July 19, 2016

Battle of Bullpens

Today’s game of baseball is played in the bullpen and that’s where last night’s game was decided. For only the third time this season, Jeanmar Gomez blew a save, allowing two game-tying runs in the ninth. Then in the 11th Martin Prado homered to win the game. It was Prado’s 16th career home run against the Phillies by far the most he’s hit against any team.

Against the Marlins’ ace, Jose Fernandez, the Phillies scored once in the first inning and again when Tommy Joseph crushed a curve ball leading off the seventh inning which turned out to be the Phillies last hit. One out later Fernandez exited and a parade of five relievers followed. In 4.2 innings, they allowed one base runner, a walk. On the other side of the coin, five Phillies relievers gave up three runs in five innings.

There were 11 games in the majors yesterday. A total of 60 relief pitchers were used. Further proof of how the game is played in this era.

Phil-Ins
Aaron Nola turned in his best outing since June 5, his last win. He worked six scoreless innings, his longest outing since the same date, two hits, one walk and five strikeouts. He was in line for the win until Miami scored two in the ninth . . . Cody Asche saved the game with a diving catch in the 10th and Marlins on first and second base . . . Joseph’s HR was his 12th in 48 at-bats, the fastest anyone in Phillies history got to a dozen . . . Phils are 36-3 when leading after eight innings.

Thome Phun Fact
(Jim will become the 38th Phillies legend to be inducted into the Toyota Wall of Fame on Friday night, August 12. Ceremonies begin at 7 p.m.)

“In 2002, we were in the midst of two significant construction projects, Citizens Bank Park and Bright House Field. And, we were also in the process of assembling a core nucleus of young players which could help us realize our goal to ‘Get good and stay good.’

“That off-season, we committed to adding veteran pieces to compliment and lead our core. The most significant free agent target was big Jim Thome. In my mind, Jim was the ‘keystone,’ the linchpin that would validate our goal.

“In my almost 40 years in baseball, there are a handful of players with whom I worked who have embodied all of the best that our game has to offer. Jim Thome is certainly one of them. When we signed him he became a keystone of Phillies history.” Ed Wade, Phillies General Manager, 1998-2005 and current Special Assistant, Baseball Operations.

Minor League Report
Players of the Week (July 11-17)

2B Scott Kingery, Clearwater… The 22-year-old batted .448 (13-29) with a double, triple, 5 RBI, a walk, 5 runs scored, 3 stolen bases and a 1.003 OPS. He leads the Florida State League in hits (104), doubles (28) and runs scored (56), is tied for third in stolen bases (25) and tied for ninth in batting average (.295). Kingery was the Phillies’ second-round in June 2015 out of the University of Arizona.

LHP Elniery Garcia, Clearwater… The 21-year-old made one start, tossing a career-high 8.0 scoreless innings, 1 hit, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth. He is tied for first in the FSL in lowest opponents’ batting average (.206), ranks fourth in ERA (2.23) and tied for second in wins (8-2). He’s won 5 in a row. Garcia was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent out of Cotui, DR, on December 9, 2011. He ws also named MiLB.com Pitcher of the Week for the FSL.

Mlbpipeline.com Team of the Week
Two Phillies farmhands, Kingery and Lakewood C Deivi Grullon.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (56-40), 3rd place, International League North Division.
4 hurlers combined on a 4-hit, 4-0 win in Indianapolis. WP, starter Phil Klein (1-0), 5-3-0-0-0-6. LF Darin Ruf, 2 H, RBI. C Logan Moore, 2-run 2B . . . David Buchanan, 7:05 tonight in Indianapolis.

Reading Fightin’ Phils (66-29), 1st place, Eastern League Eastern Division.
Won, 9-5, in New Hampshire. WP: Nick Pivetta (9-4), 5-7-5-5-2-4; 5th straight W. LF Andrew Pullin, 4-5, HR (4), 4 RBI. RF Dylan Cozens, 2B (29), HR (25), 5 RBI, SB (17). 2B Jesmuel Valentin, 2 2B, 3 R, BB . . . Anthony Vasquez, 7:05 tonight in NH.

Clearwater Threshers (16-9), 2nd, 2nd half, Florida State League North Division.
Won 8th in last 9, 2-0, in 10 innings in Bradenton. 3B Mitch Walding, game-winning RBI single. LF Aaron Altherr, 1-4 . . . Starter John Richy, 7-2-0-0-2-2. WP: Victor Arano (3-1). SV Matt Hockenberry (2) . . . Elniery Garcia, 6:30 tonight in Bradenton.

Lakewood BlueClaws (14-11), 5th place, 2nd half, South Atlantic League North Division.
Swept DH in Charleston, SC, 3-1 and 2-0, ending a 5-2 road trip. Winning streak now at 5 games. 1st game WP: reliever Jeff Singer, 3-2-0-0-2-3; picked 3 runners off 1st. 2nd game WP: Seranthony Dominiqez (2-1), 6-1-0-0-2-6. RF Zachary Coppola, 4 H, 2 BB in DH . . . Day off today.

Williamsport Crosscutters (18-13), 2nd, New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.
Won 8th in last 9 games, 7-4, vs. West Virginia. WP: Ranger Suarez (3-0), 6-5-1-1-2-3. Lead-off hitter, LF Mark Laird, 3-4, BB, 2 RBI; 2nd-place hitter, SS Arquimedes Gamboa, 4-5, 2 R . . . Felix Paulino, 7:05 tonight vs. West Virginia.

Gulf Coast League Phillies, (13-7), 2nd place, Northwest Division.
Scoreless game called after 3 innings by rain vs. Braves. As a suspended game it will be completed this afternoon at Carpenter Complex.

Transactions
OF Aaron Altherr had his rehab assignment transferred from GCL to Clearwater. Had to walk about 500 feet from the Carpenter Complex to the Bright House Field clubhouse. No GPS needed.

This Date
July 19, 1955, 2nd game–Playing their sixth game in four days and with Robin Roberts pitching on two day’s rest, Phillies beat Cincinnati, 6-2, in Connie Mack Stadium. Roberts had two hits and drove in three runs while pitching a six-hitter.

Twitter
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