Nola/Quinn Lead Assault on Fort Myers; July 31, 2014

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Aaron Nola 2-hit the Miracle through 5 innings and the Threshers scored 9 runs in the second and third innings as Clearwater beat Fort Myers and took the series against the FSL South, first half division champions, three games to one. In the process, they helped drop the Miracle into a second place tie in the second half standings.

Aaron Nola pitched another good game. He allowed one run on 2 hits and a walk. He threw 73 pitches, 47 for strikes. He relied heavily on his fast ball, throwing predominantly 2- and 4- seam fastballs through the first 3 innings. One of his rare early inning curve balls resulted in a strike out to end the first inning.

  • Nola’s line – 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K

Nola facts –

  • 14 of 18 first pitch strikes.
  • 4 3-ball counts.
  • FSL home run leader, Adam Walker (21), struck out in his first AB on 3 consecutive called strikes, and was retired on a first-pitch pop up in his second AB.
  • Twins top prospect, Byron Buxton, was retired on a first-pitch pop up to Gabriel Lino in his first AB, but tripled with the count full to lead off the fourth inning.
  • Of the 47 strikes – 10 swinging, 18 called, 10 fouls, 9 in play
  • Of the 9 in play – line drive single, triple to the gap, 1 ground ball, 3 infield pop ups, 3 fly balls to left.
  • Prospects Stuart Turner (#17) and Max Kepler (19) went a combined 0-4 with a K .
  • Nola’s use of his curve ball ticked up in the fourth inning.  He threw 7 or more, 5 in a 7-pitch AB, inducing a swing-and-miss strike out on the fifth.
  • Of 8 strike outs, 5 were swing-and-miss, 3 were looking.
  • His fastball was in the 91-93 range, he hit 94 in the first inning.

For the second consecutive night, a Threshers’ starter left with an 8-run lead. For the second consecutive night the first Threshers’ reliever couldn’t complete the inning. Tonight it was Kevin Walter. He recorded 2 outs before leaving with 2 runs in and the bases loaded on 2 hits and 3 walks. Ulises Joaquin completed the inning and went on to pitch 2 scoreless innings before turning the ninth inning over to Lee “Rocket Arm” Ridenhour. (Take that Brad!)

Roman Quinn went 2 for 4 with a walk, double and home run. His average is now up to .256 for the season.

Miscellany –

  • Threshers leading hitter Everett Williams (.280) was released this week.
  • Herlis Rodriguez was called up from Lakewood.
  • Brain Pointer went 2-4 with a walk and 2 runs scored. His bunt single after Brandon Short’s second inning leadoff double seemed to sparked the rally.
  • Harold Martinez went 2-5 with 2 run-scoring singles.
  • Gabriel Lino went 2-3 with a walk, double and 2 RBI.
  • Chris Serritella went 2-3 with a walk, home run and 3 RBI.
  • Seritella homered for the second consecutive game.
  • Serritella was briefly at .200 after his first 2 AB. After a strike out and a walk, he was back to .198.
  • Anthony Phillips and Art Charles each went 0-5 with 3 Ks.

A couple weeks ago, I reported that a good source had told me that Nola would be promoted to Reading after 2 more starts. Well, today marks Nola’s third start since that report. I received the info over Twitter. If you followed all the trade news today, especially reports like the Byrd to the Yankees Tweet, you’ll understand why I choose to blame Twitter.

The Threshers return home Friday night. Mark Leiter gets the start against the St. Lucie Mets. It’s Prostate Cancer Awareness AND Back to Football Night. I get the cancer awareness night, but back to football seems like an odd draw for a baseball game.

 

18 thoughts on “Nola/Quinn Lead Assault on Fort Myers; July 31, 2014”

  1. Nice write up Jim

    is Rocket arm Ridenhour purely for alliteration or does he infact have a rocket and the alliteration has a ring to it

    1. Heard that Nola took bp before the game today. I think a move to AA is very soon or why take the bp?

    2. It’s a tag one of the radio announcers uses. I assume it’s alliterative. Brad wants to preserve “rocket” for Aaron Altherr, his proclaimed “Rheinland Rocket”. Ridenhour was effective as a closer earlier in the season, in fact he leads the team with 7 saves. Lately, Cody Forsythe has been getting more high leverage chances. He has 3 saves in his last 5 appearances.

    1. I agree. Plus, I might actually get to see him in person again. But it’s getting to the point where they might want to see him a little at the next level. He seems to be a little ahead of the competition here.

  3. Yeah, seems like it’s time for Nola to go to AA. I’m thinking that when Buchanan goes up to take Lee’s place, Loewen will go to AAA and Nola will take his slot at AA.

  4. Jim, do we have any idea when Biddle might be back on the mound again?

    1. He pitched 2 innings in a GCL rehab last Saturday. One run on a home run, 1 walk, 3 strike outs. I thought he might get a couple innings today in Lakeland. But wasn’t sure they would have him make the trip. Maybe Friday in Clearwater against the GCL Astros.

    2. When Biddle pitched on the 26th, Anderson pitched the next 2 innings as the start of his rehab. Anderson made his 2nd rehab appearance on the 31st. Don’t know what this means, but it looks like Anderson is rehabbing to rejoin Lakewood and they have other plans for Biddle?

        1. The teams are in the process of deciding which teams will send which prospects and which prospects should get the majority of playing time at each position.

          The Scottsdale Scorpions will be managed by Jeff Bannister and will have players from the Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates and Giants. Ray Burris (LHV) and Mike Couchee will serve as the team’s pitching coaches, and the Yankees’ P.J. Pilittre will be the team’s hitting coach.

          I don’t know if they would want to send Biddle. He’s only thrown 2 GCL innings (on July 26th) since his last outing in Reading on June 23rd.

  5. Nola is na-na-nasty! Juicing up Bootsy Doo! You’ll see A-No with the Ostriches in two starts. Book it, people. Book. It.

    Bootsy Doo owwwwt!

  6. There’s probably a good chance that was Nola’s last start for CWater. I remember Jordan said a few weeks ago they wanted to get him 3 or 4 more starts in CWater and go from there. He certainly hasn’t embarrassed himself. I think he finishes up in Reading for his final month and prob starts there next year.

  7. great writeup. thanks for the effort. very appreciated.

    very bullish on nola and quinn. next years reading team should be interesting.

  8. I would think they treat Nola like they did Sev just send him up for a start or 2 for a taste before the next season.

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