Larry Shenk’s Phillies Minor League Report: 7/4/19

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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Lehigh Valley, International League North Division

**IronPigs (41–42) won a wild one, 12–10, over the Pawtucket Red Sox by scoring 6 in B9, the last 3 on a walk-off home run by RF Jan Hernandez (9) . . . Crowd of 10,100 was a sellout . . . Second game of 4-game series 7:05 tonight.

Pitching: Starter Cole Irvin struggled, 4.2–13–10–10–0–2, 2 HR . . . Bullpen threw with a scoreless outing: Connor Brogdon, 1.1–1–0–0–1–3, Josh Martin, 1–2–0–0–1–0, WP: Tom Windle (7–1), 2–0–0–0–0–3.

Hitting: Pounded out 14 hits that included 2 doubles, a triple and 3 home runs . . . Big B9 included 4 singles and an error before Hernandez hit his dramatic HR . . . DH Phil Gosselin, 3–5, walk, double, 3 runs . . . LF Nick Williams, 2–5, 2 runs, HR (4), 3 RBI . . . 3B Mitch Walding, 2–4, run, HR (11), 3 RBI . . . 1B Austin Listi, 2–5, 2 RBI.

Streaking: With 2 more hits, Williams has hit in all 18 AAA games this season. Dating back to 2017, he’s hit in 23 straight games, matching the club record set by Scott Kingery.

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

**Fightin Phils (11–6) dealt with rain issues at home this week . . . Rain followed them to Richmond where the series opening game was washed out . . . Doubleheader (7-inning games) tonight, 5:05. Reading’s 7th DH . . . Fightins lead their division by 2.5 games over the Portland Sea Dogs.

Transactions: Mickey Moniak, placed on Injured List with hamstring strain; LHR Josh Tols, assigned from Lehigh Valley.

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

**Threshers (11–6) ended their 3-game losing streak with a 6–3 win over the Tarpons in Tampa . . . Series continues at 6:30 on tonight.

Pitching: Another strong start for Ethan Evanko (5–2, 7–2 overall), 6–3–0–0–2–3; 6th straight quality start; lowered ERA to 1.49, 1.61 overall; lifted after 85 pitches, 53 strikes . . . Kyle Arjona, 1.2–3–3–3–2–1, 2 HR . . . SV: Keylan Killgore (8), 1.1–1–0–0–0–1; in 2nd pro season, Killgore is 18-for-18 in save opportunities.

Hitting: Hitless through 4 innings, Threshers exploded for 4 in T5, 3 coming on SS Dan Brito’s 3rd HR . . . 3B Luke Miller, 2–4, double, run, HR (#2), RBI . . . 2B Dalton Guthrie, 2–4, double, run, RBI.

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

**BlueClaws (6–9) won a wild one, 11–10, in Greensboro on a 3-run homer with 2 out in T9 by RF Malvin Matos. Trailing, 6–2, after 5, the BlueClaws scored 6 in T6 for an 8–6 lead. The Hoppers regained the lead with 4 in B8, 10–8 . . . Lakewood struck out 16 times, belted 4 homers and committed 5 errors . . . Game 2 of 4, 7:00 tonight.

Pitching: Starter Rafi Gonell, 3.1–6–6–5–1–2, 2 HR, hit batter . . . Michael Gomez, 1.2–0–0–0–0–1 . . . Tyler McKay (W, 3–4) (BS, 4), 4–2–4–2–1–6, hit batter.

Hitting: T9–4–3, K-PB, E, BB before Matos’ big blast; all 3 runs unearned . . . C Nick Matera, 2–4, 2 runs, HR (#1), 3 RBI . . . Matos, 2–3, 2 walks, 2 runs, HR (5), 3 RBI . . . 2B Jonathan Guzman, 1–3, run, HR (#1), RBI . . . SS Luis Garcia, 1–4, run, HR (#4), 3 RBI . . . RF-2B Cole Stobbe, 2–5, run, double.

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Williamsport, New York-Penn League Pinckney Division

**Crosscutters (4–16) dropped 6–2 decision to visiting West Virginia Black Bears . . . Middle game of the 3-game series, 7:05, followed by post-game fireworks.

Pitching: No decision for starter Leonel Aponte, 4–0–0–0–0–0, hit batter; retired his final 10 batters; 40 pitches, 29 strikes . . . LP: Brian Marconi (0–1), 1.1–4–5–2–0–2, Cutters debut.

Hitting: 3B McCarthy Tatum, 2–4, double . . . 1B DJ Stewart, 1–3, walk . . . RF Hunter Hearn, 2–4; threw out runner at home plate . . . C Herbert Iser, 1–4, HR (1), RBI, Cutters debut.

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

**West (7–2) defeated East (2–4) for the second time this season . . . Walk-off single by DH Jose Rivera capped a 2-run B9 that gave West a 5–4 win . . . 1B Rixon Wingrove, 2–4, 2nd HR, 2 RBI; Rivera was the only other 2-hit player in the game . . . Starter: Eduar Segovia, 4–1–1–0–0–2 . . . WP: Austin Crowson (1–1), 5th pitcher in the game . . . 4th was LH Erik Miller, 4th rounder this summer out of Stanford, in pro debut, 1–1–0–0–0–2.

**East notes: West no-hit East in 1st meeting . . . East held to 4 singles and a triple today . . . Stole 4 bases, including home for one of their runs . . . Starter: Victor Vargas, 4–4–0–0–0–2 . . . LP: Carlos Francisco (1–1).

Today: West, the North Division leader, travels to Dunedin to play the Blue Jays . . . East hosts Tigers West at Carpenter Complex . . . 12 noon for each game.

(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.