Phillies offensive woes have been solved. Wearing 1976 retro uniforms on Friday night, the Phillies hit two home runs and scored six in 6-3 win. Wearing the same uniforms on Sunday, three home runs, eight runs and another win, 8-1.
Wash ‘em and wear ‘em again!
The Brewers won the other two games of the series. Phillies uniforms? Their current ones.
Aaron Nola struck out nine Sunday for the fifth time in his short career. Although his command was off he still posted his ninth quality start which matches SF’s Madison Bumgarner for the currently longest streak.
From Elias Sports Bureau
Nola has a 1.68 ERA over his last nine starts. It is the fourth lowest in the majors (pitchers with at least 50 innings) behind Bumgarner (1.11), Clayton Kershaw (1.44) and Johnny Cueto (1.52).
Phil-Ins
Franco has 10 HR, five against Milwaukee and three at home . . . Odubel Herrera had his fourth career four-hit game (Sunday) . . . Cubs in town for three starting tonight (ESPN2, blacked out in Philly). Exact same pitching matchups as May 27-28-29 when Cubs swept three in Chicago. The Cubs are third in the majors in runs scored (295) but their pitching is lights out, opponent’s batting .198, only 153 runs allowed and a 2.56 ERA. All three numbers are the lowest in the majors.
Draft Coverage
MLB Network and MLB.com will provide live pick-by-pick coverage on day one during the summer draft first round on Thursday night. First day includes round 1, competitive balance lottery round A, second round (Phillies own 1st pick, #42 overall) and competitive balance lottery round B. Round 1 begins at 7 p.m.
The draft will resume at 1:00 p.m. on Friday (rounds 3-10). Phillies begin round 3 with the first selection, 78th overall. Day three is Saturday, 12 noon start (rounds 11-40).
Minor League Weekend Report
Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (30-26), 4th place, International League North Division.
Won 2 of 3 in Charlotte, 4 wins in last 5 games. Sunday WP: Jake Thompson (4-5), 6-3-0-0-2-3. LV tied a club record with 5 HR: 2B Darnell Sweeney (3), C Andrew Knapp (7), SS Taylor Featherston (7), LF Max Venable (2), RF Nick Williams (7). RHR Edubray Ramos had his 15.2 scoreless inning streak in AAA end when he allowed a run in the 8th inning. Williams’ weekend: 6-15, 5 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI; boosting average to .284; hitting .366 in last 10 games. 1B-LF Darin Ruf, .350 in last 10, 3 HR, 10 RBI . . . Ben Lively (1-0), 7:05 tonight in Gwinnett.
Reading Fightin’ Phils (38-19), 1st place, Eastern League Eastern Division.
After back-to-back walk-off wins on homers both Friday and Saturday, Reading was held to 6 singles in losing, 8-0, Sunday, snapping a 5-game winning streak. Trailing 4-3 in the 9th inning on Friday, RF Dylan Cozens homered (15) to tie the game before LF Christian Marrero hit a 2-strike, WO-HR (6). 1B Rhys Hoskins also homered (11) in that game.
Saturday: (Cheryl Pursell photo). Hoskins added 2 HR (12-13), including a WO in the 10th inning. Reading is 8-3 in walk-off decisions. 3B Harold Martinez also homered (3). CF Roman Quinn, 3-5, 25th SB . . . Mark Leiter (1-0), 9:35 this morning vs. New Hampshire.
Clearwater Threshers (32-23), 2nd place, Florida State League North Division.
Won 2 of 3 vs. Jupiter. Friday WP: Elniery Garcia (5-2), 5.2-6-2-2-0-1. SV: Joey DeNato (1). 3 H, 2 RBI each: 2B Scott Kingery and 1B Zach Green. Saturday WP: Tyler Viza (6-2), 6-4-2-1-1-6; SV: Ulises Joaquin (3). 1B Kyle Martin, 3-3, 3 RBI, SB. Threshers were shut out on 4 singles on Sunday, 4-0 . . . Yacksel Rios (1-0), 7:00 tonight vs. Jupiter.
All-Stars: 7 Threshers on the North roster for FSL All-Star Game: LHP Elniery Garcia, RHP Tom Eshelman, RHR Alexis Rivero, C Chace Numata, 1B Zach Green, 2B Scott Kingery, and OF Carlos Tocci. Game is June 20 in St. Lucie.
Lakewood BlueClaws (20-35), 7th place, South Atlantic League North Division.
2 losses vs. Hickory followed by a day off on Sunday. Losing streak, 5 games. RF Jiandido Tromp, HR (6) Friday. ND that night, Drew Anderson, 5-1-0-0-3-6 . . . Tyler Gilbert (2-5), 7:05 tonight vs. Lexington.
Transactions
Reading: activated 3B Harold Martinez from DL.
Clearwater: added RHP Will Morris from Reading; added OF Osmel Aguila from extended ST.
Extended ST: added RHP Alberto Tirado and OF Sam Hiciano from Clearwater.
ICYMI
Phillies announced the players of the month in their minor leagues for May on Saturday.
This Date
June 6, 1972–In the midst of a streak of 18 losses in 19 games, the Phillies tried to change their luck with “Turn it Around Day.” The lineup was announced in reverse order, last names first. The seventh inning stretch took place in the third inning. The scoreboard welcomed groups not in attendance. Ushers wore their hats backwards with their nametags on their backs. The runs by innings started with the ninth inning. It didn’t help, as Houston won, 4-3.
How did this unique promotion happen? Well, Bill Giles, then the Executive VP, had weekly staff meetings on Tuesday morning. Promotions were hatched in those meetings. Word has it Larry Bowa’s reaction, #%@&*# Giles.
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