Phillies Minor League Roundup - June 7, 2016

Today's Probables:

LHV: Zach Eflin
REA: Ricardo Pinto
CLR: Ranfi Casimiro
LWD: Harold Arauz

Lehigh Valley 11, Gwinnett 6

James Russell - 4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 K, 4 GB, 1 FB
Taylor Featherston - 3 for 4, 3 R, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, HBP
J.P. Crawford - 0 for 5, R, BB
Nick Williams - 3 for 4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, K, SB
Darin Ruf - 2 for 5, 2 R, 2B, RBI, K
Andrew Knapp - 3 for 5, R, RBI, K (fielding error)
Cam Perkins - 3 for 5, 2 RBI
Brock Stassi - 0 for 3

The IronPig offense explodes for 11 runs on 15 hits and 5 walks. Taylor Featherson provided his 8th HR of the season and is now hitting .282. The defense however remains very questionable. J.P. Crawford continues to struggle getting hits at the plate. This will certainly be a huge adjustment for the young SS, but given time I'm sure he will be quite fine. Nick Williams, Andrew Knapp and Cam Perkins all with three hits. Nick Williams raised his average to .293 and added his 5th stolen base. Andrew Knapp is batting .317 in his last 10 games.

Reading 11, Akron 1

Nick Pivetta - 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 3 GB, 5 FB
Angelo Mora - 1 for 5, 2 R, RBI, K
Jorge Alfaro - 2 for 4, HR, 4 RBI
Dylan Cozens - 2 for 4, HR, BB, K
Rhys Hoskins - 3 for 5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K
Jesmuel Valentin - 4 for 5, 2 R, 2B, RBI, K
Harold Martinez - 1 for 4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K

Nick Pivetta got all the run support he needed when Reading busted out for 7 runs in the top of the 5th inning. 5 of these runs came via back-to-back-to-back homeruns from Alfaro (5th), Cozens (16th) and Hoskins (13th). Alfaro's blast was a 3-run HR. This offense is absolutely devastating. Jesmuel Valentin with his multi-hit night improved his season line to .277/.338/.388 in 188 at-bats. Roman Quinn was absent for the 3rd straight game. It is now getting mildly concerning.

Tampa 2, Clearwater 1

Yacksel Rios - 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR, 8 GB, 1 FB
Joey Denato - 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, K
Matt Hockenberry - 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
Ulises Joaquin - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K
Scott Kingery - 1 for 3, BB, CS
Malquin Canelo - 1 for 4, K (fielding error)
Carlos Tocci - 0 for 3, BB
Andrew Pullin - 1 for 3, R, BB
Zach Green - 1 for 4, 2B, K, CS
Mitch Walding - 1 for 3, K, HBP
Kyle Martin - 1 for 3, RBI
Gabriel Lino - 2 for 2, HBP
Cord Sandberg - 0 for 2

Yacksel Rios made his 2016 starting debut last night after serving as mostly a long-reliever between Reading and Clearwater this season. He has 39 starts in 115 career minor league appearances. He performed well last night, but the Thresher offense couldn't capitalize. Despite out-hitting Tampa 8-5, Clearwater went 1 for 8 with RISP and left 8 on-base. 

Lakewood 2, Lexington 0

Luke Leftwich - 8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 8 K, WP, 7 GB, 5 FB
Edgar Garcia - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, K
Emmanuel Marrero - 0 for 4, 2 K
Jiandido Tromp - 1 for 3, R, 3B, K
Josh Tobias - 1 for 2, RBI, K
Jose Pujols - 0 for 3, K
Jan Hernandez - 0 for 3, R, K
Deivi Grullon - 1 for 3, 2B, RBI, K
Brendon Hayden - 0 for 2, BB, K
Carlos Duran - 0 for 2
Venn Biter - 0 for 3, K

Luke Leftwich gets his 5th win in what is likely his most dominant professional start. This is the first start in his career in which he hasn't allowed a walk or run in a game. The 8 innings pitched were also a career high. He lowered his ERA/WHIP to 2.43/1.19 and has 69 strikeouts to 17 walks in 55.2 innings. I would expect a promotion to Clearwater is going to be relatively soon. The offense was poor, but did just enough to seal the game. Josh Tobias' sac-fly in the 1st inning to score Jiandido Tromp would hold up as the winning run. In his last 7 games, Tromp is batting .308/.357/.808 with three doubles, two triples, two homeruns and two stolen bases.