Rain stopped, Astros didn’t; Tocci & Fanti players of the week in minors

Larry Shenk
Jul 25, 2017 · 4 min read

With the Phillies trailing, 3–1, after three innings, the rains came, a 1:53 delay. When play resumed, the Astros scored five times in the fourth paving the way for a 18-hit, 13–4 win. In interleague play, Houston is 8–0 which only leaves them 58–33 against the American League.

What didn’t the Astros do last night? Well, they had no intentional walks, stolen bases or sacrifices. Catcher’s interference? Yep, one.

All-Star Jose Altuve had his second straight four-hit game to stretch his hitting streak to 16 straight games, a .528 average. This month he’s only hitting .507.

How good is Houston’s offense? Each of the Astros five starting pitchers has been on the disabled list but they are running away with the AL West. They’ve scored 594 runs, 178 more than their opponents. 2–1 wins? Two.

Down On The Farm
Players of the Week (July 17–23)
OF Carlos Tocci, Reading… The 21-year-old batted .429 (12–28) with 4 doubles, 12 RBI, a walk, a stolen base and 5 runs scored in 7 games. His 12 RBI were tied for second-most among all minor league players. Tocci collected multiple hits in 4 games, bringing his season average to .317. He ranks third in the Eastern League in both batting average and hits (110). He was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent on August 23, 2011.

LHP Nick Fanti, Lakewood… The 20-year-old went 1–0 with a 1.38 ERA (2 ER, 13.0 IP) in 2 starts with a 0.85 WHIP (3 BB, 8 H) and 12 strikeouts. On July 17, he tossed the sixth no-hitter in BlueClaws history. Fanti faced 28 batters, retiring his final 22 as he allowed just one to reach safely in the game (a walk in the second). He also recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts. The southpaw, who also threw 8.2 no-hit innings earlier in the season, is 7–2 with a 2.60 ERA. He ranks second in the South Atlantic League in WHIP (0.94) and opponents’ average (.202) while ranking third in ERA. Fanti was selected by the Phillies in the 31st round of the June 2015 draft.

Lehigh Valley, International League North Division, 2nd place
IronPigs (62–40) lost, 9–3, to Gwinnett after a 1:12 rain delay at the start of the game . . . Held to 5 hits including 1B Rhys Hoskins’ 23rd homer, tying for the league lead . . . LP: Zach Eflin (1–3), 5–10–7–7–2–9, WP, HB . . . Jake Thompson (4–11), 11:35 this morning vs. Gwinnett.

Reading, Eastern League East Division, 3rd place
Fightin Phils (54–45) were blanked on four hits by Altoona, 2–0, in a game that was also delayed by rain for 1:38 . . . ND: Tyler Viza, 7–4–0–0–1–3. LP: Austin Davis (3–2) . . . Cole Irvin (4–1), 7:05 tonight vs. Altoona.

Clearwater, Florida State League North Division, 4th place
Threshers (14–15, 2nd half; 38–32, 2nd place, 1st half) dropped the series in Bradenton, 3–1, with a 9–3 loss . . . 5 Threshers had 2 hits each, CF Mark Laird, LF Cornelius Randolph, DH Wilson Garcia, 1B Zach Green, 3B Derek Campbell. RF Jan Hernandez, career-high 13th HR . . . LP: Ranger Suarez (1–1), 5.1–10–4–4–3–1 . . . Jacob Waguespack (6–4) and Harold Arauz (3–1) in 5:00 double-header (7-inning games) tonight vs. Daytona.

Lakewood, South Atlantic League North Division, 6th
BlueClaws (14–17, 2nd half; 40–30, 2nd place, 1st half) won, 2–0, in Charleston in a game called after 6 innings by rain; BlueClaws’ 18th shutout, tops in the league . . . SS Arquisimedes Gamboa, 2–3, R, 3B. RBI each: 2B Raul Rivas, CF Mickey Moniak . . . WP Sixto Sanchez (5–3), 5–3–0–0–3–5; 1st time he’s walked 3 in a game in last 2 seasons . . . Gustavo Armas (1–0), 12:05 this afternoon in Charleston, the end of a 7-game road trip. Postgame 11-hour bus ride back to Lakewood and a day off on Wednesday.

Williamsport, New York-Penn League Pinckney Division, 3rd place
Crosscutters (19–13) defeated Auburn, 12–4, their 5th win in last 6 games. 14-hit attack included 6 doubles, 2 HR. They lead the league with 62 doubles . . . DH Greg Pickett, 3–4, 2 R, 2B, RBI. 1B Austin Listi, 3–4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI. SS Nick Maton, 2–4, R, 2B, RBI. 2B Jake Scheiner, 2nd HR; RF Jhailyn Ortiz, his 5th, 3 RBI . . . WP: Luis Carrasco (2–0), 6–4–2–2–2–9, HR, WP . . . Andrew Brown (2–2), 7:05 tonight vs. Auburn.

Gulf Coast League Northwest Division, 2nd place
Phillies (12–10) double-header vs. Tigers East at Carpenter Complex was rained out. 12 noon today vs. Tigers East in Lakeland.

Larry Shenk

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Larry Shenk offers insight into the past, present-day and future of his beloved Phillies.

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