Phillies Minor League Roundup - May 16-18, 2014

Scranton/WB 5, Lehigh Valley 3 (May 16, 2014)

Sean O'Sullivan - 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 4 GB, 7 FB
Kyle Simon - 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB
Ethan Martin - 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 3 K
Cesar Jimenez - 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Tyson Gillies - 0 for 3, RBI, BB, K
Tyler Henson - 2 for 5, R, 2 K, SB
Maikel Franco - 3 for 4, RBI, BB
Darin Ruf - 1 for 5, 2B
Cameron Rupp - 1 for 4, RBI, K
Steve Susdorf - 0 for 0, 4 BB

Maikel Franco with a 3 hit game, that was accompanied by a disappointing showing from the bullpen. Kyle Simon takes the loss in this one and Ethan Martin continues to shake off the rust. Tyler Henson steals his 11 base and is batting .296. Steve Susdorf walks 4 times in a game! (only one of those was intentional) Lehigh Valley leaves 10 on base and don't capitalize on the 3 errors committed by the RailRiders. The Iron Pigs still win the series 3-1.

Lehigh Valley 2, Buffalo 1 (May 17, 2014)

Brad Lincoln - 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 GB, 7 FB, WP
Phillippe Aumont - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB
Justin De Fratus - 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, K, HR
Ken Giles - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB
Cesar Jimenez - 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, K
Tyson Gillies - 0 for 4, K
Tyler Henson - 0 for 4
Maikel Franco - 0 for 3, BB
Darin Ruf - 2 for 4, R
Jim Murphy - 1 for 4, HR, 2 K

Bizarre line from Lincoln, not striking out a batter and not allowing a hit, but walking 4 and allowing none to score? He even hit a batter as well. Aumont (shocker!) and Giles also struggled with the free passes. Avid TGP reader Jim Murphy (presumed) picks up his home run pace after I called him out on his slow start. He hits his 6th on the season in what would be the winning run in the top of the 9th. Franco continues to draw walks!

Buffalo 7, Lehigh Valley 1 (May 18, 2014)

David Buchanan - 1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, HR
Kyle Simon - 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, K
Seth Rosin - 2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 K
Phillippe Aumont - 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, K
Jeremy Horst - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Tyson Gillies - 1 for 4, 2 K
Maikel Franco - 0 for 3, BB, K
Darin Ruf - 0 for 3, BB, 2 K (outfield assist, home)
Cameron Rupp - 1 for 4, 2 K (passed ball)

Think the bullpen is exhausted? Buchanan, who had been solid all season, gets blown up in this one and doesn't go out for another inning after having thrown 45 pitches in the first. Seth Rosin with arguably the best line from the relievers (or what I call the Best Smelling Fart Award). The offense amounts 4 hits and 2 walks against former major leaguer, Shawn Hill. Former Phils prospect Rob Rasmussen throws an inning and strikes out the side. He was sent to the Toronto organization, along with Erik Kratz for Brad Lincoln. Judge away.

Bowie 5, Reading 3 (May 16, 2014)

Mike Nesseth - 5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 K, 6 GB, 3 FB, WP
Austin Wright - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Brock Stassi - 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Cam Perkins - 1 for 2, R, 2 BB
Aaron Altherr - 1 for 4, K
Sebastian Valle - 1 for 4, 2B
Anthony Hewitt - 1 for 3, RBI, 2 K
Zach Collier - 0 for 4, K

Dear Phillies, I realize you don't have any pitching prospects, but Mike Nesseth is not a starter. Austin Wright, however, pitches like a functional baseball-thrower-guy. Brock Stassi mashes 3rd homer of the season and Perkins has been digging the free pass lately (8 in his last 5 games). Zach Collier is batting .194 on the season.

Reading 2, Bowie 1 (May 17, 2014)

Severino Gonzalez - 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 4 K, 8 GB, 1 FB
Tyler Knigge - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K
Nefi Ogando - 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 K
Brock Stassi - 3 for 3, 2B, HR, BB
Cam Perkins - 2 for 4, RBI, K
Aaron Altherr - 0 for 4, 2 K
Sebastian Valle - 1 for 3, 2B, BB, K
Zach Collier - 0 for 2, BB

Severino doesn't let his 10 earned run performance last week destroy his confidence and pitches a gem. Kept the ball on the ground and only allowed only one free pass. Brock Stassi hits his 2nd homer in as many days, giving him 4 on the season. Cameron Perkins doesn't care what you think of his ceiling and Aaron Altherr continues to struggle in ways I didn't think were possible for him. That Ogando kid is sure pitching well, huh? Kind of awesome the Philies got him for John McDonald. Kudos to you, Ruben.

Reading 4, Bowie 3 (May 18, 2014)

Hoby Milner - 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 3 GB, 8 FB
Hector Neris - 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Nefi Ogando - 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K
Zach Collier - 2 for 4, R, 3B, K, (outfield assist, 2B)
Brock Stassi - 0 for 2, R, BB
Cam Perkins - 1 for 3, R, 2B, 3 RBI, K
Sebastian Valle - 1 for 3, K (passed ball)
Aaron Altherr - 0 for 3, BB, K, SB

Hoby Milner pitches well enough to win the game. He is still giving out too many walks and now has given up 18 in 38 innings (as opposed to 19 strikeouts). Reading gets all 4 of their runs in the bottom of the 4th via a 3 RBI double from Perkins and a run scoring double play. Reading takes the series 2-1 and begin a 5-game set against New Hampshire today.

Clearwater 2, Charlotte 1 (May 16, 2014)

Ethan Stewart - 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 8 GB, 2 FB
Brian Pointer - 2 for 4, 2B, BB, K
KC Serna - 1 for 4, BB, K
Peter Lavin - 1 for 4, picked off (fielding error)
Andrew Knapp - 1 for 5, 2 K
Harold Martinez - 2 for 4, RBI
Logan Moore - 2 for 3, 2B, RBI

Ethan Stewart has his first decent start since April 24, but now has 7 starts (out of 9) in which he has walked more than he has struck out. Brian Pointer has his 2nd mult-hit game in a row.  The bullpen holds the Stone Crabs to 3 hits and a walk over the final 4 innings.

Charlotte 2, Clearwater 0 (May 17, 2014)

Colin Kleven - 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, HR, 6 GB, 4 FB
Brian Pointer - 0 for 4, 3 K (outfield assist, home)
KC Serna - 2 for 4, 2B, SB, picked off
Peter Lavin - 1 for 4
Andrew Knapp - 0 for 4, K
Harold Martinez - 1 for 2, K, HBP (throwing error)
Gabriel Lino - 0 for 4, 3 K

Colin Kleven with his most impressive start of the season. The only problem is he had to duel with a rehabbing Alex Cobb, who obliterated the already anemic Threshers offense. A couple golden sombreros in the game and overall Clearwater hitters accumulated 12 strikeouts.

Charlotte 6, Clearwater 2 (May 18, 2014)

Brody Colvin - 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB
Brian Pointer - 0 for 4, 2 K
KC Serna - 0 for 4 (fielding error)
Peter Lavin - 1 for 4, R, K (outfield assist, 3B)
Andrew Knapp - 1 for 4, 2 K
Logan Moore - 1 for 3, R, 2B, RBI

Kevin Walter and Daniel Child give up all 6 runs (3 earned) en route the Threshers 31st loss on the season. Clearwater hopes to even the series with a win tonight. Andrew Knapp continues to strike out at an incredible rate. I'd rather have him go hit-less than keep whiffing (15 K's in 43 at bats).

Hagerstown 11, Lakewood 0 (May 16, 2014, game 1 of doubleheader)

Alejandro Arteaga - 2 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 7 ER, K, 2 HR, 3 GB, 3 FB
Andrew Pullin - 0 for 3, K (fielding error)
Dylan Cozens - 1 for 3, K, CS
Willians Astudillo - 0 for 2, BB
Mitch Walding - 0 for 3, 2 K
Carlos Tocci - 0 for 3, K
Deivi Grullon - 1 for 2, 2B

Best to avert your eyes from this one. Arteaga might not be ready for full season ball just yet. His ERA shoots back up to 8.66 for the season. No real positives for this game. If you aren't already depressed, don't expect to see JP Crawford in the remaining Lakewood boxscores either since he injured his finger in the weight room. Though, the manager expected him to be ready for Monday's game. We shall see...

Lakewood 9, Hagerstown 2 (May 16, 2014, game 2 of doubleheader, make up 5/15 ppd)

Mark Leiter - 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 4 GB, 4 FB
Jiandido Tromp - 2 for 4, R, 2B, RBI
Andrew Pullin - 1 for 4, R, 2 K
Dylan Cozens - 1 for 2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB
Wilmer Oberto - 1 for 2, 2 R, RBI, BB, K
Willians Astudillo - 3 for 4, R, 2B, 4 RBI (throwing error)
Mitch Walding - 0 for 3, K
Samuel Hiciano - 3 for 4, R, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, CS

Leiter gets back on track and earns the win. He was backed by an offensive explosion ignited by Astudillo and Hiciano. Cozens works 2 walks and steals his 6th stolen base. Astudillo was back behind the plate, but commits an error trying to throw out a basestealer. The Blue Claws lose the series with Hagerstown, 2-1.

Lakewood 3, Rome 1 (May 17, 2014)

Drew Anderson - 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 7 GB, 3 FB
Delvi Francisco - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K
Jiandido Tromp - 1 for 4, R, 2B, 2 K
Andrew Pullin - 3 for 4, R, RBI
Dylan Cozens - 0 for 4, K
Wilmer Oberto - 2 for 4, R, 2B, 3B
Willians Astudillo - 1 for 2, RBI, BB
Mitch Walding - 1 for 3, RBI, BB
Samuel Hiciano - 1 for 4, 2B, K
Carlos Tocci - 0 for 4, K

Drew Anderson was able to break his "every other start is a good one" habit. He strikes out a season high 7 and has struck out 30 in 26.1 innings. Astudillo remains behind the plate for the 2nd game in a row. Carlos Tocci is now 1 for 33 in his last 8 games and has seen his average plummet to .219.

Lakewood 8, Rome 3 (May 18, 2014)

Ranfi Casimiro - 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 5 GB, 3 FB, 2 WP
Carlos Tocci - 2 for 4, R, BB
Andrew Pullin - 2 for 5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
Jiandido Tromp - 1 for 4, 2 R, RBI, BB, K
Wilmer Oberto - 0 for 4, K
Willians Astudillo - 1 for 4, 2 RBI
Mitch Walding - 3 for 5, 2B, RBI, 2 K
Samuel Hiciano - 2 for 4, R
Deivi Grullon - 2 for 3, R, 2 2B, RBI, BB (passed ball)

Has Casimiro finally got out of his funk? His last two starts he's combined for 12 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K. A far cry from his previous 6 starts. Carlos Tocci also breaks out for his first multi-hit game in what seems like forever (actually just since 5/4). Andrew Pullin hits his 4th home run on the season. Lakewood has taken the first two games of the 4 game set and finish it out tonight and tomorrow.