Phillies Minor League Roundup - April 12, 2016

Today's Probables:

LHV: David Buchanan
REA: Ben Lively
CLR: Tom Eshelman
LWD: Franklyn Kilome

Lehigh Valley 6, Rochester 1 (Game 1 of doubleheader, 7 innings)

Zach Eflin - 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 5 GB, 3 FB
Colton Murray - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB
Darnell Sweeney - 2 for 3, 2 R, 2 3B, BB
Nick Williams - 0 for 3, RBI, K
Andrew Knapp - 3 for 3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Tommy Joseph - 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Cam Perkins - 1 for 3

Though he had to wait a bit, Zach Eflin handled his AAA debut with relative ease. The only real trouble he faced was in the bottom of the third when he issued a walk and a pair of singles that led to his only earned run. His final inning he struck out to two end the inning. Andrew Knapp gave Lehigh Valley all the runs they needed with a two-run HR in the top of the 1st. That was Knapp's first homer of the season and off a LHP to boot. Tommy Joseph also deposited one in the stands, his first as well.

Lehigh Valley 4, Rochester 0 (Game 2 of doubleheader, 7 innings, makeup of 4/11 ppd)

Mark Appel - 5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 5 GB, 3 FB
Elvis Araujo - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K
Darnell Sweeney - 3 for 4, 2B, CS
Nick Williams - 2 for 4, R, 3B, RBI
Brock Stassi - 1 for 3, R
Cam Perkins - 1 for 3
Carlos Alonso - 0 for 2

Mark Appel makes his Phillies organizational debut with a big win. He threw 57 of his 83 pitches for strikes. Both walks issued came with 1 out in the bottom of the 3rd. Nick Williams breaks out of his April slump (he was 0-9 entering the game). With better weather, I'm not too worried about Mr. Williams breaking out this season. Darnell Sweeney (acquired in the Utley trade) ended the double header with 6 hits. With Cedric Hunter struggling and Sweeney already on the 40 man roster, it isn't out of the question that we could see Sweeney sooner or later (or when Mack realizes that a 1st base platoon is a waste of a bench spot). Anyway, here is an awesome gif from our very own LONG_DRIVE of Appel striking out a fool:

Richmond 7, Reading 5

Alec Asher - 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB, 3 K, HR, 12 GB, 4 FB
Ulises Joaquin - 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, HR
Joely Rodriguez - 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER
Severino Gonzalez - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB
Roman Quinn - 0 for 4, R, BB (outfield assist, 2B)
J.P. Crawford - 3 for 5, 2 R, 2B
Dylan Cozens - 2 for 5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, K
Rhys Hoskins - 1 for 1 (pinch hitter)
Angelo Mora - 0 for 4, BB, K
Aaron Brown - 0 for 5, 2 K
Jesmuel Valentin - 1 for 4

Alec Asher reverted to Alec Asher of old, though most of the damage off the 24 year old righty came in the 5th inning when he gave up an RBI single and a 3-run homer. J.P. Crawford now has back to back 3-hit games. Dylan Cozens added his 2nd homer of the season, a two-out solo shot in the 1st inning.

Charlotte 2, Clearwater 1

Will Morris - 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K, 6 GB, 4 FB
Matt Hockenberry - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, K
Jesen Therrien - 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, BB, 4 K, HR
Scott Kingery - 1 for 4, 2B, 3 K
Drew Stankiewicz - 0 for 4, 3 K
Carlos Tocci - 1 for 4, 2B
Kyle Martin - 0 for 3, BB, CS
Mitch Walding - 2 for 4, HR, K, CS, picked off
Gabriel Lino - 0 for 3, 2 K (passed ball)
Malquin Canelo - 0 for 3, K
Cord Sandberg - 1 for 3, K
Herlis Rodriguez - 0 for 2, BB

The Phillies have to like what they've seen from Will Morris since they moved him from the bullpen to the rotation in July of the 2015 season. He unfortunately left with a no-decision as the offense could not solve Charlotte SP Brett Honeywell. With a 1-0 lead in the top of the 8th and two outs, Gabriel Lino allowed a passed ball on a strike 3 swinging to allow the runner to reach first. The following at-bat resulted in a two-run HR that put Charlotte ahead for good. Mitch Walding with his 3rd HR of the season, has somehow found his power-stroke in Florida. This could be an April mirage, but keep track of the 23 year old 3B.

Hagerstown 8, Lakewood 7

Mitch Gueller - 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 GB, 4 FB
Jacob Waguespack - 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 2 K
Kenny Koplove - 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Robert Tasin - 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB (throwing error)
Zachary Coppola - 3 for 4, R, RBI, BB, SB
Jiandido Tromp - 3 for 5, R, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Josh Tobias - 1 for 4, 2B, RBI, HBP
Deivi Grullon - 1 for 4, R, 2B, BB, K (throwing error)
Cornelius Randolph - 0 for 5, R, 2 K
Brendon Hayden - 2 for 5, R, 2 K
Jose Pujols - 3 for 5, R, RBI, K
Jan Hernandez - 0 for 4, R, BB, 4 K
Grenny Cumana - 0 for 5

Mitch Gueller finally gets out of Williamsport, having spent the 2013, 2014 and 2015 there. He was actually pretty good last season where he cut down his walks/hits. He didn't have the most stellar full-season ball debut last night. The offense happened to bail him out with a monster six-run 6th inning. Jose Pujols with his first mult-hit game of the season. This is going to be a big year for the RF with monster power. Unfortunately Lakewood isn't the greatest hitters park. Kenny Koplove would give up two runs in the bottom of the 8th to cut the BlueClaws lead to just two runs. Robert Tasin allowed 3 singles and a walk in the bottom of the 9th to claim the walk-off loss.