Phillies Minor League Roundup - June 29, 2015

Today's Probables:

LHV: Anthony Vasquez
REA: TBD (Colin Kleven?)
CLR: David Whitehead
LWD: Josh Taylor
WIL: Luis Morales

Lehigh Valley 8, Scranton/WB 1

Aaron Nola - 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 7 GB, 3 FB
Nefi Ogando - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, K
Adam Loewen - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Cesar Jimenez - 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER
Tyler Henson - 3 for 5, 2 R, RBI, SB
Aaron Altherr - 1 for 4, R, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 K
Cord Phelps - 2 for 3, R, 3 RBI, BB
Jordan Danks - 1 for 3, 2 R, 2B, BB, K
Gabriel Lino - 2 for 4, R, 2 2B, RBI, 2 K

Aaron Nola walks 3 batters for the first time in a game since his first professional start on June 23, 2014. Think about that for a second. Nola improved to 3-0 in LHV and holds a 10-3 record overall with a 1.81 ERA. Adam Loewen's rebirth as a reliever has been fun to follow this season. Since May, he has thrown 25.1 innings and has struck out 36 batters and has allowed only 21 hits and 12 walks. Tyler Henson picks up his 16th stolen base this season. Gabriel Lino's AAA triple-slash improves to .279/.306/.353. 

Portland 5, Reading 4 (Game 1 of doubleheader, 9 innings, makeup of 6/28 ppd)

Zach Eflin - 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 K, 7 GB, 4 FB
Colton Murray - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K
Joely Rodriguez - 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER
J.P. Crawford - 0 for 5, 2 K
KC Serna - 2 for 5, R, SB
Kelly Dugan - 1 for 3, R, BB, K (fielding error)
Brock Stassi - 2 for 3, R, 2B, 2 BB
Andrew Knapp - 1 for 3, 3 RBI, BB
Brian Pointer - 0 for 3, BB, K
Art Charles - 1 for 2, K
Harold Martinez - 1 for 2

Zach Eflin with a quality start, but doesn't factor into the decision. The game looked to be over until Andrew Knapp hit a sac-fly RBI in the top of the 7th to tie the game and send it to extras. Not unexpectedly, Joely Rodriguez's struggles led to Portland's walkoff win in the bottom of the 9th. Crawford sees his on-base streak end at 42 games. That is really impressive.

Reading 6, Portland 1 (Game 2 of doubleheader, 7 innings)

Mark Leiter - 7 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 2 K, HR, 9 GB, 3 FB, HBP
J.P. Crawford - 1 for 3, R, RBI, BB
KC Serna - 0 for 2, RBI
Kelly Dugan - 2 for 3, R, 2 RBI, K, HBP
Brock Stassi - 0 for 3, BB, K
Brian Pointer - 2 for 2, 2 R, HR

Mark Leiter Jr. has consulted the gods, Gandalf and Dumbledore to continue working his witch magic and his assault of minor league hitting. Despite some strange peripherals (and lack of true stuff), he finds ways to win. I'm rooting for the kid, but you have to wonder how much further he can go. I've seen most people say he could have Tyler Cloyd-type success, but perhaps there is a glimmer of hope he could settle into a 4-5 starter role. Brian Pointer hit his 9th HR of the season. Pointer tends to be streaky, but I guess at the beginning of the season we would see a jump in his power this season in Reading, so perhaps we are seeing it come now.

Clearwater 3, Charlotte 1

Hoby Milner - 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, K, 5 GB, 1 FB
Yacksel Rios - 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 6 GB, 3 FB, WP, HBP
Edubray Ramos - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K
Malquin Canelo - 1 for 4, R, 2B, RBI
Carlos Tocci - 1 for 5, R, 2 K
Andrew Pullin - 3 for 5, 2B, 2 RBI, picked off
Rhys Hoskins - 0 for 4, BB, K
Chace Numata - 1 for 4 (2 passed balls)
Willians Astudillo - 2 for 4, R
Mitch Walding - 0 for 2, BB, K, HBP

I'm not sure if this was a bullpen game or if their intention is to stretch out Milner again. Rios has been yo-yo'd all season between starter and reliever. I'd lean toward a bullpen game in any case. Edubray Ramos has only given up 8 earned runs in 46.1 innings this season with a 42/5 K/BB ratio. I heard from Jim Peyton that Cozens has been out with some sort of leg injury, but hasn't been placed on the DL. Got to wonder when he might be coming back. Or did I miss something?

Hickory 5, Lakewood 4

Yoel Mecias - 0.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 HR, WP
Austin Davis - 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, K
Calvin Rayburn - 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K
Drew Stankiewicz - 1 for 5, RBI, K
Scott Kingery - 0 for 4, HBP
Kyle Martin - 1 for 5, R, 2 K
Damek Tomscha - 2 for 3, R, BB
Cord Sandberg - 1 for 4, R, K
Jiandido Tromp - 0 for 3, 2 RBI, 2 K
Deivi Grullon - 0 for 2, 2 BB, K
Gustavo Martinez - 1 for 4, R, RBI, K
Emmanuel Marrero - 2 for 4

Yoel Mecias is slowly working himself off many prospect lists. Though he might not be 100% healthy, he also might not ever be 100% where he was before TJS surgery 2 years ago. Time will tell, but right now I wouldn't consider him a top 10 pitching prospect in the organization anymore. The offense, despite scoring 4 runs and out-hitting Hickory 8 to 6, went 0 for 9 with RISP and left 8 on base. Damek Tomscha is quietly having quite a good season and has brought his line to .280/.370/.403. Obviously, you'd like to see a bit more power from your third baseman, but at this point Tomscha is probably a better prospect than Zach Green and Mitch Walding at this point.

Williamsport 5, Mahoning Valley 2

Mitch Gueller - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 5 K, 5 GB, 4 FB, 2 WP
Skylar Hunter - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
Feliberto Sanchez - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, K
Robert Tasin - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
Zachary Coppola - 0 for 5, 2 K
Mark Laird - 0 for 3, BB, SB
Jose Pujols - 1 for 4, R, 2B, 2 K
Brendon Hayden - 2 for 4
Jan Hernandez - 1 for 4, R, 2B, RBI, K
Joshua Tobias - 2 for 4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K
Gregori Rivero - 2 for 4, R, 2B, RBI, K, CS
Dylan Bosheers - 0 for 4, 3 K
Grenny Cumana - 1 for 4, RBI, CS

Mitch Gueller has been...well good in his first two starts, limiting walks and striking out guys. He is a little old for the league and repeating it for the 3rd year. Mitch Gueller was a 1st round compensation pick for losing Raul Ibanez remember. 2015 10th round pick, Joshua Tobias, smacked his 1st pro HR in his first pro game. That has to be exciting. Williamsport is now off to a 10-0 start and a 5 game lead from the 2nd place team.

GCL Phillies, GCL Astros (Game was suspended due to rain after the Phils took a 2-0 lead in the 1st. It will be completed today)