Phillies MLR 8/9/17: Homerin’ Hoskins and the FUNky Bunch

Today’s Probables:

LHV: Ben Lively
REA: Franklyn Kilome
CLR: McKenzie Mills
LWD: TBD
WIL: Will Stewart (11am start on MiLB.tv fyi)

Lehigh Valley 11, Norfolk 5

Tom Eshelman - 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 5 K, HR, 8 GB, 4 FB
Scott Kingery - 3 for 5, 3 R, HR
J.P. Crawford - 2 for 5, 2 R, HR, K
Rhys Hoskins - 3 for 5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 5 RBI
Dylan Cozens - 0 for 4, BB, 3 K
Andrew Pullin - 3 for 5, HR, 2 RBI

I’m going to go out on a limb and say Rhys Hoskins might be good? Further analysis is needed. I’m only going to assume 2006 Ryan Howard is occupying 1st base right on the Phillies and just leave it at that. It was Hoskins’ 29th HR of the season. In much lesser news, Scott Kingery (6), J.P. Crawford (13) and Andrew Pullin (4) all went deep as well. Tom Eshelman bounced back from his poor start last outing for his 8th AAA victory.

Altoona 6, Reading 4

Elneiry Garcia - 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 2 K, WP, HBP, 3 GB, 5 FB
Jeff Singer - 2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, K, HR, WP
Zach Coppola - 1 for 4, RBI, K, SB
Malquin Canelo - 1 for 3, 2 BB
Jiandido Tromp - 0 for 5
Kyle Martin - 1 for 5, R, 2B, K
Angelo Mora - 1 for 5, R, RBI, K
Deivi Grullon - 2 for 4
Cord Sandberg - 0 for 3, RBI, K
Carlos Tocci - 1 for 1 (pinch-hitter)

After a couple rehab appearances in the GCL, Elneiry Garcia makes his long-awaited AA debut for Reading last night. Garcia was suspended for 80 games before the season for a positive PED test. If his 2015-2016 performances weren’t completely enhanced results, there is still hope of a back-end starter ceiling for Garcia. Deivi Grullon has taken to AA fairly well, slashing .273/.286/.515 in 33 at-bats so far. Zach Coppola stole his 18th base for Reading last night and 28th overall this season across two levels.

Tampa 2, Clearwater 1 (14 innings)

JoJo Romero - 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, K, 7 GB, 7 FB
J.D. Hammer - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
Seth McGarry - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K
Jose Gomez - 1 for 5, BB, BB, 2 K
Zach Green - 1 for 6, 4 K
Wilson Garcia - 3 for 6, R, K
Jan Hernandez - 1 for 5, 2B, BB, K
Jose Pujols - 0 for 6, 4 K
Grenny Cumana - 1 for 5, 3 K (throwing error)

Good ol’ pitching marathon last night in Tampa. Some of the numbers in this are just absolute bonkers for a 14 inning game. The Threshers hitters struck out 25 times and walked just twice. Conversely, Tampa struck out only 8 times to 4 walks. Clearwater was 0 for 11 with RISP and left 12 on base. It’s almost like they didn’t want to win? Tyler Gilbert was the losing pitcher. JoJo Romero has given up just 8 runs in his 6 starts for Clearwater.

West Virginia 8, Lakewood 5

Mauricio Llovera - 4 IP, 11 H, 6 H, 6 ER, 7 K, HR, WP, 2 GB, 1 FB (throwing error)
Raul Rivas - 2 for 5, RBI, K, CS
Arquimedes Gamboa - 0 for 4, K
Darick Hall - 2 for 4, R, 2B, K
Austin Listi - 1 for 4, R, K
Colby Fitch - 1 for 4, 2 K (passed ball)
Gregori Rivero - 0 for 3, RBI
Luke Williams - 1 for 2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB
Jesus Alastre - 1 for 3, R, K (outfield assist, 2B)

Mauricio Llovera has been great in both the reliever and starter role for Lakewood this season. 6 of his 21 earned runs this season came from last night. Llovera has a modest 81:26 K/BB ratio in 74 innings this season. I think he ultimately settles into a reliever-role long-term. Mickey Moniak is batting just .184 in his last 10 games.

Staten Island 3, Williamsport 2

Andrew Brown - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K, WP, HBP, 10 GB, 2 FB
Nick Maton - 1 for 5, 2 K
Jake Scheiner - 1 for 5, K, SB
Adam Haseley - 1 for 5, 2B
Greg Pickett - 1 for 3, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
Brian Mims - 1 for 5, R, 2 K
Cole Stobbe - 0 for 4, BB, 4 K
Josh Stephen - 1 for 5, K
Nerluis Martinez - 1 for 5, 2 K
Malvin Matos - 1 for 5, 2B, RBI, 2 K

Not a pretty offensive affair for the Crosscutters as they struck out 16 times (to 3 walks) and were 1 for 11 with RISP leaving 10 on base. Greg Pickett has been a nice surprise this year. The 2015 8th round pick has bounced between LF/1B and has a nice .292/.353/.431 slash with 4 HR. Unfortunately that also comes with 47 strikeouts in 137 at-bats, but perhaps he can cut those down as he ascends.

GCL Phillies 3, GCL Tigers East 2 (GM1 of DH, 7 innings)
GCL Phillies 5, GCL Tigers East 3 (GM2 of DH, 7 innings, makeup of 7/8 ppd)

Jhordany Mezquita - 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 K, WP, 4 GB, 5 FB
Victor Sobil - 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HBP, 2 GB, 3 FB
Kevin Markham - 1 for 2, R, 2 BB, SB
Jesus Henriquez - 0 for 3, BB
Jonathan Guzman - 1 for 4, K
Quincy Nieporte - 0 for 4, RBI
Ben Pelletier - 4 for 6, R, K (outfield assist, home)
Yahir Gurrola - 2 for 6, 2 R, 2B
Lenin Rodriguez - 1 for 3, HR
Danny Mayer - 2 for 3, RBI, K
D.J. Stewart - 0 for 3
Simon Muzziotti - 1 for 4, K (fielding error)
Jake Holmes - 1 for 3
Rafael Marchan - 0 for 2, R, BB
Brayan Gonzalez - 2 for 3, HR, 4 RBI, K
Edwin Rodriguez - 1 for 3, R
Kipp Moore - 0 for 3 (throwing error)
Keudy Bocio - 1 for 3, RBI, CS