Phillies Minor League Roundup - August 19, 2014

Pawtucket 7, Lehigh Valley 0

Jason Marquis - 5.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, K, 8 GB, 5 FB
Tyler Knigge - 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB
Hector Neris - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, K
Cesar Hernandez - 1 for 5, 2 K
Freddy Galvis - 1 for 4, K
Maikel Franco - 3 for 4, 2B (throwing error)
Cam Perkins - 0 for 4
Cameron Rupp - 2 for 4, 2B

In Jason Marquis' first 3 starts with LHV, he gave up 1 earned run in 18 innings. In his last 3 starts he has surrendered 16 earned runs in 16.2 innings. I believe we call this regression to the mean. On the bright side, Tyler Knigge has a 7 inning scoreless streak going. The offense nearly matches Pawtucket in hits (11-10), but go 1 for 9 with RISP and leave 10 on base. Franco had a 3 hit night, but has yet to work a walk in August (68 at bats) and is only striking out 13% of his at bats in the same span. Cameron Rupp has his first multi-hit game with the Iron Pigs since June 18 and still holds that rather sad 150 average. In roughly the same amount of at bats, the differences between Reading and Lehigh Valley couldn't be any more different for Perkins. The plate discipline seems to be gone, he is striking out more and I would imagine his confidence is shot.

Bowie 8, Reading 3

Aaron Nola - 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 6 GB, 4 FB
Colton Murray - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K
Austin Wright - 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB
Nefi Ogando - 0.2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, K, HR
Carlos Alonso - 1 for 4, 3B, 2 K
Kelly Dugan - 1 for 4, R
Jake Fox - 2 for 2, HR, 2 BB
Aaron Altherr - 1 for 4, 2B, RBI, K, CS, picked off
KC Serna - 0 for 4, K
Peter Lavin - 1 for 3, R, BB, SB

Nola threw 50 of his 79 pitches for strikes, but still gave up too many hits and walks. Part of it is adjusting, but should also be attributed to his long season. He was quoted before the game saying he really wants to finish out the season. There aren't a lot of games left to pitch, so they might just let him. Colton Murray, you just keep doing what you are doing. Sure, he had some hiccups his last two outings, but generally he has been lights out all season. I believe he will need to be added to the 40 man roster following the season. This shouldn't be a hard choice to make. The offense in the game did well, but couldn't capitalize on all the baserunners. Lavin steals his 11th base of the season and holds a .284/.330/.451 slash across two levels with 11 homers as well. Not a bad season for Peter "The Cannon" Lavin.

Daytona 4, Clearwater 3 (Game 1 of doubleheader, 8 innings)

Miguel Nunez - 4.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 5 GB, 2 FB
Cody Forsythe - 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K, HR
Lee Ridenhour - 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, BB
Roman Quinn - 0 for 4, 2 K
Jesmuel Valentin - 1 for 4, R, K, SB (throwing error)
JP Crawford - 0 for 2, BB, HBP, 2 SB (throwing error)
Brian Pointer - 2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI, K (outfield assist, 3B)
Gabriel Lino - 2 for 3
Herlis Rodriguez - 0 for 2

Back to back rough starts for Nunez, who was on a nice little 4 start stretch of relative dominance. He held the lead before giving way to Cody Forsythe to finish the 5th inning. Cody would pitch a scoreless 6th and come out to close the game in the 7th. He gave up a 2-out solo HR to tie the game to 2014 1st rounder Kyle Schwarber. Enter Ridenhour in "extras" for the 8th when two costly throwing errors on the same play allowed the winning run to score. Valentin makes his debut to mixed results. He is guilty of losing the game, but picks up his first SB with Clearwater. The other guy complicit in the loss, our buddy JP, steals bases 8 and 9 with the Threshers (23 overall this season). Brian Pointer is likely ready to make the jump to Reading, blasting his 14th homer.

Clearwater 5, Daytona 2 (Game 2 of doubleheader, 7 innings, makeup of 8/18 ppd)

Lino Martinez - 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 3 GB, 2 FB, WP
Ethan Stewart - 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 K
Ulises Joaquin - 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R
Roman Quinn - 2 for 2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB, CS (outfield assist, 2B)
Jesmuel Valentin - 0 for 3, K
Brian Pointer - 0 for 3, 2 K, HBP
Art Charles - 2 for 4, HR, 2 RBI, K

Martinez gets his first start of the season after appearing 35 games in relief. It wasn't a terrible start, but didn't get a decision. Roman Quinn was the on base machine and steals his 29th base. Art Charles hits his 15th homer, which would be the highest in the Phillies organization by someone who isn't 32.

Lakewood, West Virginia (postponed due to rain)

GCL Phillies 5, GCL Pirates 1

Elniery Garcia - 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K, 7 GB, 3 FB
Luis Morales - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
Kyle Bogese - 0.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB
Jared Fisher - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Venn Biter - 2 for 5, R, 2B, 3 RBI, K, SB
Tim Zier - 2 for 3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
Grenny Cumana - 0 for 4, RBI
Damek Tomscha - 1 for 3, HBP
Jesus Posso - 0 for 4, K (missed catch error)
Joel Fisher - 1 for 4, 2 K
Gustavo Martinez - 1 for 3, 2 R, BB, SB
Olvy Marte - 1 for 3, R, 2B, HBP (fielding error)

That is now 3 good starts from Garcia, who has been used mostly as a reliever this season in the GCL. The 19 year old DR native should be a lock for Williamsport next season with 23 strikeouts and only 5 walks in 26.2 innings. Speaking of good ratios, Jared Fisher has a 20:7 K/BB ratio through 20.2 innings. Tomscha with his league leading 11th HBP and Venn Biter has been on fire recently, picking up another XBH hit and stolen base.