Phillies MLR 5/15/19: JoJo Romero’s struggles continue

Today’s Probables:

LHV: Nick Pivetta
REA: Mauricio Llovera
CLR: TBD
LWD: Dominic Pipkin

Durham 12, Lehigh Valley 1

JoJo Romero - 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, K, 2 HR, HBP, 3 GB, 4 FB
Malquin Canelo - 0 for 3, BB, 2 K
Deivy Grullon - 0 for 4, 3 K
Mitch Walding - 0 for 2, 2 K
Gift Ngoepe - 1 for 3, HR, BB, 2 K

What is going on JoJo? In 6 of his 7 starts this season he’s given up 4 or more earned runs. His ERA now sits at 9.64 in 28 IP with 19 walks to 22 strikeouts. The walks and control have always been an issue and hasn’t gone away. A demotion might still be premature, but we are inching closer to that direction. The offense was held to four hits, including Ngoepe’s 3rd homer of the season. Interestingly, Grullon played 1st base last night.

New Hampshire 9, Reading 3

Bailey Falter - 5.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 K, 2 HR, 7 GB, 2 FB
Jose Gomez - 0 for 3, RBI, K (fielding error)
Luke Williams - 1 for 3, BB, K, CS
Mickey Moniak - 1 for 4, 2B, RBI, K
Cornelius Randolph - 1 for 4, 2B, K
Darick Hall - 0 for 4, 2 K
Arquimedes Gamboa - 1 for 4, R, 2 K
Josh Stephen - 1 for 3, HR, 2 K

Bailey Falter had been on a nice little tear over his last four starts before this clunker last night. He was hurt by the long-ball, including a two-run shot in the 4th inning. The offense was mostly quiet. Josh Stephen hit his first AA homer...and that’s about all to highlight. Cornelius Randolph had the highest average in the lineup last night at .244.

Lakeland 9, Clearwater 4

Anthony Requena - 5 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, HBP, 4 GB, 4 FB
Dalton Guthrie - 0 for 5, 2 K
Alec Bohm - 0 for 5
Nick Maton - 0 for 3, BB, 2 K
Madison Stokes - 2 for 4, 2 R, HR, K
Jake Scheiner - 2 for 4
Jhailyn Ortiz - 1 for 3, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Rodolfo Duran - 1 for 3, BB
Ben Aklinski - 2 for 3, R, BB
Daniel Brito - 2 for 4, 2B, RBI, 2 K

Anthony Requena picks up his second loss in what is easily the worst start of his season. In his previous six starts he hadn’t given up more than three earned runs in any. Jhailyn Ortiz hit his first HR (2) since April 19th. Madison Stokes added his 5th of the season. Stokes is slashing .293/.328/.512 in 123 at-bats so far this season. Alec Bohm produced just his 3rd zero-hit game in 14 games since joining Clearwater.

Lakewood 3, Hagerstown 2

Tyler McKay - 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, WP, 3 GB, 0 FB
Jonathan Guzman - 1 for 4, 2B, K, SB
Matt Kroon - 1 for 4, R, SB
Luis Garcia - 1 for 4, K
Malvin Matos - 1 for 3, R, RBI, 2 K
Jack Conley - 2 for 3, R, 2B, RBI (throwing error)
Hunter Stovall - 1 for 3, RBI, K, CS
Carlos De La Cruz - 0 for 3
Jimmy Smith - 1 for 3
Cole Stobbe - 0 for 3, K

A win! Down 2-0 in the bottom of the 6th, the Blue Claws plated all three of their runs to take the lead to an eventual win. Luis Garcia is still struggling at the plate, slashing .193/.265/.244 in 119 at-bats this season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is sent to Williamsport when their season starts next month if this play persists.