Written by Steve Potter
International League ( AAA ) - Lehigh Valley ( 4-5 ) Worcester ( 7-2 ) - Doubleheader
Worcester, MA - Polar Park
Game One : Lehigh Valley 7 Worcester 3 ( 7 innings )
Summary :
Worcester scored a run in the bottom of the first inning on a home run by Jeter Downs. They scored another run in the second inning on three singles and one more in the fourth frame on an RBI triple by Ryan Fitzgerald.
Lehigh Valley plated two in the fifth inning - they loaded the bases ( John Andreoli - walk, Drew Maggi - single and Edgar Cabral - walk ) and Dalton Guthrie singled to score Andreoli and Maggi.
Nick Maton got under a high pitch and sent it over the right field “Worcester Wall” to score two ( Roman Quinn had reached on an error ) in the sixth inning.
Drew Maggi reached on an error to start the seventh inning, he scored on a double by Ronald Torreyes that one hopped to the center wall ( 403 feet ). Dalton Guthrie was credited with a double on a ball that appeared to clear the center field wall and bounce back in but the umpire said it did not - regardless it scored Torreyes. Guthrie went to third on a fly out and scored on a wild pitch thereafter on an aggressive and great read on a ball in the dirt that skipped just beyond the batters box to the right.
Worcester loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh on a walk and two singles with one out, the game ended on a 5-4-3 double play ground out.
On The Hill :
LH Rodolfo Sanchez - 2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s - 48 pitches - 32 strikes
RH Jake Newberry - 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K’s - 31 pitches - 17 strikes
RH Tyler Cyr - 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s - 20 pitches - 12 strikes
LH Kyle Dohy - 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s - 11 pitches - 6 strikes - hit 95 mph on the radar today 🔥
RH Nick Duron - 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K’s - 17 pitches - 12 strikes 96-97 mph on the radar 🔥
At Bat : 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K’s
Dalton Guthrie had two hits ( single and double ) and three RBIs. Nick Maton homered. Ronald Torreyes doubled.
Notes :
Today was the first day in the International League that the pitch clock and pickoff/step off rules went into effect. Jeter Downs for Worcester was called for not being ready in the box in nine seconds - a strike was called for that without a pitch being delivered. 😳. He hit a home run on the next pitch 🤷♂️.
Dalton Guthrie - file photo taken by Cheryl Pursell
Game Two : Worcester 7 Lehigh Valley 5 ( seven innings )
Summary :
Worcester scored thier first run in the first inning on a walk, single, wild pitch and sac fly. They then loaded the bases and Ronaldo Hernandez doubled to score three more, Roberto Ramos then hit a two run home run.
Jorge Bonifacio doubled in the second inning, he scored on a single by Yairo Munoz.
The Woo Sox scored another run in the third on two doubles.
Dalton Guthrie singled to score Ali Castillo ( walked ) in the 5th inning. Nick Maton ( walked ) went to third on the hit and a subsequent walk by Darick Hall and scored on a sac fly by Donny Sands.
Donny Sands doubled in two runs in the seventh inning ( Ali Castillo - walked & Dalton Guthrie - singled ).
On The Hill :
RH Hans Crouse - 2/3 IP, 4 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K - 36 pitches - 20 strikes
RH Joe Gatto - 1 1/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 27 pitches - 16 strikes
LH Jonathan Hennigan - 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K’s - 38 pitches - 25 strikes
RH Dillon Maples - 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 16 pitches - 10 strikes
At Bat : 7 H, 5 BB, 10 K’s
Jorge Bonifacio had two hits including a double. Dalton Guthrie had two hits. Ali Castillo walked twice. Donny Sands had three RBIs
Eastern League ( AA ) - Reading 12 ( 3-4 ) Akron 3 ( 3-4 )
Akron , OH - Canal Park
Summary :
George Valera hit a home run in the bottom of the first to put Akron up 1-0.
Wendell Rijo reached on a fielders choice in the second inning, stole second base, advanced to third on an error and scored on a sac fly by Vito Friscia.
Akron scored in the fourth on two singles and a sac fly.
Vito Friscia was hit by a pitch in the 5th inning, he scored on a triple by Kevin Vicuña. Hunter Markwardt singled to score Vicuña and Madison Stokes doubled to score Markwardt. Jhailyn Ortiz homered to bring home Stokes ahead of himself.
Reading scored in the 6th on a bases loaded walk to Kevin Vicuña. Logan O’Hoppe doubled to score two runs. Jhailyn Ortiz hit a three run home run.
Akron scored a run in the 6th inning.
On The Hill :
RH Adam Leverett - 5 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K’s - 61 pitches - 41 strikes
RH Matt Seelinger - 2 IP, 1 unearned R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 34 pitches - 22 strikes
LH Nick Lackney - 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K - 34 pitches - 20 strikes
At Bat : 9 H, 4 BB, 9 K’s
Jonathan Guzman had two hits including a triple. Kevin Vicuña tripled and walked and had two RBIs. Logan O’Hoppe and Madison Stokes each doubled. Jhailyn Ortiz hit two home runs and drove in five runs 💪.
Jhailyn Ortiz file photo - taken by George Youngs Jr
South Atlantic League ( High A ) - Brooklyn 4 ( 3-3 ) Jersey Shore 1 ( 1- 5 )
Brooklyn, NY - Maimonides Park
Summary :
The Blue Claws scored in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Nick Matera.
Nic Gaddis doubled to score two runs for Brooklyn in the 5th inning.
Brooklyn scored two unearned runs in the 8th inning on throwing errors.
On The Hill :
RH Griff McGarry - 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s - 15 pitches - 10 strikes - first appearance since oblique issue
RH Matt Russell - 4 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s - 53 pitches - 35 strikes
LH Ethan Lindow - 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s - 36 pitches - 25 strikes
RH Andrew Baker - 1 IP, 2 unearned R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 29 pitches - 15 strikes
At Bat : 6 H, 4 BB, 9 K’s
Baron Radcliff had two hits and a walk. Johan Rojas stole his 8th base of the season.
Florida State League ( Low A ) - Clearwater 6 ( 1-6 ) St Lucie 5 ( 5-2 )
St Lucie , FL - Clover Park
Summary :
St Lucie scored a run in the first inning on a single, passed ball and single. Arturo DeFreitas walked in the second inning, advanced on a single by Felix Reyes. Reyes scored on a single by Marcus Lee Sang.
The Mets tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second on a double and single. They scored a run in the third on a single, double and ground out.
Clearwater scored four runs in the fifth inning - Yhoswar Garcia singled and stole second base. He went to third on a single by Odubel Herrera and scored on a double by Hao Yu Lee. Kendall Simmons then hit a towering no doubt about it home run over the left field fence to score three runs 👏.
Omar De Los Santos homered for St Lucie in the bottom of the fifth. Alex Ramirez tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly.
On The Hill :
LH Rafael Marcano - 4 IP, 3 R - 2 earned, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K’s - 66 pitches - 43 strikes
RH Victor Lopez - 2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 36 pitches - 21 strikes
RH Alex Garbrick - 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s - 30 pitches - 18 strikes
RH Tommy McCollum - 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K - 18 pitches - 12 strikes
At Bat : 9 H, 3 BB, 13 K’s
Kendall Simmons homered and had three RBIs. Hao Yu Lee doubled. Odubel Herrera had two hits ( single & double ).
Felix Reyes had two hits.
Notes :
Rafael Marcono was called a couple of times for pitch clock delay and automatic balls were placed in the count.
Today in Extended Spring Training :
An afternoon intra squad scrimmage today as five pitchers got in their work. Jordi Martinez, Jonas De La Cruz, Austin Ross, Carlos Betancourt and Jose Pena Jr all pitched. Betancourt had a strong outing going 3 innings allowing just one hit while striking out four batters, he walked none.
Jose Pena Jr ( 18 yrs old ) was dominant in his two innings, his ball explodes at the plate, has great running action and mid 90’s velocity. In two innings today he faced the minimum six batters ( walked one in his first frame but got a 4-6-3 double play ). Really like the upside potential of this young man.
Jose Pena Jr - photo by Casey Burns
Defensive Gems :
Nikau Pouaka-Grego ( 18 yrs old ) made a really nice play at second base going to his left on a sharp ground ball that he snagged, pivoted towards second base and started a 4-6-3 double play. First baseman Aldrem Corredor robbed a hit on a hard hit grounder down the line and RF Leandro Pineda made a diving catch on a low liner off the bat of Chris Burke. Catcher Herbert Iser made a very strong throw to third base to nail a would be base stealer.
Home Runs :
Yemal Flores ( 18 yrs old ) drove one over the center field fence just to the left field side of the batting eye - that’s easily 400 feet plus out that way. The home run brought three runs across the plate and displayed the massive power the young outfielder from the Dominican Republic possesses. Scott Kingery turned on a high curve ball and hit it well beyond the left field fence - we noted excellent bat speed on all his swings - especially inside deliveries which he’s turning on. When he struggled before it was often up and in that would beat him - we are seeing a much quicker bat in these scrimmages from him thus far - very good sign.
Chris Burke & Scott Kingery ( could pass for brothers 🤓 - plus both wear # 4 )
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