Mesa took an 8-7, eleven inning slugfest against Surprise on Friday with Mets farmhand Eric Niesen picking up the win in relief.  Matt Rizzotti again got the start at 1B for the Solar Sox, hitting cleanup and continued his early season success with another 2-4 outing, including a run scored and an RBI.  RIzzotti also drew a walk. Tyson Brummett after a rocky outing opening day was lights out in the 6th and 7th inning, allowing just a hit, while striking out 2.

On Saturday, Mesa romped over Pao Sagueros 10-1, with a six run fourth inning being the difference maker. Matt Rizzotti was 0-4 with a run scored and a walk in the cleanup spot.  Tim Kennelly saw an at bat as a pinch hitter and singled.  Reading Pitcher Chris Kissock saw his first action of the Fall on the hill and pitched perfect 8th inning.

Notes: No word on why OF John Mayberry left the game early on opening day.  He has not played since.

–1B Matt Rizzotti is hitting .375 (6-16) through the seasons first week.

–Mesa is off on Sunday and resumes their schedule on Monday.

–Other Winter Leaguers: Freddy Galvis is hitting .250 during the early going in Venezuela (16 at bats), while Harold Garcia is hitless in his first 9 plate appearances, including 5 k’s.

The Mesa Solar Sox season kicked off on Tuesday with an 8-3 victory over Phoenix.  John Mayberry started in RF and hit cleanup, going 0-2 before being replaced.  Matt Rizotti hit in the five hole and played first base, going 2-4 with a run scored and a walk. On the hill Tyson Brummett got roughed up, going 2 innings and yielding 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits.  He didn’t walk a batter and struck out 5.  Notably, former Phillie prospect Michael Taylor launched a homer off of Brummett.

Wednesday saw Mesa take one on the chin 6-3 to Phoenix with Michael Taylor crushing his second homer in as many days. He was 3-4 on the day with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s.  The lone Phillie prospect to see action was Tim Kennelly who was behind the plate and went 1-3 with a run scored and an RBI. He also threw out Dodgers prospect Jerry Sands attempting to steal. Continue reading AFL Update →

Minor League baseball is back, at least for the next month or so as the Arizona Fall League begins their schedule today. The Mesa Solar Sox, the team that the Phils are affiliated with start their schedule with a 2:35 first pitch today.  John Mayberry Jr, is hitting cleanup, playing right field, while Matt Rizzotti is hitting right behind Mayberry and playing first base.  Look for twice a week updates on the Fall League starting this week.

OF John Mayberry will head off to Arizona as a late addition to the Mesa Solar Sox Fall League roster after a very good final week of the Major League season during which he knocked out two homers.  Both SS Brian Bocock as well as Pitcher Vance Worley will be off to Florida to stay sharp in the Instructional League in case of a Phillies injury emergency.

Check out the Mesa Solar Sox, the affiliate that will contain the Phillies prospects heading west.

Tyson Brummett, RHP
Justin De Fratus, RHP
Matt Rizzotti, 1B
Chris Kissock, RHP
BJ Rosenberg, RHP
Josh Zeid, RHP
Tim Kennelly, C/INF/OF

I think I’m actually most excited that Kennelly is going!

An unusual feat for Scottsdale on Friday as they kept their six game winless streak intact, with a 5-5 eleven inning tie.  Domonic Brown’s recent struggles continued with an 0-5, making him 0 for his last 14. Steve Susdorf was 0-3 with a run scored and two walks, while Michael Schwimer threw two scoreless, hitless innings, in relief, yielding just two walks.

Scottsdale got back on the winning track Saturday with a 6-0 shutout victory.  Domonic Brown broke out of his recent slide, going 2-5 with 2 doubles, and 3 RBI’s, but also committed his 3rd error in the young Fall League season. Steve Susdorf was the DH, hitting 7th, and added two hits, during a 2-5 evening.  Tuffy Gosewisch got the start at catcher and went 1-5, while Troy Hanzawa saw his second start of the Fall League season at SS, and went 0-4 with a run scored and an RBI.  Scott Mathieson kept his Fall League scoreless streak alive, throwing another scoreless inning but it wasnt easy, as he allowed two hits and a walk, while striking out two. Continue reading Fall League Update →

Scottsdale has been struggling having lost their last five games and are currently 6-9 on the season. Tuesday night’s game, a 10-9 loss, featured a 2-5 effort from Domonic Brown, while Scott Mathieson continued his dominance, going 1.2 innings, giving up just a hit and a walk, while striking out 3.  Mike Cisco also threw fairly well, going 3 innings, and giving up 2 runs (both unearned) on 2 hits.  He walked 2 and struck out 2.

The game on Wednesday, a 12-5 loss, featured the 2nd homer of the Fall League season for Steve Susdorf, a two run shot.  Susdorf was 1-2, with 2 walks, a homer, and 2 RBI’s.  Domonic Brown took a difficult 0-5, while Edgar Garcia was hit around, going 2 innings and giving up 3 runs on 5 hits.  Thursday featured a start for Tuffy Gosewisch, who went 1-3 in the 3-0 Scottsdale loss.  Domonic Brown took his second consecutive “ofer”, going 0-4 out of the cleanup spot. Continue reading Fall League Update →

A one run victory for Scottsdale on Friday evening, as Domonic Brown was the only Phillie prospect that saw action, going 1-4, with a run scored, and a double. Saturday brought the first Fall League start for Troy Hanzawa who went 0-4 with a strikeout and a stolen base, in the Scottsdale 7-3 loss to Phoenix. Domonic Brown went 0-2 with an RBI, Steve Susdorf went 1-4 and Scott Mathieson threw yet another scoreless inning, striking out 2.

After an off day Sunday, the Scorpions suffered a 10-2 blowout loss at the hands of Peo Sagueros.  Domonic Brown provided the only offense for Scottsdale with a two run triple out of the cleanup hole, in a 2-3 effort. Tuffy Gosewisch went 1-3 and threw out one of three runners attempting to steal. Michael Schwimer had a rough outing throwing the last 1.2 innings, and giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 3 hits.  He walked two, throwing 34 pitches, 20 for strikes. Continue reading Fall League Update →

Steve Susdorf was the only Phillie prospect to see action in Tuesdays’ 7-3 Scottsdale win over Surprise, and Susdorf played a key role in the victory, going 2-3 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.  Wednesdays’ game, a 5-4 Scottsdale loss, saw Mike Cisco take the loss, going 2 innings and getting hit around, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits.  He walked 1 and struck out 2, throwing 48 pitches, 32 for strikes.  Scott Mathieson pitched a scoreless ninth, giving up a lone hit, while striking out one. AT the plate, Domonic Brown returned after a day off and went 0-4, while Steve Susdorf went 1-4 with an RBI. Brown had an outfield assist, which offset an earlier error. Continue reading Fall League Update →

After winning their first two games, the Scorpions of Scottsdale lost three straight, including a loss to #1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg (Phoenix) on Friday evening, before evening up their record at 3-3 last night.

In the 7-4 loss to Phoenix, Steve Susdorf, blasted his first homer of the Fall off of Baltimore prospect Eddie Gamboa. Susdorf was 1-4 on the evening.  Domonic Brown was 1-4 with a run scored and a double on Friday evening. Edgar Garcia took the loss in his second game on the hill, giving up three runs over his 2 innings of work on 3 hits.  He walked 2 and struck out 3.  Michael Schwimer pitched a scoreless 8th for Scottsdale, yielding just a hit. Continue reading Fall League Update →