Phillies MLR 6/19/17: Hoskins, we have liftoff

Today’s Probables:

LHV: Jake Thompson
REA: TBD
CLR: Jose Tavares
WIL: TBD

Lehigh Valley 5, Pawtucket 0

Mark Appel - 8.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K, WP, 13 GB, 1 FB
Cam Perkins - 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Jorge Alfaro - 0 for 4, K
Dylan Cozens - 0 for 4, K
Rhys Hoskins - 2 for 3, 2 HR, BB
Nick Williams - 2 for 4, R, K

Mark Appel sets season-high marks in innings thrown and strikeouts punched last night. He was able to do it against former major leaguers like Allen Craig, Matt Dominguez, Rusney Castillo and Sam Travis. Believe it or not, Appel has been quite serviceable over his last 5 starts going: 31 IP, 25 H, 6 ER, 16 BB (ew), 22 K. Do I think he is turning it around? Highly unlikely, but it’s still encouraging to see the kid have some success. Meanwhile, Rhys Hoskins takes the team-lead back in dingers with his 16th and 17th of the season, surpassing Dylan Cozens.

Clearwater 3, Bradenton 1

Franklyn Kilome - 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 WP, 7 GB, 1 FB
Ranfi Casimiro - 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 K
Jeff Singer - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Grenny Cumana - 0 for 5
Mark Laird - 2 for 5, R, 2B, RBI
Damek Tomscha - 2 for 4, RBI
Wilson Garcia - 0 for 4, K
Cornelius Randolph - 1 for 3, BB, 2 K, SB
Deivi Grullon - 1 for 4, R, 2 K (passed ball)
Herlis Rodriguez - 1 for 2, 2 BB, K (throwing error)
Drew Stankiewicz - 1 for 3, R, BB
Emmanuel Marrero - 2 for 4, RBI

Franklyn Kilome has quietly been pretty darn good this season. Yes, the walks are a bit too frequent and he hasn’t gone deep into many games, BUT it looks like he is really limiting hard contact and becoming a better pitcher. Jeff Singer notched his 13th save in relief. Cornelius Randolph swiped his 2nd bag of the season.

Williamsport 9, State College 2

Kyle Young - 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K, HBP, 5 GB, 2 FB
Andrew Brown - 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 K, HR
Luis Ramirez - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Malvin Matos - 0 for 5, 3 K
Josh Stephen - 1 for 5, R, 3B
Jhailyn Ortiz - 1 for 2, 3 R, 2B, RBI, 3 BB
Greg Pickett - 2 for 5, HR, 3 RBI, 3 K
Cole Stobbe - 1 for 3, 2 R, HR, BB, 2 K (fielding error)
Jesus Henriquez - 1 for 4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Rodolfo Duran - 0 for 3, RBI, K
Jonathan Guzman - 1 for 3, BB, CS (throwing error)
Juan Luis - 2 for 4, R, RBI

Welcome back short-season baseball and what a fun way to start it! Monster 19 year old lefty Kyle Young (listed at 6’10, but could very well be 6’11) was throwing some low 90’s heat last night en route to his first win. Greg Pickett hit a monster shot for his first HR of the season. Pickett missed all of the 2016 season with an injury. Cole Stobbe, newly minted 3B after being drafted and playing mostly SS last season, also had a homer in the game. This is going to be a very fun team to watch, so be sure to follow our buddy Mitch Rupert on twitter and check out his columns over at the Williamsport Sun-Gazette in addition to coming here each and every weekday.