Phillies Minor League Roundup - August 27, 2015

Weekend Probables (lot likely to change by mid-day):

LHV: Alec Asher, Severino Gonzalez, David Buchanan
REA: Joely Rodriguez, Nick Pivetta, Zach Eflin
CLR: GM1 David Whitehead, GM2 TBD, Mark Leiter, Victor Arano
LWD: Will Morris, Tyler Viza, TBD
WIL: Alejandro Arteaga, Mitch Gueller, Luke Leftwich

Scranton/WB 5, Lehigh Valley 0 (GM1 of doubleheader, 7 innings)

Jesse Biddle - 4.2 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, WP, 6 GB, 4 FB
Dalier Hinojosa - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K
Kelly Dugan - 1 for 3, 2B
Tommy Joseph - 1 for 3, 2B, K
Gabriel Lino - 0 for 3

Welp, Jesse Biddle's game results remain just about as poor as you can get. They have been trying to rework his approach at the plate (less curveballs, more sliders), but he hasn't been granted much success. If he continues to struggle into 2016, he likely gets moved to the bullpen. The offense didn't do him any favors, going 0 for 6 with RISP and leaving 6 on.

Lehigh Valley 6, Scranton/WB 1 (GM2 of doubleheader, makeup of 8/20 ppd, 7 innings)

Jason Berken - 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 K, 6 GB, 3 FB
Chris Leroux - 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, K, 4 GB, 2 FB
Brian Bogusevic - 2 for 4, R, 2 RBI
Kelly Dugan - 0 for 3, 3 K
Tommy Joseph - 1 for 2, R, RBI
Jordan Danks - 2 for 3, HR, 3 RBI, K
Logan Moore - 1 for 3, K

Jason Berken survives the ol' bullpen start despite walking 4 batters. Jordan Danks helped seal the win with a 2-run HR in the 2nd inning. Kelly Dugan with the hat-trick at the plate and has struck out 25 times in 91 at bats.

Reading 8, Bowie 3

Ben Lively - 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 5 K, 2 HR, 2 GB, 5 FB
Jimmy Cordero - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, K
Ethan Martin - 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K
J.P. Crawford - 2 for 2, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI, 3 BB
Andrew Knapp - 2 for 4, R, 2B, 2 RBI
Brock Stassi - 2 for 5, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Angelo Mora - 1 for 3, BB, K, CS
Harold Martinez - 1 for 3, R, BB, 2 K
Brian Pointer - 1 for 3, R, 2B, BB, K

Ben Lively returned for a typical Lively-start. All runs came off of two swings and were the 12th and 13th HR's he's given up this season. Ethan Martin held down the fort and earned his 3rd win with Reading. He was aided with two 3-run innings in the 7th and 8th. Brock Stassi added HR's number 13 and 14. His 88 RBI's lead the Eastern League and 2nd most in all of AA ball. Andrew Knapp hasn't been red hot as he has been, but is riding a 5-game hitting streak. J.P. Crawford appears to be o.k.

Clearwater, Brevard County (postponed due to rain)

Hagerstown 3, Lakewood 1

Shane Watson - 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, K, HBP, 8 GB, 3 FB
Calvin Rayburn - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K, HBP
Scott Harris - 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, K
Herlis Rodriguez - 2 for 4, 2B (throwing error)
Scott Kingery - 0 for 4, 3 K
Damek Tomscha - 2 for 3, R, 2B, K, HBP
Kyle Martin - 1 for 3, RBI, BB
Cord Sandberg - 0 for 4, 2 K
Jiandido Tromp - 2 for 4, 2 K
Joel Fisher - 0 for 3, 2 K
Emmanuel Marrero - 0 for 3, K

Shane Watson fell to 1-5 on the season and has struggled in his last two starts. His four walks issued was his highest since his 2015 debut when he issued 5 free passes. The offense floundered behind him going 1 for 5 with RISP. Damek Tomscha continued his hot hitting batting .382 in his last 10 games. The only guy hotter right now on the BlueClaws is Jiandido Tromp who is batting .432 in the same span. He's had back-to-back-to-back multi-hit games.

Batavia 3, Williamsport 2 (12 innings)

Franklyn Kilome - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 7 GB, 1 FB (pickoff error)
Kenny Koplove - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Andrew Godail - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
Skylar Hunter - 2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K
Carlos Duran - 0 for 5, BB, 2 K, SB
Mark Laird - 2 for 5, RBI, BB
Venn Biter - 1 for 6, 3 K
Jose Pujols - 1 for 5, K, SB
Brendon Hayden - 0 for 4, BB, K
Jan Hernandez - 0 for 5, 3 K
Jesus Posso - 0 for 4, K, HBP (throwing error)
Luis Espiritu - 3 for 5, R, 2 K, SB
William Cuicas - 0 for 4, R, K

I think Franklyn Kilome is feeling better. His 5 strikeouts were his most since a June 26 start when he whiffed 6. The offense went 1 for 11 with RISP, but did tie the game up via a two-run 8th inning to send the game to extras. Skylar Hunter would give up the 1-out RBI double for the walkoff loss.

GCL Phillies 5, GCL Pirates 0

Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez - 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K, HBP, 5 GB, 2 FB
Lino Martinez - 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R
Edgar Garcia - 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
Arquimedes Gamboa - 0 for 5, 2 K
Jose Antequera - 0 for 5
Jorge Alfaro - 1 for 1, 2 HBP
Cornelius Randolph - 2 for 4, R, 3B, RBI, CS
Luis Encarnacion - 0 for 4, RBI, K
Juan Luis - 2 for 3, R, 3B, SB
Lucas Williams - 2 for 4, R, HBP
Scott Tomassetti - 2 for 5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 K
Greg Pickett - 1 for 3, 2 BB, K

Holy cow, Jorge Alfaro makes his organizational debut! There was confirmation that he was in Clearwater already working out, but it was largely assumed he would be gearing up for Fall Instructs. The Phillies must have liked his progress and wanted to see what he could do in the few remaining games this season. He also threw out a runner trying to steal second in the game. As a reminder, Alfaro came over in the Hamels trade and has tremendous upside. We can only hope he stays healthy and we can have a full look at him next season. Cornelius Randolph is just doing his thing. I'm curious is they add him to the Williamsport roster for their playoff run once the GCL is over.