The Phillies were not the only ones to get a win yesterday. Their first round pick, in his third professional outing with Advanced 'A' Clearwater, knotched his first victory after tossing a gem against the Brevard County Manatees, helping the Threshers pick up a 3-0 win game one of a doubleheader.
Nola (1-1, 3.18) was the first pitcher to take the hill in the resumption of Clearwater's suspended game from Sunday, in relief of Cliff Lee who pitched two innings before the game was stopped for rain.
Through five innings of work, Nola surrendered just one hit and struck out five. This marked the second straight outing in which Nola had gone four or more innings giving up just one hit. He got ahead in the count as well, throwing first pitch strikes to 14 out of the 16 hitters that he faced.
Since giving up four earned runs in his first outing, the Phils first-rounder has been lights out, working nine scoreless innings, scattering two hits, striking out eight and walking none.
JP Crawford gave the Threshers a 2-0 lead on Sunday before the game was suspended. Roman Quinn knocked in the third run with a sacrifice fly, sealing the 3-0 win for Clearwater in game one.
In game two, Clearwater posted four runs in the first inning en route to a 7-3 win, sweeping the doubleheader and the series. Right fielder Brian Pointer hit a three-run blast to give Clearwater their early lead. Roman Quinn went 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored out of the lead-off spot in game two while left fielder, Everett Williams went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI's.
After posting a 17-51 record in the first half of the season, the double-header sweep improved Clearwater's second half record to 7-10. After the halfway point in their season, records reset. With Crawford, Quinn and Nola on the team there is a chance Clearwater could see that record over .500 sooner than later. There is no questioning that they are the farm team to watch in the Phillies organization.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
