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Friday's Probables
Lehigh Valley: Alec Asher vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Reading: Ricardo Pinto vs. Portland
Clearwater: Ranfi Casimiro @ Tampa
Lakewood: Luke Leftwich @ Asheville
Scranton Wilkes/Barre 10, Lehigh Valley 1 [box]
Mark Appel had his first real clunker of the season, lasting five innings Thursday night. He surrendered five earned runs on six hits, while walking four. He struck out six. Post-game, Appel told reporters that he struggled working out of the stretch, and that it was something he would look at with pitching coach Dave Brundage on film.
Gregory Infante allowed five runs in relief, which meant, you guessed it, a position player came in to pitch the 9th inning. Brock Stassi was that lucky guy. Of course, Stassi was a pretty good pitcher in his own right at the University of Nevada, and he has been thrown into the fire in blowout games before. He struck out Slade Heathcott and Nick Swisher (!) in his inning of work.
The Iron Pigs' lone run of the game came on an RBI single to left field off the bat of Tommy Joseph. He added another hit, an infield single, later in the game. Darnell Sweeney reached base three times.
Reading 4, New Hampshire 2 [box]
The Fightins ended up taking three out of four from the Fisher Cats in a close, competitive series. After falling behind 2-0, the Fightin Phils mounted a comeback in the later innings. K.C. Serna and Logan Moore both had RBI doubles in the 6th inning. Rhys Hoskins and and Dylan Cozens both had 2-for-4 nights, with each also getting on base via walk.
Nick Pivetta started the ballgame for Reading, allowing six hits and two earned runs in his 5 1/3 innings of work. He threw 54 of his 95 pitches for strikes.
In more exciting news for the Fightin Phils, a callup appears to be coming. And no, it's not J.P. Crawford, so don't get that excited. Reports have reliever Edubray Ramos joining the Iron Pigs this weekend. Ramos is deserving of the promotion to say the least. The 23-year-old is 1-1 this year with a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings of work. He's allowed just nine hits, struck out 15, and walked one.
Clearwater 7, Tampa 5 [box]
Plenty of box score stuffing in A-ball last night for the organization, including for the Threshers, who pounded out 14 hits in the victory. Scott Kingery, Cord Sandberg and Chace Numata, 1-2-3 in the order last night, went 7-for-13 with 1 HR, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, and 4 R. Zach Green also had three hits and an RBI in the win.
Matt Imhof did indeed start for the Threshers (no rehab appearance for Michael Mariot!) and allowed two earned runs in his five innings of work.
Top Yankee prospect Jorge Mateo had a four-hit night for Tampa.
Lakewood 13, Asheville 6 [box]
Well, I guess the Blue Claws heard us loud and clear after being shut out by the Tourists on Wednesday night. A slugfest in a hitter's park resulted in an 11-6 score through three innings, and a 13-6 final. Lakewood was powered by a 7-run second inning, sending 11 men to the plate in the frame.
Jose Pujols hit a three-run homerun in the first inning, putting up a 5 RBI night. The bottom third of the lineup was impressive as well, with Jan Hernandez, Brendon Hayden and Austin Bossart combining for 10 hits and 4 RBI.
Shane Watson allowed six runs (three earned) in his five innings of work.
There were 19 runs, 30 hits and eight pitchers in the game, and somehow the game wrapped in 2:45. Apparently Mike Matheny was not in Asheville last night.