Phillies MLR 6/13/18: Mitch Walding plays hero in walk-off victory

Today’s Probables:

LHV: Ben Lively
REA: Harold Arauz
CLR: Nick Fanti
LWD: Kyle Young

Lehigh Valley 8, Buffalo 7

Brandon Leibrandt - 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K, 5 GB, 4 FB
Mitch Walding - 2 for 4, R, 2 RBI, BB, K
Joey Meneses - 1 for 2, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K (throwing error)
Matt McBride - 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Adron Chambers - 2 for 4, 2 R, K
Damek Tomscha - 1 for 4, 2B, RBI

Lehigh Valley was up 5-1 following the bottom of 5th after a fine performance by lefty Brandon Leibrandt in yet another spot start. Things soon devolved as Hoby Milner and Yacksel Rios combined to give up 5 runs across two innings of work to relinquish the lead. Things weren’t looking great as Pedro Beato gave up another run in the top of the 9th to make the score 7-5, but as you can see things kind of worked out in the end. Dean Anna started the scoring in the bottom of the 9th with an RBI single and two batters later Mitch Walding delivered a two-RBI single for the walk-off victory.

Harrisburg 5, Reading 3

Ranger Suarez - 6 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, K, 9 GB, 2 FB
Malquin Canelo - 0 for 3, BB
Cord Sandberg - 1 for 4
Jiandido Tromp - 0 for 4, 2 K (outfield assist, 2B)
Darick Hall - 0 for 4, 2 K
Zach Green - 1 for 2, R, 2 BB, K
Kyle Martin - 1 for 4, R, 2B, K
Austin Bossart - 2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI
Drew Stankiewicz - 1 for 4, 2 K
Cornelius Randolph - 0 for 1, K

A bit of an odd outing for Ranger Suarez who ran into trouble in the second, giving up both of his earned runs. It was his first game of his career going 6 innings and only having 1 strikeout. It was also his second start this season in which he’s given up more walks than batters struck out. Read more from Jeff Israel with some velo reports. Reading’s offense was held to just 6 hits, with one of those being Austin Bossart’s 3-run HR. It was his 4th HR of the season and boosted his season line to .294/.333/.518 in 85 at-bats. Zach Green also still looking good, slashing .284/.362/.521 with 10 HR in 190 at-bats. Darick Hall’s struggles at AA are not surprising as he is hitting .163 in 49 at-bats with Reading.

Clearwater 4, Tampa 3

Mauricio Llovera - 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 9 K, HR, HBP, 4 GB, 4 FB
Arquimedes Gamboa - 1 for 4, RBI, BB, K
Adam Haseley - 3 for 5, RBI, K
Austin Listi - 2 for 5, 2 K (throwing error)
Henri Lartigue - 0 for 5
Jose Pujols - 1 for 3, R, BB, 2 K
Grenny Cumana - 1 for 2, R, SB, 2 HBP
Luke Williams - 2 for 4, HR, K
Gabriel Lino - 2 for 4, K
Brian Mims - 0 for 3, RBI, BB, 2 K

Mauricio Llovera has been on fire of late. In his last three starts now, he has gone: 18.1 IP, 11 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 21 K. His ERA is down to 3.74 on the season in 53 IP. The 60:19 K/BB is looking quite nice as well. Our buddy Matt Winkelman had his FB clocking in at 95-97 per the radio broadcast. Clearwater trailed Tampa 3-1 entering the bottom of the 8th inning. The Threshers were able to rally for 3 runs via 2 bases loaded walks to bring in a couple runs and topped it off with an Adam Haseley RBI single to put them ahead. Haseley’s on-base streak has reached 31 games and his season line is up to .296/.336/.399. Luke Williams provided a solo HR in the 6th, his 3rd longball of the season.

Lakewood 6, Hagerstown 0

Will Stewart - 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K, 12 GB, 4 FB
Kevin Markham - 3 for 5, R, RBI, K, SB
Nick Maton - 2 for 5, R, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 K (throwing error)
Jhailyn Ortiz - 2 for 4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB, K
Jake Scheiner - 2 for 5, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Quincy Nieporte - 0 for 3, BB
Daniel Brito - 1 for 3, BB, SB
Gregori Rivero - 0 for 4, 3 K
Josh Stephen - 2 for 4, 2 R, 2B, 2 K, SB
Jesus Alastre - 3 for 4, 2B, RBI, CS

Lakewood had an all-around superb effort last night. Will Stewart improved to 6-0 with a 1.13 ERA in 71.2 innings. That ERA is second best in all minor league ball with a minimum of 50 innings pitched. The offense combined for 16 hits in the game. Since his return from injury, Jhailyn Ortiz is batting .333/.363/.494 in 91 plate appearances. Kevin Markham stole his 12th base of the season, tying the organizational lead with Roman Quinn...who hasn’t played a game since May 10th.