If there’s one surefire statement about the Phillies Minor League corps, it’s that AA Reading is going to be so fun to watch this year.
AAA Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (0-3)
The Iron Pigs won’t be a great team this year, and it’s no secret. With a bunch of AAAA-quality players (Brandon Watson, Gary Knotts, Pete LaForest) and very few prospects (JA Happ, Jason Jaramillo), it’s a team that’s basically a garbage can from which the Phillies can pick. And it showed this weekend with a sweep at the hands of the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees, the former Phils affiliate. Thursday the Pigs mustered one hit off Kei Igawa. Friday they got four, but Vic Darensbourg had a rough inning and took the loss. And Saturday they lost 7-2, with Brian Mazone taking the loss. Nobody’s really hitting the ball for the Pigs, either. Let’s just say it’s OK to brush by the Pigs this season.
Player of the Week: Andy Tracy – 2/7, HR, RBI, 2 R
AA Reading Phillies (3-0)
This is the team to watch. With a boatload of prospects, the R-Phils are an exciting group of 21-23 year olds, and in my view, are the favorites to take the Eastern League this year. This weekend they lived up to the talk with a sweep of the Altoona Curve. Thursday, they won 8-3 behind five OK innings by Drew Carpenter. Jason Donald (who made a name of himself this spring) went 2-5 with 2 RBI. Friday, they won 2-1, as Jeremy Slayden doubled and homered. Josh Outman went five strong for the ND. And Saturday, it was the Greg Golson show. He went 3-for-4 with a triple, three runs and — yes — four stolen bases. Wow. It’s nice to hear Golson had such a great game.
Player of the Week: Jeremy Slayden – 5/12, HR, 3B, 2 RBI, 4 R
A+ Clearwater Threshers (1-2)
Brad Lidge was the story to start the season, pitching an inning on Opening Day. After him, Joe Savery pitched in the first game, going five innings and striking out seven, but walking five. No. 2 prospect Adrian Cardenas had two doubles, but the Thresh lost 2-1. Friday, it was a win over Dunedin, 4-2. Carlos Monesterios went 6.1 innings, giving up two runs while striking out four. Saturday, Lakeland beat the Thresh 4-3. Prospect Antonio Bastardo struck out seven in five innings while giving up seven hits and a run. Gus Milner went 2-for-5 with a homer.
Player of the Week: Adrian Cardenas – 5/12, RBI, 2 R, 2 2B
A Lakewood Blue Claws (1-2)
The Lakewood Blue Claws dropped two games to Lake County over the weekend. The opener saw not much aside from Dominic Brown — a top-10 prospect — go 2-for-5. Friday, Michael Durant hit a homer and drove in three in a 6-4 loss to Lake County. Chance Chapman walked three and blew the lead. Saturday the Claws got their first win by a score of 7-6. Julian Sampson struggled through four frames, but the offense came out to play late, getting their runs in the sixth and seventh. Brown had three hits, stole a base and scored two runs. Prospect Freddy Galvis also had a nice game, going 2-for-3 with a run.
Player of the Week: Dominic Brown – 6/14, 2 R, SB
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