Clearwater Threshers Recap – 7/2/2018

Box Score Recap

The Clearwater Threshers (40-39) beat Lakeland, 7-3.  Adonis Medina raised his record to 8-2 with six, five-hit innings.  He allowed 3 runs, walked a batter, hit a batter, and gave up back-to-back solo HRs.  He struck out nine.  Felix Paulino (3.67) relieved and had a strong, one-hit showing in two innings.  Jakob Hernandez (2.98) struck out two in his one inning.

The Threshers scored in five of the first six innings.  They tied the game with a run in the first on Mickey Moniak’s sacrifice fly.  They took the lead in the second with 2 runs on Jose Gomez’ RBI double and a wild pitch.  They retook the lead with a run in the fourth on Luke Williams’ RBI single.  They picked up an insurance run in the fifth on Edgar Cabral’s RBI double following Moniak’s triple to the wall in dead center.  They tacked on 2 runs in the sixth on Henri Lartigue’s RBI single and a wild pitch.

Luke Williams (.255) went 3-5 with a run scored, RBI, and stolen base.  Williams has really been making solid contact for a month now.  He has been driving the ball to all fields, and has shown some increased power.  The 21-year old was drafted out of high school in the third round in 2015, and is enjoying his first sustained success since his GCL season.

The Tigers employ a lot of shifts.  They shifted for most everyone in the line up.  They even shifted for Gamboa.  One of their more sever shifts was against Moniak.

Moniak, by the way, has adjusted his batting stance.  He used to hold his hands low, inside his body and below his shoulder.  He’s had this stance since I watched him in the GCL through spring training this year and into the start of the season.  That stance always looked uncomfortable to me, although it provided a quiet load.  Recently, he has raised his hands so that they are on a line between his shoulder and ear, a location I am more used to seeing a batter’s hands.  And, he still has a quiet load.

Medina threw 101 pitches (64 strikes) in his six innings.  His FB sat 93-95 mph and touched 96 a few times and 97 once.  He also throws a CH and SL.  Medina induced 19 swings and misses.  Only 3 came on FB.  None of his 9 Ks came on FB, 7 swinging.  It looked like the Tigers were sitting on his FB.  Four of their 5 hits including both HRs came off FB.  He threw just 39 FB, 15 in his second three innings as he took advantage of their looking for his FB.

GCP Phillies East (4-5) no game scheduled.

GCL Phillies West (7-4) beat Yankees West, 11-4 in the completion of a suspended game from opening day and 4-2 in the regularly scheduled game.

Ben Brown picked up where Alejandro left off in the suspended game.  He had his roughest outing of the season, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out fouur in four innings.  So, of course, he got the win.  His other starts were five inning gems where he didn’t figure in the decision.  Baseball.  Alex Garcia and Sati Santa Cruz finished up.

Today marked Alec Bohm’s first professional hit finally becoming official.  Yerwin Trejo had 3 RBI.  Rixon Wingrove had 3 hits.  Jesus Azuaje, Luis Garcia, and Luis Matos had 2 hits each.  Trejo had an outfield assist at home.

Rafi Gonell (2-0, 0.90) went five innings in the scheduled game.  He gave up 2 hits and a walk, and struck out seven. Ethan Evanko struck out two in his first professional inning.  Adam Cox gave up 2 late runs in one inning.

Trejo went 2-2 with 2 runs scored, a double, a walk, and 2 stolen bases (6).  Dalton Guthrie had 2 RBI.  Trent Bowles went 1-3 and stole his third base.

Lehigh Valley (47-35) lost to Syracuse, 9-4.  Drew Anderson (5-3, 4.15) got clobbered in 3.2 innings, giving up 6 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks.  Three relievers each gave up a run – Zac Curtis (2.64), Tyler Gilbert (4.15), and Pedro Beato (4.34).  Tom Windle (3.48) pitched a clean inning.  Jimmy Cordero (4-1, 2.12) made an appearance for the Chiefs.

Joey Meneses (.301) went 1-4 with a 2-run HR (15).  Trevor Plouffe (.236) hit a solo HR (10).

The IronPigs collected 10 hits and drew 7 walks.  Dean Anna (.260), Mitch Walding (.259), Plouffe, and Danny Espinosa (.192) had 2 hits each.  As a team though, they went 0-10 with RISP.

Reading (36-46) lost to Hartford, 6-5.  Connor Seabold tossed six innings in his second start and gave up 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk.  He struck out six.  Luke Leftwich (3.78) gave up an unearned run in two-thirds of an inning.  Josh Tols (1.42) struck out the only batter he faced and stranded 2 inherited runners.  Edgar Garcia (2.93) blew his third save.  Jeff Singer (1-0, 1.04) suffered his first loss.

The Phils built a 5-0 lead thru three innings.  They scored 3 runs in the first inning on Zach Green’s 2-run double and Cornelius Randolph’s RBI single.  They scored a run in the second on Drew Stankiewicz’ RBI double, and a run in the third on Devi Grullon’s RBI double.

Stankiewicz (.177), Austin Listi (.351), and Randolph (.199) had 2 hits each.

Lakewood (49-31) beat Delmarva, 4-3 in a walk off.  David Parkinson (1.41) gave up 3 runs in six innings on 6 hits and a walk.  Luis Cedeno (0.53) struck out three in two innings. Connor Brogdon (3-2, 3.74) picked up the win with a perfect inning when the BlueClaws rallied in the bottom of the ninth.

The BlueClaws scored all four of their runs in the ninth inning on Nick Maton’s RBI single; Daniel Brito’s two-out, RBI double; and Jose Antequera’s walk off, 2-run single.

Jake Scheiner (.280) and Matt Vierling (.667) had 2 hits each.

Williamsport (7-9) lost to Auburn, 5-3 in a rain-shortened game.  As planned Jack Perkins and James McArthur each pitched two innings.  They each allowed a run and combined to strike out seven.  Juan Escorcia (0-2, 4.66) pitched until the game was called after seven innings and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and 6 walks.  He struck out six in three innings.

The Cutters scored 3 runs early on Ben Pelletier’s first inning RBI single, and second inning RBI singles by Rafael Marchan and Alec Bohm.

Bohm (.200), Danny Mayer (.295), and Pelletier (.292) had 2 hits each.

DSL Phillies Red (7-19) lost 3-2.

DSL Phillies White (13-12) won 9-0.

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

The rosters and lists are up to date as of 6/29.

By the way, here’s a list of international free agents signed yesterday –

7/2/2018     LHP Joalbert Angulo (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     INF Alexeis Azuaje (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     RHP Eiberson Castellano (17) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     RHP Starlyn Castillo (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     OF Jeury Corona (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     C Victor Diaz (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     RHP Wilson Gherbaz (17) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     OF Reiberth Gil (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     LHP Neyker Ibarra (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     C Andrick Nava (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     INF Kervin Pichardo (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     RHP Jonathan Rivas (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     RHP Luis Vegas (16) signed as an international free agent
7/2/2018     C Javier Vina (16) signed as an international free agent

29 thoughts on “Clearwater Threshers Recap – 7/2/2018”

  1. Engel Estevez of DSL White pitched a 6 inning no hitter. He’s 18 yo but in his 1st year of pro ball. He’s given up no ERs in his last 16 innings spanning 3 starts. Could he be this year’s Ramon Rosso or is it an older guy beating up on the babies? Let’s keep an eye on him.

    1. 18 isn’t that old for DSL–most players are 17/18. A few are 19 or older…the DSL White team is very young, and still 11 pitchers on the staff (about half) are older than Estevez. An 18-year-old in DSL in his first year is probably a very late developer, who went undrafted at 16 and was signed at 17 (playing at 18)–research shows that he did sign in January of this year when he was 17. No bonus was announced.

  2. Matt Vierling picks up where he left off. 2 singles in his first 2 Lakewood ABs, along with a stolen base. Walked in 9th and scored winning run.

    1. So Vierling beat Bohm to LKW…jimeny christmas! What if Joey Meneses could play 3B or RF would you?

      From what I’ve seen in ST and at LHV he can hit big league pitching. He has a very mature approach, he is well balanced, reads breaking pitches well and when he hits a ball it has that sound. It’s loud even when he doesn’t get all of it.

      I last remember a sound like that off Gary Sanchez’s bat.

        1. Wow nice find Romus Meneses 60/ Arm he pitched for Mexico as a kid . Plus defense at 1st . He’s probably faster because of the wieght loss maybe could play RF. I mean he was blocked by Freeman . Meneses can hit with power with a quick bat.

          1. He’s had some adventures in RF thus far–perhaps with more time it will improve. I do notice he’s had more playing time there lately, FWIW.

            1. Kram is money with anything Iron Pigs….

              They tell me Castellanos is not very good in RF so heck its worth a shot at least for a while in LHV

            2. Kram how Meneses Arm/ speed is it suited for RF or first only. Also how is bat ? TY very much.

          2. The Phillies are well aware of the gaping hole they’ve had in right field. It’s not a coincidence that Menses and Listi are getting reps there. Listi’s story gets more and more intriguing as time goes by and, physically, this fellow is a beast.

            1. Tim, Meneses arm is more than fine. I’m worried about routes and foot speed and the like. It’ll play here in AAA and I’m happy to watch it, but I have questions about whether you want to try that in the big leagues. It’s one of the hardest things for me to judge, though, at the games depending on where I’m sitting and so on. Happy to see Meneses and Listi getting the opportunities, though.

            2. The Phillies also must realize that any of Altherr, Williams and even Cozens probably give them more defensive strength in RF than Meneses and Listi.
              It will be interesting to see what happen come later this season.

  3. Williams and Pujols the most surprising in the entire system. CW is not a friendly hitting environment for various reasons. Both seem to have found something. Pujols still strikes out a lot but to be solidly over .300 looks like progress to me. Williams versatility on D makes him likely for promotion. Prior to about 30 days ago, he looked like he was going nowhere.

    The better pitching of the EL offset by the hitter-friendly home park, could tell us if either/both are back on the prospect radar.

    1. It’s been a heck of a turnaround for Luke Williams, on May 18th he was hitting .125 in the 8 hole and last night he’s in the 2 hole batting .255

  5. CW pitching was strength coming into this season. Staff? Pitch high pitch count, Seabold, Medina-prospect promoting a concern? Fanti, Requena, Hammer and Falter (14 day miss start) issue. System pitching a strength now usage concern

    1. I don’t understand your point. Pitching has been solid across all levels. If there’s one concern, it will be Sixto’s health because it’s always a concern when a hard throwing pitching prospect goes on DL. Despite of the stats, Medina and Howard have been showing good stuff projected as MOR. Few surprises in LWD rotation and top of LHV rotation (delos Santos and Irvin) and some pen arms.

      As for disappointments, it’s the slow progress of Kilome and the struggles of Eshelman.

      1. Starting pitching might be a possible concern for AAA in the very near future: Suarez has a groin and will be out a few weeks. Somebody will have to go up to help the Phillies on Monday, and it likely won’t be Anderson after that dud yesterday so subtract Irvin or De Los Santos. Eshelman goes tonight, but hasn’t been able to locate or command his fastball. Waguespack goes tomorrow in Suarez spot. Lively is on the DL with a shoulder. JoJo would line up on Friday if Irvin gets scratched.

          1. Not to mention Leibrandt, who has been great for us here in AAA, is currently “status unknown” as far as public information.

            Now, with the All Star Break–although Irvin and/or De Los Santos might have to pitch an inning or two and what if DLS ends up at the futures game–and the potential return of Eickhoff, maybe we can get through this without killing our record. I tweeted yesterday, it’s time for the veteran bats here to step up and help us win some games.

            2. I was at the game in Reading on Sunday, and hadn’t seen JoJo since April. I was very impressed. While I’m sure he has things he can be working on in AA, I think he could probably handle the promotion if the coaches want to do that.

              Elniery has lost a lot of velocity since his suspension. He seems to be a lefty soft-toss nibbler at this point, and they keep shuttling him to the DL in order to work on things. I wonder if giving him a shot in the pen would be worth it.

              I don’t think Kilome is ready either. And, perhaps what ails him isn’t something that could be fixed by an assignment to reliever. I think he’s going to have to pitch his way out of it.

  6. Did you guys see former prospect Willians Astudillo made the major leagues this weekend?

    1. Willians, some other familiar faces, smiling and signing autographs four years ago in Lakewood.

        1. Glad for Willians. He was one of my favorites when with the Phillies organization because of his quirkiness.

          I was on a business trip to Oklahoma City, of all places, last summer and noticed from my hotel window a baseball stadium with lights on. I walked the several blocks to the stadium. Reno was playing OKC and who was on the Reno line up — Willians, of course. It was a delightful discovery. Gotta love baseball and guys like Willians who hang in and hang in and hang in. Best to him, no matter how brief his stay.

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