It’s probably too early to start making promotions, but I wonder how soon you move Cameron Perkins to AAA. I would think if he’s still raking in mid-May, they’d have to consider it, especially with Dugan, Altherr and Collier also in Reading right now. Perkins or Dugan will be forced to play 1B to get all four prospects consistent time in the field, like Perkins did tonight as he went 2-4 with a 2B and a HR, his second of the year. Ken Giles struck out two in two scoreless innings to finish up after a decent start from Luis Paulino. Tommy Joseph also homered in that one.

Clearwater put up their five runs on three bombs, courtesy of Harold Martinez, Pete Lavin and Angelo Mora. Brian Pointer had an OF assist, throwing out Rock Shoulders trying to stretch a single into a double in the ninth. Yes, I just wanted to say “Rock Shoulders“. Can you blame me?

And for Lakewood, Mark Leiter took care of business again – 1R, 4H, 2BB, 7K in 6IP. Carlos Tocci with his first career triple in that one, as Willians Astudillo continues his torrid hitting pace – he’s on an eight game streak, with ten hits in his last four games.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/21/2014 →

Maikel Franco had himself a fine day – 3-5 with a 2B and two runs scored. Cesar Jimenez, Kyle Simon and Hector Neris stymied the RailRiders for 8 innings, then Neris fell apart in the ninth. Jeremy Horst had to come on to get the last out as Neris was nearing 50 pitches for his outing.

All the other affiliates were off.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/20/2014 →

Tyson Gillies went 2-4 with his first homer of the season, while Phillippe Aumont worked a clean inning with two Ks. Take that, Second Cliff Lee Trade Haters!

Cesar Hernandez, Zach Collier, Cameron Perkins and Tommy Joseph each had two hits – Perkins also drew two walks – he’s hit safely in eight straight games, include six multi-hit games and six extra base hits. He’s warm. Good line from Severino Gonzalez in a losing effort – 3R, 6H, 1HR, 0BB, 5K in 6IP, with a good strike rate of ~67%.

Brian Pointer and Aaron Altherr both drew a pair of walks, while Ethan Stewart was the star for CLR – 2R, 1ER, on 5H, 1HR, 1BB and 7K in 7IP. I’d love to see him do that a couple more times. Samuel Hiciano‘s having a fair start to his 2014 – his OBP is at .400, and his K Rate is around 21%. Not bad, if he can keep both going.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/19/2014 →

Jesse Biddle with the line of the night – 2R, 1ER, 2H, 1HR, 1BB, 11K in 7IP. He threw 64 of 94 pitches for strikes, though Mike Drago said he went 101 pitches. Not sure which is correct, and how many strikes he threw, but it was his best performance of the year, to be sure. Cesar Hernandez went 3-5 with a home run and two runs scored. Without him, and with Maikel Franco on the bench and Cameron Rupp on the shelf, that Lehigh Valley lineup is…well…Tyson Gillies is the interesting guy in that box score, if that tells you anything.

Clearwater battled back from a 7-0 deficit to take the lead in the seventh, only to lose the lead a half inning later and lose the game in the 13th inning. Brian Pointer hasn’t had a hit since he was pulled early on Tuesday, though he did draw a pair of walks Friday. J.P. Crawford, Carlos Tocci and Dylan Cozens wach with three hits for Lakewood. Cozens was a triple short of the cycle, and his home run was his first of the year. Zach Green, Andrew Pullin and Samuel Hiciano each with a hit and a walk in that contest, but all that offense wasn’t enough to take the game, as Ranfi Casimiro got shelled – 9R, 5ER, 7H, 1HR, 4BB and no Ks, as he couldn’t escape the third inning.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/18/2014 →

On a night where Lehigh Valley really could have used some innings from one of its starters, Greg Smith was equal to the task, throwing a seven inning CG shutout. The Pigs were shutout in the nightcap, managing just two hits. Cole Hamels threw a solid six innings in what looks to be his final rehab start. CLR couldn’t capitalize, as Lino Martinez walked four men in 1+ innings, one of whom Chris Burgess could not strand in the ninth, and the bats went (stayed?) cold.

Carlos Tocci put up three hits, two games after putting up four. All seven, and the one in the game in between, have been singles. Just sayin’. Dylan Cozens led the charge on defense, managing two fielding errors in right, thus encouraging four other Blueclaws to follow suit. You can’t teach that kind of leadership.

And finally, Willians Astudillo took three innings behind the plate after Gabriel Lino was pulled for unknown reasons after a Sac Fly RBI in the top of the sixth. I said yesterday in the comments that I’d take an empty average like Astudillo’s from a competent backstop. Seems like he’s got a chance to produce the former. We’ll see if he can deliver on the latter.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/17/2014 →