10/24/2020 : Game Day at Fall Instructs

The Phillies played the Blue Jays this morning at Carpenter Complex on Roberts Field. They played 9 1/2 innings, although some were rolled ( not completed ). The Blue Jays prevailed by a count of 5-2.

We got smarter over the last week and brought a wagon with us this week to carry our chairs and drink cooler in ... beats lugging them on your back and shoulders as we made the walk to behind the outfield fences on the Ream Wilson Trail 😬.

Game Notes :

Starting Defense :

Herbert Iser - 1B

Luis Garcia - 2B

Jamari Baylor - SS

Guarner Dipre - 3B

Edgar Cabral - C

Johan Rojas - RF

Matt Vierling - CF

Marcus Lee Sang - LF

Defensive substitutes during the game :

Herbert Iser caught the last couple of innings

Abrahan Gutierrez played 1B from 7th inning on

Edgar Made came in to play 3B in latter half of game

Jonathan Guzman subbed in at shortstop in 6th inning

Nicolas Torres played LF beginning in 6th inning

Johan Rojas went to CF and Matt Vierling to RF in 6th inning and finished there.

Starting Lineup :

Jamari Baylor

Herbert Iser

Edgar Cabral

Johan Rojas

Matt Vierling

Guarner Dipre

Jose Tortolero

Luis Garcia

Jonathan Guzman

Nicolas Torres

Marcus Lee Sang played defense but didn’t bat ... seems to have a thumb issue.

Pitchers :

Right hander Dominic Pipkin started. The lanky 20 year old spent the 2019 season with Lakewood and was the club’s 9th round selection in the 2018 draft. He’s a hard tosser but battled control today ... the first inning was rolled with one out after a couple walks and a hit batter ... overall Dominic went 1 1/3 innings ... 2 R, 2 H ( both doubles), 1 K, 3 BB, 1 HB ... Catcher Edgar Cabral threw out a runner attempting to steal second in the first inning for the only recorded out.

Jhordany Mezquita,( 22 yr old LHP - played 2019 at Lakewood - 2017 8th round draft choice ), pitched the third inning and struck out the side allowing just a single.

Blake Brown ( 22 yr old RHP - signed 6/18/20 as amateur free agent - UNC Asheville ) pitched the fourth frame but didn’t record an out ... the inning was rolled after a run scored on 3 walks and an RBI single ... just couldn’t throw consistent strikes today ... wasn’t close really ... maybe nerves 🤷‍♂️.

Billy Sullivan ( 21 yr old RHP - signed 6/17/20 as amateur free agent - U of Delaware ) pitched a scoreless fifth inning allowing a single, a walk and a HB ... he struck out one. He was aided by a Jays base-running miscue where a runner got hung up between second and third because the runner in front of him stopped on a single to center field ... to me Billy struggled finding a consistent release point today and was erratic ... stuff looks to be there but from this observer’s view the mechanics need some work ... gotta remember though that he hasn’t thrown for a while ... is coming back from TJ surgery.

Lefty Nick Fanti ( 23 yrs old - 2015 round 31 draft pick - missed 2019 due to shoulder surgery ) pitched the next two frames. His first inning was rolled with two outs after a couple walks scored on a double down the left field line. Nick went 1 2/3, 2 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K’s ... was great to see him back on the hill competing ... it’s been a long battle back from injuries ... his last game action was 6/18/18 as a Clearwater Thresher.

Bailey Falter ( 23 yr old LHP - 2015 round 5 draft pick - was shut down 6/11/19 at Reading with forearm injury ) pitched a perfect eighth inning striking out two batters. Bailey looked to be back in form with his classic long arm over the top delivery ... he overmatched the Jays hitters he faced today ... good outing 👍.

Carson Ragsdale ( 22 yr old RHP - 2020 4th round draft pick - University of South Florida ) tossed a scoreless ninth inning ... to be honest my phone battery died so I couldn’t jot down any details of his outing other than remembering that it was a scoreless frame and that he hides the ball really well in his delivery ... he’s got a bit of a Terry Mulholland hitch where he brings the ball from behind his back leg ... Carson is 6’8” ... having hitters not being able to see the ball till late in the delivery with the velocity he has and with such a big frame throwing it should serve him well 🤔.

Braden Zabrinsky ( 23 yr old RHP - signed 7/22/20 - amateur free agent - West Virginia University ) pitched the top of the 10th even though the game was technically over 🤪 ( Jays ahead after 9 innings played ) ... again no detailed notes but he also tossed a scoreless inning.

Offense :

The Phillies scored a run in the fifth inning before the inning was rolled ... Guarner Dipre doubled and scored on a Jose Tortolero single.

Edgar Cabral ( 25 yrs old ) hit a solo home run in I believe the 7th inning over the left field fence. He also caught six innings ... he looks all the way back from Tommy John surgery which cost him all but 21 games of the 2019 season.

Herbert Iser doubled in the eighth inning.

The Phillies were limited to six hits. Jamari Baylor and Luis Garcia had singles.

Other Notes :

Jays starting pitcher Josh Winckowski stood out today ... he was dominant over two shut out innings with three strikeouts and no walks ...

I believe we saw Oscar Gonzalez make his Fall Instructs debut pinch hitting in the ninth inning ... the 19 year old is a Catcher, first baseman and third baseman ... he’s even played the outfield. He had a decent 2019 season in the DSL. First time I’ve seen him ... he grounded out. Cesar Rodriguez also made a pinch hitting appearance in the ninth inning and also grounded out ... he’s a 19 year old catcher from Venezuela which is also where Gonzalez hails from.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️