Jim, a relocated Philadelphian to the CLearwater area was kind enough to provide some insight as to what is happening at the complex:

“I watched the XST game against the Yankees today (April 15th).  Giles entered the game in the top of the fourth.  He promptly walked the first two batters on 9 pitches.  He seemed to have good velocity, but was delivering high to the hitters.  After the first two hitters, he settled in and retired the next two batters on 6 pitches, both took called third strikes.  He reached a 1-2 count on the fifth hitter, and after a foul ball, surrendered a line drive over the first baseman (Austin Gallagher) down the RF line for a triple and two runs scored. The inning was called after that pitch as Giles had reached 20 pitches.  Giles took the mound again for the fifth inning and retired the first batter on three pitches and a called third strike.  The next batter struck out swinging on a full count.  The the final batter grounded out second to first on a 2-1 pitch. He faced 8 batters in 1.2 innings – 33 pitches/18 strikes, but a very good 24/17 after the first two walks.  He looked good once he got the ball down in the zone. Continue reading Giles, Dugan and other XST Happenings →