An abbreviated Lehigh Valley report this week with the seasons final week upon us. Look for a more in-depth report next Tuesday or Wednesday covering the final 4 games of the season and a review of how the AAA prospects performed this year.
Monday–Cody Ransom made up for a costly error earlier in the game (error 23) with an RBI single in the 8th that won an 8-7 slugfest for the ‘Pigs. Lehigh Valley jumped on the Yankees early on two hits by Greg Dobbs, an RBI single in the first inning and a three run homer (1), giving Lehigh Valley a 4-0 lead. An awful outing by Brian Mazone (4IP 4H 4ER 5BB 4K) allowed Scranton to climb back into the game and eventually take the lead 5-4 in the 5th. Two more Scranton runs in the 6th off of Brandon Duckworth seemed to make things comfortable for Scranton, however Lehigh Valley, in unusual fashion chipped away with a run in the 6th (Bocock, RBI single), another run in the 7th and two more in the 9th for the come from behind victory. The big hits in the 9th were an RBI double by Andy Tracy followed by an RBI single by Cody Ransom. Oscar Villarreal(4-3) picked up the win in relief with Scott Mathieson retiring the side in order in the 9th (2 K’s) to earn his 26th save.
Tuesday–A combined complete game shutout by newcomer Nate Robertson (1-0) and Mike Stutes who earned his first save, pitching the final three innings in the 6-0 Lehigh Valley victory Tuesday evening. Robertson, who is making a push to start September 6th for the Phils, went 6 scoreless innings, allowing four hits. A two run homer by Greg Dobbs (his second in as many nights), set the tone in the first inning for Lehigh Valley. An RBI single by Dane Sardinha extended the lead to 3-0 in the 4th. A three run fifth which included an RBI double by Greg Dobbs and Andy Tracy’s 20th homer of the year concluded the scoring. Dobbs, Tracy, Cody Ransom and Rich Thompson all had 2 hits apiece for the ‘Pigs.
Wednesday–Lehigh Valley won their third straight, this time 9-3 over Pawtucket as they are trying to end the season on a positive note. Andrew Carpenter (8-11) threw 6.2 innings giving up 3 runs (2 earned) in earning his first win since July 5. A John Mayberry RBI single got the ‘Pihs on the board in the first, a lead they held until the 4th when Pawtucket tied it up. A three run 6th inning keyed by Rich Thompson stealing his way around the base paths put the ‘Pigs up 4-1. The key hits in the 6th were an RBI single by Mayberry, and an RBI double by Cody Ransom. Pawtucket got two runs back in the 7th, leading to Carpenter’s exit, however a Andy Tracy grand slam (21) put the game away. Rich Thompson had a huge game, going 4-5 with 3 runs scored, an RBI and 3 SB’s while John Mayberry was just as good, going 3-4 with 2 runs, 2 RBI’s and a stolen base (19).
Thursday–Lehigh Valley lost 2-1 to Pawtucket on Thursday evening ending their modest 3 game winning streak. Pawtucket scored runs in both the 5th and 6th off of starter Ty Taubenheim (2-4) and that was all they needed to hang on for the victory. Taubenheim went 5 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 4. The ‘Pigs did manage a run in the 8th, however could muster no more as Matt Rizzotti struck out with a runner on 2nd base to end the game. Both Ozzie Chavez and Cody Ransom had multi hit games for Lehigh Valley who were 0-7 with RISP.
Notes: Greg Dobbs is 9-23 over his last 6 games with 2 HR and 8 RBI’s.
—Andy Tracy is 11-26 with 3 HRs and 9 RBI’s over his last 7 games.
—Rich Thompson broke his own franchise record for steals in a season with his 3 steals on Wednesday night. Thompson now has 28 steals this year for Lehigh Valley. His previous record was 25 in 2008. In addition to his 28 steals with the ‘Pigs, Thompson had 13 steals with Reading earlier this year. On the year, 41 steals in 45 attempts.
–Phillies scout Dave Hollins was in attendance to watch the home debut of newly acquired pitcher Nate Robertson, who threw 6 shutout innings (59) pitches on Tuesday night.
–In their last 18 games, the Lehigh Valley bullpen is a combined 5-2 with a 2.41 ERA and 7 saves.
—Mike Zagurski has not allowed a run in his last 9 appearances.
—Joe Savery has a hit in each game he has started at DH.
–In his last 10 appearances, Mike Stutes has a 1.76 ERA and is a perfect 9/9 in stranding inherited runners for Lehigh Valley.
—Brian Bocock has reached base safely in 26 of the last 28 games.
Transactions: With Paul Hoover’s call up to the Phillies, Lehigh Valley was left a catcher short so they called up Catcher John Suomi from Reading for the last week of the season. It will be Suomi’s second stint with Lehigh Valley this season.
—Matt Rizzotti was activated from the DL on Thursday and pinch hit.
–Probables: Friday: Worley; Saturday: Mazone Sunday: Robertson
Phuture Phillies 
Let’s hope Rizz gets hot again. Hopefully he is healthy now. Would like to see him come up and pinch hit. When does FIL start?
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On the Savery thing, If they are interested in retaining Savery, which could be shown by more AB’s and plate appearances currently or to the end of season, I don’t see that they will push him way down into the bowels of the organization to begin a long process of learning every nuance of hitting and bumping up one level per season for the purpose of creating an every day player at 1B or OF, they have other people for that, and don”t see that he was ever a big power hitter regular at 1B or OF anyway. He should learn the fundamentals of 1B and LF where he is and develop a pinch hitting capability where he is, and continue with pitching to develop into a long reliever/spot starter/ occasional L v.L. option, OF-1B fill-in, Pinch Hitter/ Pinch Runner type of player. With Savery as long man, etc . they can have a pitcher to save the arms of valuable pitchers in blow outs and other selected situations, and have an additional pinch hitter/ pinch runner to increase bench utility. That going to the bottom of the organization to maybe become a starting calibre 1B/OF seems like a potentially unproductive adventure. If Savery is assigned to AFL or a Latin American winter league takes him on as 1B/OF candidate, that would be seen as an endorsement of this path.
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The problem with long-reliever/pinch-hitter is that in an extra inning game you need to save your long-reliever and if they used Savery as a pinch hitter he would not be available out of the pen. If he was a starter then all his off days he could hit and the team is not losing an ‘available’ player.
A good example, since I have seen him hit and he knows what he is doing, is Micah Owings with a career .861 OPS from the pitchers spot (ERA of 5.11). Baseball-Reference lists him as Pitcher-PinchHitter.
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Agreed Marfis . You are right as usual. Interesting that Savery has done this well at this level. One can only imagine what would of happened if he started out as a hitter.
What also would be interesting if the Riz sets the AFL on it’s ear. That would give us something to rehash during the cold winter.
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