International League ( AAA ) - Lehigh Valley 9 (5-5) Durham 4 (5-8)
Allentown, PA - Coca-Cola Park
Summary :
Jordan Luplow homered in the first inning. Kody Clemens singled and Weston Wilson walked. Aramis Garcia singled to score Clemens. Wilson scored on a ground out by Esteban Quiroz. Nick Podkul was credited with a double on a wind crazy misplayed pop up by Durham’s second baseman - Garcia scored on the play. Scott Kingery went yard to score two more runs.
Durham scored a run in the second on a triple and single.
Matt Kroon reached on an error in the second inning on a dropped fly ball. He went to third on a single by Jordan Luplow and then scored on a ground out.
Tristan Peters hit a three run homer for Durham in the third inning.
Scott Kingery walked and stole second in the fourth, he scored on a single by Jordan Luplow.
Scott Kingery homered in the ninth inning.
At Bat : 9 R, 10 H, 3 BB, 7 K’s
Jordan Luplow had three hits (two singles & HR) and two RBIs. Scott Kingery homered twice and walked - three RBIs. Cody Roberts had two hits (singles). Nick Podkul doubled.
On The Hill : 4 R, 10 H, 2 BB, 10 K’s
Mick Abel went five innings, 4 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K’s. Ryan Burr pitched two innings - 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K’s. Michael Mercado went the final two innings - 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K.
Did Ya Know 🧐 :
“Wednesday night's game, played in 1:57, was easily the shortest game of the year for the 'Pigs and a full hour and a half quicker than Tuesday night's opener. It was the quickest game for the 'Pigs since May 9, 2016 on the road against Columbus which was played in 1:56.” - Sam Jellinek - Manager, Broadcasting & Media Relations - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Link to Boxscore : https://www.milb.com/gameday/bulls-vs-ironpigs/2024/04/12/753012
Eastern League ( AA ) - Portland 11 (1-3) Reading 0 (3-3)
Reading, PA - FirstEnergy Stadium
Summary :
Portland scored a run in the fourth inning on two singles and a sacrifice fly. Two singles and a fielding error scored a run for Portland in the fifth, a fielders choice scored their third run.
Max Ferguson hit a two run home run for Portland in the seventh inning. Marcello Mayer hit a home run to score another run.
Portland scored five runs in the 9th on two walks, three singles and a double.
On The Hill : 11 R, 13 H, 2 BB, 12 K’s
Matt Osterberg went five solid innings - 3 R - 1 earned, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s. Andrew Schultz went 1.1 innings - 2 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s. Beau Burrows went 1.2 innings - 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K’s. Carlos Francisco yielded five runs in the ninth inning.
At Bat : 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 10 K’s
Did Ya Know 🧐 :
“Carson Taylor crushed two home runs Tuesday night, including the game winning in the bottom of the seventh inning. It was the second-straight game Taylor had homered and his third overall this season, in five games. The last R-Phil with two home runs in a game was Nick Ward on Aug. 10, 2023 at New Hampshire. Tuesday night marked the third two-home run game for Taylor, with the last coming on July 3, 2023. It is the second time in Taylor’s career that he hit home runs in back-to-back games, with the other coming on July 23-24, 2021, where he also hit three homers in two games.” - Jake Starr - Reading Fightin Phils PR/Media Relations Manager and broadcaster
Link to Boxscore : https://www.milb.com/gameday/sea-dogs-vs-fightin-phils/2024/04/12/750743
South Atlantic League ( High A ) - Hickory (2-5) Jersey Shore (4-3) - doubleheader
Hickory, NC - L.P. Frans Stadium
Game One : Jersey Shore 4 Hickory 0
Summary :
Jordan Dissin led off the second inning with a home run over the right field fence.
In the sixth inning Leandro Pineda singled and Hendry Mendez walked. They both advanced on a ground out to the first baseman. William Bergolla singled to score them both. Zach Arnold singled to score Bergolla.
On The Hill : 0 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 12 K’s
Jean Cabrera was excellent - 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 10 K’s 👀🔥. 77 pitches - 49 strikes - mid nineties heat and swing and miss secondaries. Nate Karaffa pitched a perfect inning - three groundouts. Chuck King pitched a perfect inning to close it out - two strikeouts.
At Bat : 4 R, 8 H, 1 BB, 5 K’s
Erick Brito had two hits (single,double). Jordan Dissin hit a home run. Felix Reyes doubled. William Bergolla had two RBIs.
Link to Boxscore : https://www.milb.com/gameday/blueclaws-vs-crawdads/2024/04/12/754801
Game Two : Hickory 5 Jersey Shore 0
Summary :
Hickory scored three runs in the first inning on a single, hit batter and two doubles. They scored one in the third on a triple and groundout and another in the fourth on a walk, stolen base, wild pitch and sacrifice fly.
On The Hill : 5 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K’s
Starlyn Castillo went three innings - 4 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s. Alex Rao pitched an inning - 1 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s. Mason Ronan pitched two innings - 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s.
At Bat : 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 10 K’s
Did Ya Know 🧐 :
“Greg Brodzinski has returned to manage the BlueClaws in 2024 after leading the BlueClaws to the playoffs and a league-best 73-58 mark in 2023. Pitching coach Brad Bergesen is in Lakewood for a third time (2018 and 2022) and is joined as a pitching coach by first-year Phillies coach Matt Ellmyer. Hitting coach Adam Lind hit 200 big league home runs and is in his first year as a coach. Position coach Orlando Munoz is in his first year with the BlueClaws after managing the DSL Phillies since 2017. Development coach Beth Greenwood is the first BlueClaws female position coach and a member of Team USA Women’s National Baseball Team.” - Greg Giombarrese - Vice President - Communications - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
Florida State League ( Low A ) - Clearwater 3 (5-2) Fort Myers 0 (3-4)
Clearwater, FL - BayCare BallPark
Summary :
Luis Caicuto doubled in the fifth inning, he scored on a single by Devin Saltiban.
Luis Caicuto and Devin Saltiban walked in the seventh inning - Caicuto scored on a fly ball to the left field corner by Aidan Miller that was misplayed - it was scored a double. Ottto Kemp was intentionally walked, Pierce Bennett grounded out to score a run.
On The Hill : 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 15 K’s
George Klassen was outstanding for his second consecutive start - tonight - 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K’s - 71 pitches - 43 strikes - FB sat 95-99 mph, slider and cutter. Through two starts he’s pitched 10 innings - 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 17 K’s 🔥👏.
Jaydenn Estanista pitched two scoreless frames - 1 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s - FB sat in the 93-96 range with life - good stuff! Trey Dillard pitched a perfect inning - two strikeouts. Parker Thompson pitched a perfect ninth to complete the shutout.
At Bat : 3 R, 5 H, 5 BB, 12 K’s
Luis Caicuto and Aidan Miller each doubled. Devin Saltiban singled and walked twice.
Defensive Notes:
Aidan Miller has handled everything hit his way at shortstop and has made some very athletic plays. Tonight in the second inning he made a nice play on a slow roller and then gunned the throw to first for the out. He’s got more than enough arm to play the position - quite frankly there’s no need to move him to third base as some suggest - he’s at the right position already.
Nikau Pouaka-Grego made a couple very nice plays at third base tonight on short hoppers, good hands!
Did Ya Know 🧐 :
“Last night Jake Eddington earned the first win of his professional career. Aidan Miller’s home run was his first as a pro in the regular season. He eclipsed his 2023 steal total with his fifth stolen base of the season. All seven outs Orion Kerkering has recorded with the Threshers this year have been strikeouts. Otto Kemp finished a triple short of the cycle in his third rehab game. Kehden Hettiger has two multi-RBI games in three total appearances.” - Josh Sperber - Clearwater Threshers Broadcaster
Link to Boxscore : https://www.milb.com/gameday/mighty-mussels-vs-threshers/2024/04/12/760552
Complex Action - Player Development Center (PDC) :
Today the PDC players played a three frame intra-squad scrimmage. I call them frames rather than innings because it was a simulated game event where runners were often intentionally placed on base ahead of the action and in some frames more than three outs were intentionally recorded - in other words, a working game practice with umpires 🤓. I was the only “fan” in attendance today, no autograph seekers on hand - just me and the employees of the organization watching, I’m indeed an oddity.
On The Hill :
Right hander Enrique Segura pitched three frames, he can be very impressive with both stuff and delivery - when he struggles I’ve noticed that he tends to short-arm his pitches which causes a glove side pull and balls that sail on him. He’s often compared to Aaron Nola in his mechanics and with his breaking pitches which vary from a vertical sharp breaking hook to a horizontal slider. He also has pop in the heater. The 19 year old got a bit frustrated today as a few wild pitches allowed runners to advance and in some instances cross the plate. He has really good stuff though - posted 4 K’s when he held his balance and delivery. There’s a bright future here - just had to keep grinding and learning.
I saw 23 year old lefty Benony Robles for the first time - tall and lanky - he recorded four outs in his “inning” allowing no runs on one hit while striking out one batter. He has some pop, can envision him contributing at an affiliate (perhaps Reading) once he gets his footing. Also watched right-hander Eury Ramos - the 26 year old recorded four outs in his outing - no runs, one hit and one strikeout - showed a fade away change up that had hitters lunging.
Perhaps the most impressive outing today was delivered by right hander Luis Avila. The twenty year old showed a power arm (probably mid 90’s today - first time I’ve seen him) and what looked to me like an old fashioned hook that had plenty of vertical drop. He faced four hitters and retired them all, one strikeout. He was fun to watch, am anxious to see more outings from him.
At Bat :
Jerffson Pena (20 yrs old) had the hit of the scrimmage - he was hit by a pitch and requested to continue his AB rather than take first base - on the next pitch he smoked the ball over the right center field fence for a two run home run! Other players who had hits included Aroon Escobar, Manolfi Jimenez, Diego Gonzalez Jorge Mendez and Ezra Farmer - they each singled.
Defensive Gems :
I was impressed by 18 year old Guillermo Rosario’s instincts and mechanics behind the plate at the catcher position. He seems to take charge and at 6’2” 190 has a strong build - one to watch as he progresses. Right fielder Yemal Flores threw a runner out at the plate in the first inning on a ground ball single hit to him, the runner was attempting to score from second base on the play. Third baseman Aroon Escobar made a couple nice plays, one on a slow roller he came in to get and throw the runner out at first and another on a sharply hit grounder deep down the third base line that he fielded and threw across the diamond - the 19 year old from what I’ve seen has a very strong arm - he can also swing the bat.
Yesterday the Extended Spring Training game schedule began - the Yankees visited Carpenter Complex to play the Phillies - it was a rain shortened contest.
4/11/24 : Yankees 8 Phillies 7 - six innings
On The Hill : 9 R, 4 H, 8 BB, 4 K’s
Christian McGowan started and pitched three innings (2 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K’s - 53 pitches - 32 strikes - FB topped at 95 mph) and Alexis De La Cruz pitched three innings (6 R, 2 H, 6 BB, 1 K - 51 pitches - 19 strikes - FB topped at 94 mph).
At Bat : 8 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K’s
Second baseman Aroon Escobar went 2 for 2 (double,triple) with an RBI. Shortstop Starlyn Caba, DH Angel Mata, RF Manolfi Jimenez and CF Jerffson Pena each singled. Caba stole a base. DH Guillermo Rosario had a sacrifice fly RBI.
Notes :
I often feel out of place watching the games and practices on the backfields - often times I’m the only one in attendance who’s just a fan. One thing about this year’s group that stands out is their energy - they’ve shown a true love for playing baseball that’s readily evident in just the few times I’ve watched so far this year. It brings a smile to my face to see the interaction and bond these fellas seem to have - also noted is the enthusiasm of players like Starlyn Caba and Nolan Beltran - they actually thank an old goofball like me for coming to watch them - really good young men. Caba seemingly is always the first one at the field every time I’m there - he really enjoys playing baseball. So albeit I’m likely out of place there and perhaps there are some misgivings about my presence I truly enjoy watching the young players develop and sharing what I see with the folks who might be here with me if they could. Hopefully that comes thru.
System Transactions :
Jersey Shore : RHP Starlyn Castillo reinstated from the Development List. RHPEiberson Castellano placed on the Development List (retroactive to 4/11).
Clearwater : RHP Chase Hopewell reinstated from the Development List. RHP Jake Eddington placed on the Development List.
Phillies City Connect Jerseys :
Just sayin … I like em alot 👍🔥
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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