Larry Shenk’s Phillies Minor League Report: 7/2/19

Phillies Nation is honored to have Larry Shenk among the ranks of our regular contributors.

“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 shares with readers here at Phillies Nation, his “Minor League Report” pieces now also run with us all during the season as well.

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Players of the Week (June 24–30)

Player — OF Nick Williams, Lehigh Valley… The 25-year-old batted .448 (13–29) with four doubles, a home run, three RBI, two walks and a 1.190 OPS in seven games last week. He hit safely in each of those seven games and has now recorded a hit in all 14 games he has played with Lehigh Valley this season. Williams had the third-highest batting average in the International League during the week. The left-handed hitting outfielder was acquired by Philadelphia in the 2015 trade that sent Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers.

Pitcher — RHP Eduar Segovia, GCL Phillies-West… Segovia, 18, made one start and appeared once in relief, combining to toss 7.2 scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and 13 strikeouts. In his start on June 24, he pitched 4.0 perfect innings, striking out seven batters. Segovia, a native of Venezuela, was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent on May 11, 2018.

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Lehigh Valley, International League North Division

**IronPigs (39–41) were rained out in Buffalo . . . Series concludes with a 4:00 doubleheader (7-inning games) this evening . . . Back home Thursday night, the start of a 4-game series against the Pawtucket Red Sox . . . Then back on the road to Rochester, Gwinnett and Norfolk. Tough 12-game trip.

Transactions: C Deivy Grullon, placed on Injured List (fractured toe) . . . C-1B Matt McBride, activated from IL.

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Reading, Eastern League Eastern Division [39–28, 2nd place, 1st half]

**Fightin Phils (10–6) won a long doubleheader over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to lead the division by 2.5 games . . . Two teams wrap up the series at 7:10, followed by a fireworks show.

Game #1: 5–1 win in a game that included a 1:53 rain delay . . . Seth McGarry replaced Adonis Medina (2 IP) on the mound following the rain and picked up the win (1–0), 4–4–0–0–3–5. Addison Russ fanned the side on 17 pitches . . . 3B Jose Gomez, 2–3, HR (#2), 3 RBI. 1B Alec Bohm, 2–3, run, double. DH Darick Hall, 2–3, run.

Game #2: Won 3–2 on a 2-run, walk-off HR by Gomez (#3) in B9. Game was tied at 1–1 after 7 innings (regulation for a doubleheader). Winning blow came off 1B Nash Knight and came at 12:35 a.m. Fightins used 3 relievers who combined to allow only 2 hits, 0 walks and compiled 15 strikeouts: Jakob Hernandez, 3–1–1–1–0–5, HR; Garrett Cleavinger, 3–1–0–0–0–6; WP: Jeff Singer (5–0), 3–0–1–0–0–4.

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Clearwater, Florida State League North Division [36–30, 2nd place, 1st half]

**Threshers (10–5) lost their 2nd straight for the first time since May 19–20, 8–5, to the Fort Myers Miracle who put up a 5 spot in their first at-bat . . . Clearwater aims to salvage the final game of the series, 7 o’clock tonight followed by a giant fireworks show.

Pitching: Starter Andrew Brown (2–5) was stung with the 5-run T1, .2–6–5–5–1–1 . . . Tyler Ross was the 2nd of 5 pitchers and the only one not to give up a run, 3.1–1–0–0–1–3; lowered ERA to 1.50; hasn’t given up a run since May 31.

Hitting: SS Nick Maton, 2–4, 2 RBI . . . CF Simon Muzziotti, 2–4, run, RBI . . . C Rodolfo Duran, 2–4, run.

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Lakewood, South Atlantic League North Division [29–41, 1st half]

**BlueClaws (4–9) never recovered from a 6-run T3 in losing to the Delmarva Shorebirds, 8–4. All 4 Lakeland runs came in B9 . . . Series ends at 7:05 tonight . . . Birds lead season series, 11–2.

Pitching: Starter James McArther was the loser (0–6), 2.1–6–6–6–1–3, 2 hit batters . . . 3 others followed.

Hitting: C Rafael Marchan, 3–4, RBI . . . 1B Cole Stobbe, 1–4, HR (8) . . . RF Ben Pelletier, 1–3, walk, run, HR (8), 2 RBI.

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Williamsport, New York-Penn League Pinckney Division

**Crosscutters (4–14) were blanked by the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 7–0, in a game called after 5 ½ innings by rain . . . Series ends at 7:05 tonight.

Pitching: Tom Sutera (0–3) was the starter and loser, 2.1–8–5–3–0–3.

Hitting: Offense had only 3 singles.

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Gulf Coast League (Phillies have 2 teams, both in the North Division)

**West (5–2) had 5 different pitchers combine for a 1-hit shutout of the Yankees East at Carpenter Field; 2nd straight shutout. Allowed just 2 walks while striking out 15 . . . Brandon Ramey started, 4–0–0–0–0–7; followed by WP Brett Schulze (1–0), 2–1–0–0–0–3 and 1 inning each from Juan Miranda, Dalvin Rosario and Nicola Pina . . . Offense included 4 singles and led by C Herbert Iser, 1–4, RBI. Has hit in all 5 games, a .500 average . . . Travel to Lakeland today to face the Tigers West, 12 noon.

**East (2–3) wound up in a suspended game against the Tigers East in Lakeland, 8–8, after 12 ½ innings . . . Host the Blue Jays, 12 noon, today.

(Transactions, courtesy phuturephillies.com and Steve Potter)

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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.