Larry Shenk’s Phillies Minor League Report: 4/22/19
“The Baron” is the former Philadelphia Phillies head of community relations, a role in which he served the organization for more than four decades. Larry is also a 2018 inductee to the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame.
In addition to the Phillies alumni and history work which Larry has been sharing with readers here at Phillies Nation, his “Minor League Report” pieces will now also run with us all during the season as well
All 4 clubs had day off on Easter; Pivetta makes AAA debut tonight.
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**IronPigs (12–4) open a four-game series in Pawtucket’s McCoy Stadium (photo), 6:05 tonight. Nick Pivetta makes his first AAA start since being optioned.
Quirky Schedule
First 16 games: 10 vs. Rochester, six against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Hitting
Leads league in batting average (.281), home runs (28), OBP (.367), slugging (.515) and OPS (.883).
Pitching
Team ERA (3.87) ranks third in the IL; saves (9), first.
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**Fightin Phils (6–7) aim to end a three-game losing streak at 6:30 tonight in Richmond against the Flying Squirrels, David Parkinson.
Roster
Average age (around 23.3), youngest club in the EL.
Hitting
Team average (.211), last in the EL.
Pitching
Team ERA (3.25) ranks fourth; strikeouts (145), third.
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**Threshers (6–11) took two of three from Florida Fire Frogs last week in Kissimmee. Two teams begin a three-game series at Spectrum Field, 7 tonight. Tonight’s starter is undecided . . . Threshers have won four of last six games.
Hitting
Team average (.211) is tied for eighth in the FSL; home runs (13) are second.
Pitching
Team ERA (3.96) is 10th; strikeouts (191), first; (150 total innings)
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**BlueClaws (4–13) are in Rome, GA, following a 16-hour bus ride after Saturday night’s home game. (Wonder if they stopped at Cracker Barrel). Dominic Pipkin (0–1) will start the three-game series against the Braves, 7:05 tonight. Claws have dropped nine of last 10 games.
Roster
Average age (20.7), youngest team in the SAL. Included are eight teenagers four 20-year-olds.
Hitting
Team average (.222) ranks 11th; home runs (3), tied for last.
Pitching
Team ERA (5.21) is last; strikeouts (159), seventh; (148.2 innings, most in SAL)
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LARRY SHENK IS AUTHOR/EDITOR OF THE PHILLIES.COM ALUMNI SECTION AND PROVIDES REGULAR MINOR LEAGUE REPORT PIECES FROM HIS PHILLIES INSIDER BLOG. PHILLIES INSIDER PIECES RE-PRINTED AT PHILLIES NATION BY PERMISSION OF LARRY SHENK. PHILLIES ALUMNI PIECES WITH HIS PERMISSION ALONG WITH APPROVAL FROM MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES.
