Down on the Phillies Pharm: Lively Goes 7 in Triple-A Debut
Here is a quick recap of what each of the Phillies minor league squads and some of their top prospects did last night as they work their way up to the big leagues.
The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs lost 6-4 in extra innings to the Louisville Bats Friday evening.
After Mark Appel was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder strain, the Phillies called the 7-0 Ben Lively up to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. In his first start in Triple-A the Phillies #30th ranked prospect went seven innings giving up just two runs on five hits. He struck out five while walking two on 99 pitches.
The bullpen failed Lively Friday, allowing four runs off eight hits in four innings of relief. Michael Mariot allowed two runs in the 11th inning, thus receiving his first loss of the year as he works back from injury.
J.P. Crawford was 0-4 with a walk and a run scored. He has struggled since being promoted to Lehigh Valley, but the hits will come for the 21-year-old.
Cody Asche made his first rehab start Friday, going 1-5 with a double and a run scored. He is expected to return to the Phillies in the near future.
Darin Ruf hit his fifth home run of the year in Triple-A, his third in the last two games.
Nick Williams struck out four times to go with his single and stolen base. The outfielder acquired in the Cole Hamels trade will have to adjust his plate discipline before he gets a chance in Philadelphia.
Andrew Knapp was 0-5 as he has struggled in recent games at and behind the plate. He did pickoff two runners at second, which is something he has been working on.
James Russell (1-0) will get the start in place of the injured Alec Asher.
Next: Reading
A second extra-inning game for the Phillies minor league clubs, but a more fortunate result for Reading.
The Fightin’ Phils stayed true to their name as they scored three runs in the ninth, a run in the 12th, and a run in the 13th to beat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on the road.
Reading’s score card is littered with hits, 14 in all. Left fielder Aaron Brown was the hero though with a ninth inning three-run home run. He finished 3-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Roman Quinn had a hit and a stolen base Friday, but struck out twice.
Jorge Alfaro was also 1-6 with two strike outs, but he drove in a key run for Reading.
Dylan Cozens had another solid night, going 2-6 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. His three strike outs are of note though.
The pitching was sketchy Friday for Reading. The staff of six pitchers walked a dozen Fisher Cats while striking out just as many through a baker’s dozen worth of innings.
Nick Pevetta (4-3) will take the mound Saturday at 6:05 p.m..
Next: Clearwater
Everyone’s favorite second baseman of the future (with fingers and toes crossed) Scott Kingery was 2-4 with a double and an RBI in Clearwater’s 10 inning victory over the Flying Tigers.
The big hit came from first baseman Kyle Martin with his 10th inning solo home run to help give Clearwater their 29th win of the season.
Outfielder Carlos Tocci was 1-5 with two strike outs and a caught stealing.
Starter Tyler Viza was impressive on the mound as he struck out 11 batters in six innings. He allowed just six hits and one run, which was a solo home run in the fifth inning to Joey Pankake.
Great name, Joey Pankake by the way.
Thomas Eshelman (2-2) will start Saturday for Clearwater. The right-hander is the Phillies 15th ranked prospect and was acquired in the Ken Giles trade with Houston this offseason along with Vince Velasquez and Mark Appel, among others.
Next: Lakewood
The Blueclaws offense came to life after being shutout in a 1-0 loss to Delmarva the night before. They scored five runs in the first three innings and added some insurance runs in the final three innings.
Three errors by the Shorebirds helped extend the Blueclaws’ rally in the second inning. Only four of Lakewood’s runs were charged to Delmarva’s pitchers and only five RBIs were recorded by Lakewood hitters despite the eight runs scored.
Josh Tobias was 3-5 with an RBI, raising the second baseman’s batting average to .280 on the season.
Right fielder Jorge Pujols was also 3-5 hitting third, and drove in a run and scored his own.
Tobias, Pujols, and outfielder Jiandido Tromp each had a stolen base.
The club’s top pitcher Franklyn Kilome bounced back after a rough start to the season by going six innings and striking out five. He allowed three runs on eight hits and one walk. The Phillies eighth overall prospect lowered his ERA to a still-troubled 5.89. Fridays game gave Kilome his first win of the season, making him 1-4 this year.
Drew Anderson will take the mound for just the second time this season for Lakewood. The 22-year-old impressed in his first start by throwing five two-hit innings with one run, one walk, and five strike outs after missing all of 2015 with Tommy John surgery.