Phillies MLR 8/5/21: Clearwater finally returns to action

Buffalo 9, Lehigh Valley 7

Mark Appel - 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, HR, HBP, 5 GB, 4 FB
Braeden Ogle - 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 2 K
Nick Maton - 1 for 2, R, 3B, 2 BB, K, CS
Jorge Bonifacio - 0 for 5, 2 K
Mickey Moniak - 2 for 3, R, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, BB
Matt Vierling - 3 for 5, R, RBI
Rafael Marchan - 1 for 5, 2 K

The offense did their part in this one, but the pitching wasn’t up to the task. Another subpar start from Mark Appel, but it was Ogle and Braden Zarbinsky giving up 6 runs in the final 3 innings, including 4 in the top of the 9th. Mickey Moniak remains red hot at the plate and is OPSing over 1.000 since the beginning of July.

Reading 9, Richmond 2

James McArthur - 4.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K, 3 GB, 1 FB
Arquimedes Gamboa - 2 for 6, 2 R, 2B, K
Jhailyn Ortiz - 3 for 5, 2 R, 2B, K
Bryson Stott - 3 for 5, 2 R, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI
Josh Stephen - 2 for 4, R, 3 RBI, BB, K, SB

James McArthur can’t seem to go more than 4-5 innings, but his 8 strikeouts last night was a season-high. He has 47 strikeouts to 18 walks in 49.1 innings this season. Reading’s offense went off, combining for 13 hits. Nothing seems to be stopping Jhailyn Ortiz this season at any level. The 22 year old has a .368/.455/.579 slash in 19 at-bats so far in AA.

Aberdeen 8, Jersey Shore 3

Dominic Pipkin - 1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, WP, HBP, 0 GB, 1 FB (two pickoff errors)
Nate Fassnacht - 1 for 4, R, 2B, K (fielding error)
Logan O’Hoppe - 1 for 3, R, BB (passed ball)
Vito Friscia - 1 for 4, 2B, RBI, K
DJ Stewart - 1 for 4, 2B, RBI, 2 K

An off night for Dominic Pipkin who couldn’t get out of the 2nd inning after throwing 59 pitches. He took his 3rd loss of the season and saw his ERA rise to 4.97 on the season. The offense only collected 6 hits against Aberdeen pitchers and were 3 for 9 with RISP leaving 4 on base.

Clearwater 6, Bradenton 3

Fernando Lozano - 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, WP, 4 GB, 1 FB
Gabriel Cotto - 4.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HBP, 2 GB, 1 FB
Casey Martin - 1 for 4, K
Arturo De Freitas - 0 for 4, R, K (throwing error and passed ball)
Nicolas Torres - 0 for 3, BB, 2 K
Juan Aparicio - 2 for 4, R, 2B, RBI
Wilfredo Flores - 2 for 4, R, RBI
Felix Reyes - 2 for 4, R, K
Carlos De La Cruz - 2 for 4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
Kervin Pichardo - 0 for 2, R, 2 BB
Junior Ortega - 0 for 3, BB, 2 K

The Threshers are back! After a massive COVID outbreak at the Florida Complex, the Phillies were able to cobble a team together to actually play games again. 2018 Draftee Gabriel Cotto making his low-A debut of the season and was quite excellent. Carlos De La Cruz returns to Clearwater after being demoted to the FCL (he was quite bad) and hit his 2nd HR of the season.