Andrew Painter struggles in 2nd consecutive start; IronPigs lose 4th in a row
Andrew Painter endured his second consecutive rough start for the IronPigs.
The Phillies’ No. 1 prospect allowed six earned runs on eight hits, including a pair of home runs, in five innings of the IronPigs’ fourth consecutive loss, 8-1 Tuesday night against the visiting Worcester Red Sox.
Painter had no problem throwing strikes (57 of 73 pitches), but he left too many in the middle of the plate.
Worcester had four extra-base hits in a nine-batter stretch of the third and fourth innings against Painter. A throwing error in the midst of a four-run third did not help Painter’s cause. Painter generated only four swing-and-misses on 32 swings in the first three innings. He threw mostly fastballs and cutters.
“A lot of balls over the middle of the plate,” Painter said. “I think I did a good job putting the ball in the strike zone after the last couple outings shooting myself in the foot with walking a guy and letting it spiral.”
Painter allowed four earned runs on six hits and four walks in four innings in his last start June 4 at Charlotte. He has a 5.19 ERA in six Triple-A starts.
“Today was mostly the slider, leaving it over the middle of the plate,” Painter added. “They were ready for it.”
Painter threw only eight curveballs, but said he thought it was effective. It was his other pitches that got him in trouble because of location.
That has been a theme during his time in Triple-A: His mistakes are hit hard.
“I think I need to work a little more East and West and switch the look up,” Painter said. “If I do that, I’ll be in a lot better spot.”
Worcester (35-28) has won eight games in a row.
Lehigh Valley’s lead in the International League remains at 4.5 games over Nashville (38-25), which lost 9-5 at Norfolk, with 11 games left in the first half.
Garrett Stubbs left the game in the eighth inning after taking a foul ball between the legs. He stayed down on his knees for a few minutes before walking off.
Roster moves
RHP Gabe Mosser was reinstated from the Development List and will make his Triple-A home debut Thursday against Worcester. He is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts for Lehigh Valley after starting the season in Double-A Reading. RHP Austin Schulfer (2-0, 4.50 ERA in 15 games) was put on the 7-day IL with right shoulder discomfort.
RHP Daniel Robert was optioned by the Phillies. C Josh Breaux was promoted from Double-A Reading. UTL Matt Kroon (oblique) was activated from 7-day IL and started Tuesday’s game, his first with the IronPigs since April 6. He was 5 for 27 (.185) with 11 strikeouts in seven rehab games with high-A Jersey Shore.
C-3B Yhoan Escalona was sent back to Class A Clearwater. INF Luis Verdugo was sent back to Reading. RHP Kyle Tyler (5-3, 4.31 ERA in 12 starts) was designated for assignment.
Injury update
missed his fourth consecutive game with a quad injury suffered while stealing a base in a June 5 game at Charlotte. He is day to day, according to IronPigs manager Anthony Contreras.
“We didn’t want to press him,” Contreras said. “It’s still really early in his season and our season. We don’t want to jeopardize any opportunity to get back on the playing field and perhaps any call-up that could happen.
Crawford, who took part in all pre-game activities before Tuesday’s game, is second in the International League in batting average (.349), first in hits (74), third in stolen bases (23), fourth in runs (43) and ninth in on-base percentage (.416).
(illness) was pulled from Tuesday’s starting lineup. He was having lingering effects from slamming his head against the wall while making a catch in Sunday’s game at Charlotte.
is back on the injured list, this time with back spasms. It’s his second stint there this season. He missed 23 days in April with a hamstring injury. Arroyo was batting .313 in 22 games since returning.
How they scored
: Nick Sogard and Jhostynxon Garcia singled to start. Sogard moved to third on Vaughn Grissom’s fly ball to right and scored on Nate Eaton’s sacrifice fly to right. .
: Buddy Kennedy ended a 3-for-22 skid with a solo home run on a slow curveball with one out. .
: Garcia reached on a fielder’s choice, took second on an Andrew Painter balk and scored on Rodolfo Castro’s throwing error on Grissom’s fielder’s choice. Nate Eaton’s sixth home run scored Grissom. .
: Tyler McDonough hit his fifth home run of the season to lead off. Woosox 5-1.
Top 7: Garcia walked, Grissom singled and Eaton was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jordan’s infield single scored Garcia. Trayce Thompson’s double-play grounder scored Grissom. Woosox 8-1.
Up next
RHP Alan Rangel (3-0, 5.26) vs. TBD in a 6:45 p.m. start Wednesday against Worcester. Rangel allowed two earned runs on three hits and a walk in three innings on June 5 in his major league debut for Philadelphia. He is 4-0 with a 5.02 ERA in 12 starts with Lehigh Valley.
Morning Call senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at [email protected]
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