Phillies MLR 4/15 - 4/16/19: Alec Bohm is settling in, JoJo Romero struggles and are we all sleeping on Malquin Canelo?

Today’s Probables:

LHV: Cole Irvin (GM1), TBD (GM2)
REA: Mauricio Llovera
CLR: Damon Jones
LWD: Francisco Morales

Scranton/WB 6, Lehigh Valley 5 (April 15, 10 innings)
Lehigh Valley, Scranton/WB (April 16, ppd due to rain, makeup on 4/17)

JoJo Romero - 4 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, K, 2 HR, HBP, 5 GB, 2 FB
Roman Quinn - 0 for 3, R, BB, 3 K
Dylan Cozens - 0 for 5, 2 K
Jan Hernandez - 3 for 5
Mitch Walding - 1 for 5, RBI, 2 K
Deivy Grullon - 1 for 5
Malquin Canelo - 2 for 5, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K (throwing error)

It has not been a great start in AAA for JoJo Romero to begin the season. He gave up four earned runs (in 4 IP) in his AAA debut and delivered more of the same on Monday. Romero has given up 11 hits, 5 walks and has only struck out 5. A quiet surprise this early season has been the offensive contributions of Malquin Canelo. The 24 year old shortstop slashed just .251/.305/.366 in 470 at-bats in Reading last year. He has an impressive .371/.436/.457 line in 35 at-bat this season. Canelo hasn’t shown this kind of ability at the plate since his 2015 season in Lakewood. It’s an incredibly small sample size so far, but having a capable middle infield utility bat in AAA could prove useful down the road for the Phillies.

Portland 9, Reading 2 (April 15)
Reading 5, Portland 2 (April 16)

David Parkinson - 5 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, WP, 4 GB, 6 FB
Bailey Falter - 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, BB, 3 K, HR, WP, 10 GB, 4 FB
Adam Haseley - 3 for 8, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI, BB, K
Mickey Moniak - 2 for 8, BB, 3 K, SB
Darick Hall - 2 for 5, RBI, 2 K
Cornelius Randolph - 0 for 3, R, 2 BB, K
Luke Williams - 2 for 9, 2 R, 2B, 5 K (two fielding errors)
Arquimedes Gamboa - 1 for 8, BB, 2 K (throwing error)
Josh Stephen - 2 for 8, 2B, RBI, 2 K
Austin Listi - 0 for 2, R, 2 BB

David Parkinson’s start on Monday didn’t go quite as well as his one-hit, ten strikeout performance in his AA debut last week. Bailey Falter had the opposite approach of looking not good in his debut and then followed it up with a quality start last night. The Reading offense continues its uneven approach this season with guys seemingly trading off on deciding when to be good. One guy that is hopefully going to be turning it on soon is Adam Haseley, who despite batting only .167, is 5 for 12 at the plate in his last three games. Our poor guy Austin Listi continues his 0fer with a 0 for 25 start at the plate to begin the season.

Clearwater 6, Florida 0 (April 15)
Clearwater 4, Florida 3 (April 16)

Julian Garcia - 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 GB, 5 FB
Spencer Howard - 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, HBP, 3 GB, 1 FB
Nick Maton - 5 for 10, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 3 K, CS (fielding error)
Simon Muzziotti - 2 for 8, R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB (outfield assist, 1B)
Matt Vierling - 2 for 8, 2 BB, 2 K, SB
Madison Stokes - 2 for 9, HR, 3 K, CS
Jhailyn Ortiz - 1 for 7, RBI, BB, 5 K
Rodolfo Duran - 0 for 4, 4 K
Edgar Cabral - 0 for 4, K
Jake Scheiner - 3 for 8, 3 R, 2B, K
Daniel Brito - 2 for 6, 3 R, BB, K, HBP, CS (fielding error)
Danny Mayer - 1 for 7, HR, BB, K

Julian Garcia picked up a win in his second start of the season. Spencer Howard continues to show promise, but it’s also concerning that he isn’t being efficient on the mound. In two of his three starts this season he has failed to get past the 5th inning. The Phillies also seem to have him on a (or close to) 80 pitch count limit to begin the season as well. Nick Maton hit his 2nd HR of the season on Monday, while Madison Stokes and Danny Mayer mashed their 2nd as well on Tuesday. Rightfielder Matt Vierling continues to stand out, slashing .319/.373/.426 with 1 HR and 4 SB in 47 at-bats.

West Virginia 4, Lakewood 3 (April 15, 11 innings)
West Virginia 7, Lakewood 1 (April 16)

Jack Perkins - 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 3 GB, 0 FB
Jhordany Mezquita - 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 5 K, 1 GB, 3 FB (pickoff error)
Malvin Matos - 1 for 9, 7 K, CS
Alec Bohm - 3 for 8, R, 2B, RBI, BB, K, 2 SB
Ben Pelletier - 1 for 9, HR, 3 K
Rafael Marchan - 1 for 8, BB
Luis Garcia - 0 for 5, 2 BB, K, SB (fielding error)
Yerwin Trejo - 0 for 4, 4 K
Jake Holmes - 0 for 3, BB, K
Jonathan Guzman - 1 for 7, 2 R, K, SB
Carlos De La Cruz - 1 for 4, 2 K (outfield assist, home)
Cole Stobbe - 0 for 2, BB, 2 K

2018 11th Round Pick Jack Perkins has had an interesting beginning to his 2019 season. He has 16 strikeouts to 7 walks in 10.2 IP. Three of those seven walks came in his second appearance of the season in which he came on in relief and gave up 3 runs in 2.2 innings. After going 0 for 8 to start the season, Alec Bohm is now hitting .378/.432/.568 in his last 10 games including his first professional HR and two stolen bases. Ben Pelletier added his first HR of the 2019 season on Monday.