Phillies MLR 7/14-7/15/21: Francisco Morales throws 6 shutout innings, Mick Abel is removed from start

Buffalo 9, Lehigh Valley 2 (7/14)
Buffalo 6, Lehigh Valley 5 (7/15)

Chase Anderson - 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 6 GB, 2 FB
Mark Appel - 2.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, HR, WP, HBP, 0 GB, 2 FB
Rafael Marchan - 1 for 10, 2 K
Mickey Moniak - 3 for 8, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 3 K (outfield assist, 2B)
Matt Vierling - 0 for 5, 3 BB
Darick Hall - 2 for 7, HR, 3 RBI, K

Chase Anderson is just not good folks and was clearly a big miss by DomDomb and Fuld to think he could effectively contribute at the back-end of the Phillies rotation. Mark Appel has impressively walked 16 batters in just 14 innings since being promoted to AA. Mickey Moniak hasn’t been good by any stretch, but did hit his 9th HR of the season last night. If there was one thing when he was drafted that was in doubt (not talking about all the tools that regressed) was whether the power would show up.

Portland 5, Reading 2 (7/14)
Portland 3, Reading 2 (7/15)

Victor Santos - 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 3 K, HR, 5 GB, 3 FB
Francisco Morales - 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K, 5 GB, 5 FB
Daniel Brito - 1 for 9, 4 K
Bryson Stott - 1 for 7, 2B, BB, 2 K
Jorge Bonifacio - 4 for 8, 2 2B, RBI, 2 K
Rodolfo Duran - 2 for 3, 2B, HR, BB
Arquimedes Gamboa - 2 for 6, 3 R, HR, BB, K

Francisco Morales seems to be turning a bit of a corner. In his last 5 starts (26.2 IP) he has given up only 4 earned runs and has struck out 34. The 11 walks over that stretch aren’t ideal however. Duran hit his 5th HR on Wednesday while Gamboa launched his 6th in last night’s contest.

Jersey Shore 3, Brooklyn 2 (7/14)
Jersey Shore 13, Brooklyn 3 (7/15)

Adam Leverett - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 K, 0 GB, 1 FB
Jhordany Mezquita - 4 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 4 GB, 1 FB
Dominic Pipkin - 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, WP, 4 GB, 3 FB
Casey Martin - 1 for 8, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, 4 K
Logan O’Hoppe - 1 for 4, K
DJ Stewart - 2 for 9, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 K
Jhailyn Ortiz - 3 for 7, 4 R, 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
Vito Friscia - 2 for 8, 2 R, RBI, BB, 2 K
Jonathan Guzman - 1 for 2, 2 R, HR, 2 BB, SB

Lots of dingers over this pair of games. Jonathan Guzman hit his 2nd HR of the season on Wed. Stewart and Ortiz added their 6th and 11th, respectively, on Thursday. Stewart has now hit 9 homers across two-levels this season.

Dunedin 6, Clearwater 2 (7/14)
Clearwater 3, Dunedin 1 (7/15)

Cristian Hernandez - 4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 3 HR, 2 GB, 5 FB
Rodolfo Sanchez - 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, BB, 10 K
Mick Abel - 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HBP, 3 GB, 0 FB
Leonel Aponte - 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, K, 2 GB, 3 FB
Luis Garcia - 3 for 8, RBI, BB, K, SB (missed catch error)
Nicolas Torres - 1 for 7, R, 2 BB, K, SB
Johan Rojas - 2 for 8, 2B, RBI, K
Jadiel Sanchez - 1 for 3, R, BB, K
Juan Aparicio - 0 for 4, R, RBI, 3 BB, K
Baron Radcliff - 3 for 8, RBI, 2 K
Micah Yonamine - 1 for 2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB
Edgar Made - 0 for 4, K
Uziel Viloria - 0 for 3, BB
Abrahan Gutierrez - 0 for 4
Marcus Lee Sang - 2 for 3, BB, K
Guarner Dipre - 0 for 3, R

Good news and bad news. Good news obviously is another solid outing from Abel. Bad news is he was removed in the 4th inning with “discomfort”. Not further word on what that discomfort was as we all collectively hold our breath for an update. Fun thing happened on Wednesday for Rodolfo Sanchez who struck out every batter he recorded an out for.