Valley lost their first game of the season. Reading, Jersey Shore, and Clearwater lost their home openers. Hopefully, this is an anomaly. We all remember too well all the nights last season when the affiliates all lost. At least the Phillies won their opener.
Clearwater (0-1) lost to the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, 6-5.
Rafael Marcano (0-1, 10.13) started and got through the first two innings allowing just a walk. A two-out dribbler down the third baseline led to an implosion as he then walked two and then gave up a 3-run double. His final line was 2.2 IP, 3 runs, 2 hits, 3 walks, and striking out two. Matt Osterberg (11.57) came in and stranded the base runner, getting the third out. A walk and a wild pitch led to a run on a single in the fourth inning. A triple and a sac fly plated 2 more runs in the fifth. Osterberg’s line was 2.1 IP, 3 runs, 4 hits, and 1 walk. Oswald Medina (0.00) came in and pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout. Gabriel Yanez (0.00) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits and striking out three. Cam Wynne (0.00) pitched a scoreless frame with a hit and 2 strikeouts.
The Threshers missed a scoring opportunity in the first inning. Yhoswar Garcia led off with a double to left-center. He may have been guilty of watching the towering fly ball as it caromed off the wall. He only made it to second base while the outfielder chased the ball and threw it into the infield. He ended the inning being doubled up on a line drive to right on which he broke to steal third and didn’t hold up on contact.
They did score in the third when Garcia reached on a two-out strikeout/wild pitch. He stole second on the first pitch to Lee Hao Yu who eventually walked. Both scored on Kendall Simmons double into the left field corner. The Threshers added a run in the sixth on Jadiel Sanchez‘ HR to right center field.
The Threshers continued to rally in the seventh. Felix Reyes tripled off the left-centerfield wall on a ball the wind probably kept in the park. To his credit, he hustled out of the box and made it to third. Marcus Lee Sang stroked an RBI single thru the hole into left field. Arturo De Freitas walked bringing up Garcia as the tying run. Lee Sang stole third and scored on a force out at second.
Then came the key call of the game. Garcia broke for second on the first pitch. He always seems to go on the first pitch. Lee Hao Yu stroked a ball into right center field. Garcia’s jump was so big that he slid headfirst into second and was able to look up and see the outfielder dive and catch the ball. Garcia got up and retreated to first, beating the ball by about 30 minutes. The base umpire called him out from about 90 feet away.
There was no explanation. Our third base coach ran out to talk to the ump. Initially, GameDay said he was picked off by the pitcher, but the call was made before the pitcher and ball returned to the mound. Later, GD said he was out on a double play. No way, he beat the throw. I wondered if the umpire claimed that when Garcia got up his feet were behind the bag and that he had to touch the bag on his way back to first. But, he got up with his hand on the bag when he started back. I don’t know. But, this umpire didn’t miss a chance to insert himself into the game. Every check swing that was questioned he called a strike even though he was behind the mound. He didn’t miss a chance to make his demonstrative strike call. No wonder he’s at Low-A.
Anyway, went somewhat quietly the next two innings. Although Kendall Simmons led off the eighth with a strikeout/wild pitch and made it to third with two outs on a steal and a wild pitch.
The Threshers drew 3 walks but struck out 13 times. Garcia, Lee Sang, and Simmons stole bases. Jadiel Sanchez had an outfield assist at third base (from RF).
Lehigh Valley (2-1) blew a late lead and fell to the Columbus Clippers, 4-3.
Colton Eastman (0.00) pitched 3.2 scoreless innings allowing one hit, walking 3, and striking out four. Jonathan Hennigan (9.00) pitched 1.0 inning and gave up a run on a hit and 2 walks. Jake Hernandez (13.50) stranded 2 inherited runners in 0.1 innings walking one and striking out one. Jake Newberry (0.00) pitched 1.2 scoreless innings striking out one. Dillon Maples (0.00) walked one in 0.1 scoreless innings. Mike Kelly (18.00) pitched one inning and blew the save allowing 2 runs in 1.0 inning on 2 hits (one a HR). He struck out two. Nick Duron (0-1, 4.50) gave up the game-winner in 1.0 inning with a hit and walk and 2 strikeouts.
The IronPigs scored 2 runs in the second inning on Dalton Guthrie’s 2-run single. They tied the game in the eighth on Drew Maggi’s sac fly.
Guthrie (5.00) remained hot going 2-5 with 2 RBI. Darick Hall (.364) went 2-4. Austin Wynns (.250) went 2-4 with a run scored.
Reading (0-1) was on-hit by the Somerset Patriots and lost 6-2. Vito Friscia collected the Phils only hit with an RBI double.
James McArthur (0-1, 8.10) started and gave up 3 runs in 3.1 innings on 6 hits and a walk. He struck out six. Braden Zarbnisky (5.40) pitched 1.2 innings and gave up 2 runs (1 ER) on one hit. He also allowed an inherited runner to score. Eric Miller (0.00) pitched 2.0 innings and walked a batter while striking out five. McKinley Moore (0.00) pitched a clean inning. Julian Garcia (0.00) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while striking out two.
The Phils scored their first run in the second inning without a hit on 3 walks and a one-out force out by Kevin Vicuna. They scored again in the fourth when Vito Friscia led off with a double and came around on groundouts by Vicuna and Jonathan Guzman.
Vito Friscia went 1-2 with a run scored, double, and walk. Josh Ockimey drew 3 walks and scored a run in 4 plate appearances. Logan O’Hoppe went 0-1 with 2 walks.
Vicuna stole a base. Madison Stokes had an outfield assist.
Jersey Shore (0-1) Lost a high-scoring affair to the Aberdeen IronBirds, 11-10. The BlueClaws took a 10-6 lead in the sixth inning but the bullpen failed to hold the lead.
Ben Brown (4.50) started and pitched 2.0 innings. He gave up one run on one hit and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. Cristian Hernandez (15.43) pitched 2.1 innings and gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts. J.P. Woodward (5.40) pitched 1.2 innings and gave up one run on 2 hits and a walk with 4 strikeouts. He also stranded 2 inherited base runners. Carlos Reyes (13.50) lasted 1.1 innings giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and a walk with a strikeout. Erubiel Armenta (0.00) preserved the lead for a short while pitching 0.2 innings with a strikeout while stranding 3 inherited base runners. Andrew Schultz (0-1, 27.00) blew the save (1) and took the loss in 1.0 inning allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk with one strikeout.
BlueClaws’ pitchers threw over 200 pitches (the IronBirds 175 pitches), gave up 19 hits, walked 7, threw 2 wild pitches, hit a batter, and struck out 13.
On the flip-side, the BlueClaws scored 10 runs on 9 hits, 6 walks, and 2 hit batters. They ran wild on the bases collecting 9 stolen bases in 9 attempts.
The BlueClaws took their first lead with 4 runs in the third inning on an RBI single by Luis Garcia, an RBI double by Ethan Wilson, an RBI single by Casey Martin, and a sac fly by D.J. Stewart.
They retook the lead with 2 runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Baron Radcliff and Stewart.
And, they broke a tie in the sixth with 4 more runs on a two-run single by Wilson, a throwing error on a double steal of second and third, and an RBI double by Nick Matera.
Ethan Wilson went 2-4 with 3 runs, 3 RBI, a double, and a walk. Casey Martin went 2-4 with 3 runs scored, an RBI, and a walk. D.J. Stewart had 2 RBI.
The team batted 7-18 with runners in scoring position but struck out 15 times.
Radcliff and Rojas each had an outfield assist.
The stolen bases went like this – Stewart (1), Rojas (3), Radcliff (1), Wilson (2), Garcia (1), Martin (1).
Rosters and Stuff
Not up to date, yet.
Transactions
4/08/2022 – Phillies recalled CF Simon Muzziotti from Reading
4/08/2022 – 2B Hao Yu Lee assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – 2B Alexeis Azuaje assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – RF Jadiel Sanchez assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – CF Marcus Lee Sang assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – RHP Malik Binns assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – RHP Oswald Medina assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – C Anthony Quirion assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – LHP Tristan Garnett assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – C Micah Yonamine assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – RHP Andrew Painter assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – LHP Gabriel Yanez assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – RHP Victor Lopez assigned to Clearwater
4/08/2022 – Jersey Shore transferred OF Carlos De La Cruz to the Development List
4/08/2022 – Jersey Shore transferred RHP Jonathan Hughes to the Development List
4/08/2022 – Reading transferred LHP Nick Lackney to the Development List.
4/07/2022 – Phillies placed CF Mickey Moniak on the 10-day IL, broken right hand
Phuture Phillies 
In the words of Alice Cooper “Welcome to my nightmare.” But, on the bright side, there’s no place to go but up.
0-4 stinks but we have boxscores! It’s about the individual prospects, not the results anyway. Miller did well from the pen, that could be huge and Rojas, Wilson and Garcia were all very active which is good. And Armenta continues to perform well.
My Erubiel Armenta watch is on. Got 2 outs yesterday and 1k; 50% strikeout ratio.
High octane Rojas…..could lead two leagues in SBs this year….Jersey Shore’s league and Reading’s league once he gets there later this season.
Mick Abel makes first start this afternoon.
A little surprised at a few guys repeating levels but hopefully they’re not stingy with promotions this year if guys deserve it. Did they officially move Miller to relief or is this a way to keep him on some sort of innings limit this season?
He was moved to the bullpen for this season to see how his arm responds. A return to the rotation in the future is possible. The work a starter does between starts is different than the work that relievers go through. They think it’s best to forego the rigors of being a starter this season.
Thanks for the info Jim.