Wright - 3.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, K, HR
Brock Stassi - 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R
Cesar Hernandez - 2 for 4, 2B (fielding error)
Cam Perkins - 1 for 3, HBP, K
Aaron Altherr - 0 for 4, K

Severino got absolutely demolished and has been really struggling through his last few starts. Austin Wright fared no better. Fightin's 1st baseman, Brock Stassi, got to throw an inning, probably because the bullpen was taxed from Saturday night's 14 inning marathon.

Clearwater 2, Dunedin 1 (May 9, 2014)

Luis Paulino - 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 6 GB, 3 FB
Ethan Martin - 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB
KC Serna - 1 for 4, 2 R, HR, BB, K
Peter Lavin - 3 for 4, K, CS (outfield assist, 3B)
Darin Ruf - 2 for 4, RBI, K
Harold Martinez - 0 for 4
Andrew Knapp - 0 for 4
Gabriel Lino - 1 for 4, K

Luis Paulino with a weird path this season thus far. He pitches well as a starter with Reading, gets demoted to Clearwater and relieves a few games, then is thrown in again as a starter (and does well). A rehabbing Darin Ruf hit an RBI single to tie the game, while KC Serna hits a solo shot in the 7th, in what would be the winning run. Knapp continues to struggle with Clearwater and wouldn't be out of the question if he gets sent down to Lakewood as roster space becomes available. Ethan Martin still isn't 100% and couldn't even get through 1 inning.

Dunedin 11, Clearwater 3 (May 10, 2014)

Ethan Stewart - 5 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, HR, 3 GB, 6 FB
Peter Lavin - 4 for 5, HR, 2 SB
Darin Ruf - 1 for 5, RBI, K
Harold Martinez - 0 for 3, K
KC Serna - 1 for 4
Andrew Knapp - 0 for 3, BB
Gabriel Lino - 1 for 4, HR, 2 K

Ethan Stewart is bad. 27 walks and 44 hits in 44 IP. I'm starting to feel bad for Peter Lavin. The guy is clearly too old for the league. He had home run #5 and stolen bases #4 and 5. Lavin is hitting .320/.455/.690 through 125 at bats. Lino hit his 2nd in Clearwater (and 3rd overall).

Lakewood, Kannapolis (May 9, 2014, postponed due to rain)

Delmarva 8, Lakewood 1 (May 10, 2014)

Alejandro Arteaga - 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 K, 8 GB, 1 FB
Carlos Tocci - 0 for 3, HBP (outfield assist, home)
Andrew Pullin - 0 for 4 (two errors, fielding and throwing)
JP Crawford - 3 for 3, 2B, BB (throwing error)
Willians Astudillo - 0 for 4
Dylan Cozens - 1 for 4, R, 2B, K
Mitch Walding - 1 for 3, RBI, BB, K
Jan Hernandez - 1 for 4, 2 K
Deivi Grullon - 0 for 4, K (catcher interference error, passed ball)

Alejandro Arteaga pitches well by Arteaga standards, but loses anyway. The bullpen (Ulises Joaquin & Jesen Therrien) combined for 3 innings and 6 runs (3 earned). JP Crawford continues his dominance at the plate, but does pick up another error (8th on the season).

Lakewood 6, Delmarva 5 (May 11, 2014)

Mark Leiter - 5.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 6 K, 6 GB, 3 FB
JP Crawford - 1 for 4, R, RBI, BB, SB
Carlos Tocci - 1 for 4, RBI, K, CS, picked off
Dylan Cozens - 0 for 3, BB, 2 K
Willians Astudillo - 2 for 4, R, RBI (passed ball)
Mitch Walding - 2 for 4, R
Andrew Pullin - 1 for 3, RBI, SB
Samuel Hiciano - 1 for 4, R, 2B, RBI, SB
Wilmer Oberto - 1 for 4, R, 2B, RBI, 2 K
Jan Hernandez - 2 for 4, R, 2B, K

Mark Leiter continues his uneven season, but grinds out a win. He seems to be missing more bats this season (he should be at his age), but is giving up too many hits. Will need to start figuring out if he is ever going to succeed at the higher levels. JP Crawford collects another walk and stolen base (his 8th). Willians Astudillo gets behind the plate for the first time this season (to my recollection anyway). He becomes a legit prospect if he can stay behind the plate with his contact rates. Sure he could walk a few more times, but the fact that he never strikes out either balances it out somewhat. Lakewood went up ahead 6-4 in the top of the 8th with a sac-fly RBI from Pullin and an RBI double from Hiciano. Delmarva would rally for another run in the bottom of the 9th before Cody Forsythe would get it all together and close out the game.