Phillies Minor League Roundup - April 18, 2016

Today's Probables:

LHV: David Buchanan
REA: Nick Pivetta
CLR: Tom Eshelman
LWD: Franklyn Kilome

Lehigh Valley 5, Syracuse 1

Mark Appel - 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, WP, 7 GB, 2 FB
Luis Garcia - 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K, HBP
Darnell Sweeney - 2 for 3, HR, BB, K, SB, CS
Nick Williams - 0 for 4, 2 K
Andrew Knapp - 2 for 4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, K
Brock Stassi - 1 for 4, 2B, 2 K
Cam Perkins - 2 for 3, 2B
Tommy Joseph - 0 for 1, K (pinch hitter)

Mark Appel was once again excellent, improving his record to 2-0 with a 0.77 ERA and a 11:4 K/BB in 2 starts (11.2 IP). These are all good early signs for the former #1 overall pick. He had trouble in the 5th, 6th and 7th innings, but was able to work out of jams. Andrew Knapp remained hot, launching his 2nd HR of the season, a two-run shot in the first inning. Darnell Sweeney also swatted his first of the year. Cam Perkins is doing his best Willians Astudillo impression in the early going. He has zero walks and strikeouts through 23 at bats. One guy that needs to get going is stud OF Nick Williams, who is batting .167/.229/.267 through 30 at bats.

Reading 6, Richmond 2

Ben Lively - 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 K, 11 GB, 3 FB
Ulises Joaquin - 0.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER
Roman Quinn - 0 for 5, 2 K
J.P. Crawford - 0 for 3, R, 2 BB (throwing error)
Angelo Mora - 2 for 5, R, 2B, SB
Dylan Cozens - 1 for 4, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB
Rhys Hoskins - 1 for 4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K
Aaron Brown - 1 for 5, K
Jesmuel Valentin - 2 for 4, RBI, BB, K
Ben Lively - 2 for 3, 2 RBI, BB, K

Ben Lively can do it all! The 24 year old righty has been impressive in his first three starts (18 IP, 12 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 21 K). He'll have to bide his time until there is an opening in AAA to showcase his talents at the next level. Angelo Mora's breakout continues as he continues to mash the ball. He is batting .325/.413/.625 in 40 at bats. Another player having a quietly good start to the season is Jesmuel Valentin. The 21 year old was forced to sit out most of the 2015 season due to charges of domestic abuse of which I'm not sure I ever saw resolved. Valentin came over in the infamous Roberto Hernandez trade that also netted SP/RP Victor Arano.

Jupiter 5, Clearwater 0

Will Morris - 4.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 K, WP, 7 GB, 2 FB
Jairo Munoz - 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, K
Joey Denato - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
Scott Kingery - 0 for 4
Cord Sandberg - 2 for 4 (throwing error)
Carlos Tocci - 2 for 4
Kyle Martin - 2 for 4
Mitch Walding - 0 for 3, BB, K (fielding error)
Zach Green - 0 for 4
Malquin Canelo - 0 for 4, K
Gabriel Lino - 0 for 4
Herlis Rodriguez - 0 for 2, HBP

Will Morris doesn't have the same success he did his debut last week and takes the loss. The offense was 0-3 with RISP and left 8 on base. Offensive juggernaut Mitch Walding was kept hitless. Carlos Tocci Update: batting .298/.353/.319 in 47 AB. You'd like to see more gap power from the lanky CFer, but he is holding his own in the FSL.

Hagerstown 4, Lakewood 3

Mitch Gueller - 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 5 K, 6 GB, 2 FB
Alberto Tirado - 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K, HBP (throwing error)
Zach Morris - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Zachary Coppola - 2 for 4, 2B, BB, SB
Jiandido Tromp - 0 for 3, BB, K
Josh Tobias - 1 for 2, R, BB, HBP
Wilson Garcia - 1 for 4, 2B
Jose Pujols - 2 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Brendon Hayden - 0 for 4, 2 K
Jan Hernandez - 0 for 3, R, BB, K
Austin Bossart - 1 for 4, 2B, RBI
Emmanuel Marrero - 1 for 4, CS

Mitch Gueller was cruising until the top of the 5th inning when he gave up a two-run triple and an RBI single to relinquish the 2-0 lead to Hagerstown. Alberto Tirado would would allow the eventual winning run the following inning. Jose Pujols mashed his 2nd HR of the season and 2nd in as many days. Pujols is poised for a big season. Josh Tobias is now hitting .371/.509/.558 in 43 at bats. If he can competently play second base (very, very debatable), we have a legit 2B prospect on our hands. He's already 23, but is behind a logjam of Kingery in CLR and Valentin in REA.