Phillies MLR 5/10/17: Nola looks solid in rehab outing

Thursday’s Probables:

Lehigh Valley: Ricardo Pinto vs. Buffalo

Reading: Shane Watson vs. Portland

Clearwater: Alberto Tirado vs. Tampa

Lakewood: Ranger Suarez vs. Greenville

Lehigh Valley 2, Rochester 1 (F/11) [box]

A rehab start isn’t always the most exciting thing for prospect hounds, but let’s be honest, you were interested in what Aaron Nola was up to Wednesday night. And now it’s time to exhale, for now.

Nola went four innings, threw 52 pitches (he had a 60 pitch limit), and allowed four hits and one earned run while striking out three. Reports had Nola touching 93 MPH, and there don’t seem to be any ill-effects, which is a great sign.

Best of all, the bullpen followed with seven scoreless innings, setting things up for Dylan Cozens to walk ‘em off with a solo blast in the bottom of the 11th. It hasn’t been a great year for Cozens, but he did put together a 3-for-5 night with a double and the aforementioned homer.

Meanwhile, as the world continues to burn in Philadelphia in terms of the Phillies’ bullpen, Pat Venditte is becoming hard to ignore. He threw two scoreless innings, and has allowed just one hit in 14 1/3 innings this season. If the Phillies need a LOOGY (or, uh, a ROOGY), they may have an answer.

Reading 4, Bowie 3 [box]

Well, Carlos Tocci just keeps hitting. In fact, he’s hitting .343/.410/.457 in May. He was 2-for-4 in morning action against Bowie with two runs scored. Osmel Aguila and Jiandido Trump each had a hit and two RBI. Scott Kingery and Andrew Pullin each had a hit and a run scored.

John Richy started the game for the Fightin Phils and lasted 4 ²⁄₃ innings, scattering eight hits and surrendering three earned runs. Jesen Therrien picked up his 7th save of the season.

Charlotte 6, Clearwater 3 [box]

Another morning game on the farm, but not much offense for the Threshers. That’s been a bit of a theme lately, with just nine runs over their last four games.

Cole Irvin started for Clearwater, getting through five innings. He gave up four runs (only one was earned), walked one, and struck out three.

Cornelius Randolph, who by the way still doesn’t turn 20 for another three weeks, notched an RBI double. Grenny Crumana was 2-for-3 with an RBI as well.

Lakewood 3, Greenville 0 [box]

Have a night, JoJo Romero. In his longest outing of the season, the Phillies’ 4th round pick last June tossed eight shutout innings of one-hit ball. He struck out eight and walked three. Romero has a 2.20 ERA this season.

All the offense came in the bottom half of the third inning, with Darick Hall delivering a two-run single in the frame.