Phillies Minor League Roundup - July 8, 2015

Today's Probables:

LHV: Aaron Nola
REA: Mark Leiter
CLR: Matt Imhof
LWD: Austin Davis
WIL: Alejandro Arteaga

Lehigh Valley 9, Pawtucket 8 (11 innings)

Jesse Biddle - 2.1 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 6 BB, K, 5 GB, 1 FB
Cesar Jimenez - 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 2 K, HR
Chris Leroux - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
Adam Loewen - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Nefi Ogando - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K
Chase d'Arnaud - 2 for 6, R, K
Tyler Henson - 2 for 6, 2 R, 2B, RBI, K
Aaron Altherr - 1 for 6, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Jordan Danks - 4 for 5, 3 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K

It wasn't supposed to be this way! There isn't too much else to what you see from Biddle's line above. He was bad. Had no command and threw only 33 of his 74 pitches for strikes. It wasn't the ideal way to begin his AAA campaign and to win back the hearts of the Delaware Valley. Some other stuff happened in this game, but not from people that matter. I'm going to cry some more.

Reading 2, Portland 1

Reinier Roibal - 4 IP, 5 H, 0 R, K, 3 GB, 6 FB
Tom Windle - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB
Tyler Knigge - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Ethan Martin - 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER
Ryan O'Sullivan - 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB
KC Serna - 0 for 3, RBI
J.P. Crawford - 1 for 4
Kelly Dugan - 1 for 4, K
Brock Stassi - 2 for 4, K
Andrew Knapp - 1 for 4, R
Cam Perkins - 2 for 4, 2B, RBI, K
Brian Pointer - 0 for 2, 2 BB, K

Reading's pitching was phenomenal last night, though they somehow only combined for 1 strikeout the entire game. Ethan Martin has been atrocious since his return from injury. In 10.1 innings he has given up 13 hits, 9 runs, 6 walks and only struck out 4. This could very well be his last season in the organization. Brock Stassi continues his breakout season with Reading, driving in his Eastern League leading 55th RBI. As a 25 year old in the league, he probably should be doing this well. Curious as to why they haven't promoted him, even if he may be a non-prospect.

Clearwater 5, Lakeland 4 (10 innings)

Ricardo Pinto - 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 2 K, HR, WP, 7 GB, 8 FB
Miguel Nunez - 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Malquin Canelo - 0 for 3, R, BB (throwing error)
Carlos Tocci - 1 for 4, R, HBP
Andrew Pullin - 1 for 4, 2 RBI, 3 K, HBP
Rhys Hoskins - 1 for 5
Willians Astudillo - 1 for 4, RBI, HBP
Chase Harris - 3 for 4, R, 2B, 2 RBI

At first glance, Pinto's start might look underwhelming. However, after a 1st inning which he gave up 4 hits, 4 runs and a walk, he cruised the last 6 innings giving up just 2 hits and striking out 2. Astudillo drove in Carlos Tocci with a single for the walk-off win. Andrew Pullin is tied for the Florida State League lead in RBI's with 51.

Lakewood 6, Hickory 3

Ranfi Casimiro - 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, K, 8 GB, 5 FB
Scott Harris - 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, K, HR, HBP
Joey Denato - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB
Scott Kingery - 0 for 4, R, BB
Drew Stankiewicz - 3 for 4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, BB
Kyle Martin - 0 for 4, BB, 2 K
Damek Tomscha - 0 for 3, R, BB, 2 K
Herlis Rodriguez - 1 for 3, 2 R, 2B, BB, 2 K
Cord Sandberg - 1 for 2, RBI, HBP
Jiandido Tromp - 0 for 3, 2 K
Deivi Grullon - 1 for 4, R, RBI, 3 K
Emmanuel Marrero - 0 for 2, R, 2 BB

Ranfi Casimiro earns his 4th win of the season and lowered his ERA to 3.36. Scott Kingery continues to struggle at the plate. In his last 10 games, he is 3 for 32. Maybe, just maybe, they should consider moving him back in the batting order. He has been batting leadoff during that stretch.

Tri-City 10, Williamsport 6

Denton Keys - 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 5 GB, 2 FB
Kenneth Koplove - 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, WP
Juan Figueroa - 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, K
Feliberto Sanchez - 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Andrew Godail - 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB
Mark Laird - 1 for 3, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB, SB
Venn Biter - 2 for 4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Jose Pujols - 1 for 1, 2 R, 3 BB, HBP, CS
Brendon Hayden - 2 for 4, RBI, BB
Jan Hernandez - 0 for 3, 2 K (throwing error)
William Cuicas - 1 for 2, 2B, 2 RBI
Josh Tobias - 1 for 5, RBI, K
Gregori Rivero - 0 for 3, BB, K
Jesus Posso - 0 for 4, 2 K
Grenny Cumana - 0 for 3, R, BB

That is what you would call a bad day from your pitching staff. On top of the 12 hits and 10 runs, they allowed 6 stolen bases on the night. After a nice debut, Denton Keys has struggled in his last two starts now, going only 8 innings and giving up 10 hits, 7 runs and 5 walks. The offense was on point, but it wasn't enough in this game. With reaching base in all 5 at bats last night, Jose Pujols raised his OBP to .408. He might not have a HR yet, but the power threat should get more opportunities with increased patience at the plate.

GCL Phillies 13, GCL Yankees1 7 (Game 1 of doubleheader, continuation of suspended 6/23 game)

Shane Watson - 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K, 3 GB, 0 FB
Carlos Indriago - 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, K
Bailey Falter - 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K, 4 GB, 1 FB
Jacob Waguespack - 1.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 3 K
Victor Delgado - 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Jesus Alastre - 1 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HBP, SB
Arquimedes Gamboa - 2 for 5, R, 2B, 3 RBI
Jonathan Arauz - 0 for 4, RBI, K
Luis Encarnacion - 1 for 5, RBI, K (throwing error)
Greg Pickett - 0 for 2
Scott Tomassetti - 1 for 2, R, K, HBP
Bryan Martelo - 4 for 5, 3 R, 2 2B (outfield assist, 3B)
Henry Santana - 1 for 2, R
Yunior Reyes - 2 for 3, R, RBI
Jose Antequera - 2 for 3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SB
Edgar Cabral - 3 for 3, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB

Crazy game of a suspended game from back in June. Shane Watson wasn't sharp, but neither was the opposing pitcher, who gave up 6 runs in his 3.2 innings. The game started again in the 5th inning and saw the debut of 2015 5th round pick Bailey Falter.

GCL Phillies 1, GCL Yankees1 0 (Game 2 of doubleheader, 7 innings)

Adonis Medina - 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K, 7 GB, 1 FB
Horace Stubblefield - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Jesus Alastre - 1 for 4, CS
Arquimedes Gamboa - 1 for 3, R, K (fielding error)
Cornelius Randolph - 0 for 1, 2 BB, K
Luis Encarnacion - 1 for 3, 2B, RBI, K
Lucas Williams - 0 for 2
Yunior Reyes - 0 for 3
Bryan Martelo - 1 for 2
Jose Antequera - 1 for 2, 2B (fielding error)
Greg Brodzinski - 1 for 2

So, Chris King of Fangraphs had some very encouraging things to say about Medina's start yesterday. Fastball was sitting at 91-94, very good CB at 79-80 and a "very deceptive CH with movement" at 82.85. That is...very good. Medina is a 18 year old 6'1 RHP out of the Dominican. Phillies are quite good at scouting these LA pitching prospect lately, huh? People should also start getting a little bit more excited about Luis Encarnacion.