Lehigh Valley (2-3) lost to Scranton 2-0.
Mark Appel lasted 4.2 innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. He struck out two and thru 81 pitches. Six IronPigs collected a hit. Jesse Valentin extended his season opening hitting streak to five games. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/10/2017
The Phillies started the 2017 season 3-3 with an opening day win in Cincinnati and two wins at home against the hated Nationals.
It was kind of an uneven week. Don’t get me wrong, I think 3 wins is an excellent outcome for the week. But, some things gave me pause.
For instance, Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of April 10th
Lehigh Valley swept a double header from Pawtucket behind a pair of three hitters by Ben Lively and Nick Pivetta.
Reading rallied from 5 runs behind to take the lead but dropped a one run decision to Portland and remains winless.
Clearwater topped Dunedin behind four solo home runs including “C” Randolph’s organization leading third home run.
Lakewood scored singles runs in seven of nine innings and remained undefeated through the first weekend of the season.
Big power surge in the organization Sunday. Dylan Cozens and Rhys Hoskins hit their first home runs for Lehigh Valley, Kyle Martin and Andrew Pullin hit their first home runs of the season, Jan Hernandez, Herlis Rodriguez,and Damek Tomscha hit their first home runs for Clearwater. Randolph hit his third of the season. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/9/2017
Another one win night for the organization Saturday, Lakewood’s 8-4, come-from-behind, extra-inning victory. Cord Sandberg tied the game with a two-out, solo home run in the ninth inning. Mickey Moniak drove in the go ahead run in a 4-run 10th inning.
Ricardo Pinto allowed one unearned run and Jorge Alfaro had three hits in Lehigh Valley’s one-run loss.
Malquin Canelo had 2 of Reading’s 5 hits in a 4-1 loss.
Franklyn Kilome had a rough debut, and Ranfi Casimiro pitched even worse in Clearwater’s 12-6 loss. “C” Randolph hit his second home run in as many nights. Emmanuel Marrero’s 3-run home run gave the Threshers’s a short-lived lead.
Lehigh Valley’s vaunted line up has zero home runs and only three extra base hits in two games, all doubles. Reading has just two doubles in two games. Meanwhile in 3 games, Lakewood has 8 extra base hits – Sandberg’s HR, Henri Latrigue’s triple, and 6 doubles (3 by Mickey Moniak), and Clearwater has 11 XBH – Randolph’s 2 HR, Marrero’s 1 HR, and 8 doubles (2 each by Austin Bossart and Damek Tomscha).
The four affiliates committed 8 errors. They have committed 18 errors in 10 games, and haven’t had an error-free game yet this season. Errors have led to 11 unearned runs and resulted in countless extra pitches for pitchers early in the season.
Just one win for the organization on Friday night, Lakewood’s 6-4 victory. Mickey Moniak had 2 RBI but Sixto Sanchez fell one out short of his first victory.
Jake Thompson was hit hard in Lehigh Valley’s loss.
Reading’s bullpen couldn’t hold a lead for Tom Eshelman.
“C” Randolph hit his first home run giving Clearwater a short-lived lead against Dunedin. Jose Taveras struck out 9 in 4.1 innings while getting no decision.
Opening night arrived for the Phillies’ affiliates and two of four games were postponed. But the two who played were victorious.
Zach Eflin pitched five one-hit innings in a rehab start for Clearwater.
Seranthony Dominguez hit 98 mph on the radar gun.
Five BlueClaws had two-hit games including Mickey Moniak and Cord Sandberg.
Luke Williams had two RBI.
Lehigh Valley and Reading had their games postponed.
Here is a consolidated schedule of all games for the organization’s stateside teams. In the photo below, the action of every org team is listed for any given date, including the Phillies. The far right column lists the game times and location for Extended Spring games. In June, the column deftly switches to Gulf Coast League games. I attached the month of April just for explanation. All six months are listed below as URLs. Continue reading 2017 Schedules, Observations, and Rumors
The Clearwater Threshers have announced their opening day roster. I received the following in their press release. Continue reading 2017 Clearwater Threshers
The Phillies went 3-2-1 in the final week of spring training. After thirty-six games, the Phillies had a 14-17-5 Grapefruit League record. They posted wins of 7-1, 8-2, and 8-2 last week; and losses of 10-4 and 14-1. They tied 7-7. That’s 35 runs for, 36 against. Could be an interesting season. The Phillies open Monday in Cincinnati at 4:10 PM. The Phillies opened against the Reds last season and blew saves in the 8th and 9th innings while dropping the first two games of the season. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of April 3rd
Saturday, the minor league teams closed our their 2017 tour of spring training at the Carpenter Complex. I arrived around 9:00 AM just to see what was taking place. As I walked up the drive, IronPigs’ players were making their way to the parking lot, resplendent in their colorful, flowered shirts. When I lived in Philadelphia, we called them Hawaiin shirts. Just doesn’t seem right now that I call Florida home. The players moved in, out, and around the Complex until they boarded a bus for the airport. Continue reading 2017 Spring Training, Fini
