2026 Summer League Playoffs- Round 2
Updated: Aug 25
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8/19/26- Goats 1 - Phillies 14
On Wednesday at McKenzie Field, the top-seeded Phillies faced the #6 seed Fainting Goats, riding high off their upset over the Plug Uglies last week and were hoping for another playoff victory to reach the Finals. However, the game was effectively over in the 2nd inning in which the Phillies exploded for 7 runs for a virtually insurmountable 9-1 lead.
The Phillies started veteran Krafty Ken Sloat on the mound and the Goats countered with round 1 winner lefty Tom Salvini. Sloat plunked lead-off hitter Don Edwards and after an out, gave up a walk to Paul Ielammo then stranded both by striking out the last batter. In their half of the inning, the Phillies plated a pair. With 1 out, Paul Griswold walked and stole 2b, and Matt Witek reached on an unsuccessful fielder’s choice to SS on which tried get Griswold returning to 2B, tho he slyly avoided the tag. After a single by Yami Baker, Colin Hosley smacked a 2-RBI single.
In the 2nd, Eddie Esposito crushed a ball to left on which Miguel Ringler made a valiant leaping over-the-head stab, but the ball clanged off his glove and dropped for a double. One out later, Jerold Duquette drove him in with an RBI single. The Phillies answered with a resounding 7-spot, led by the middle of the order. Ken Sloat and Jim Fogarty singled and John Wills laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt. 78-year-old phenom Paul Kaplan then lined an RBI single to RF, Ron Totten smoked another RBI single and Miguel Ringler reached on an E6 to load the bases. Micah Winston smacked a grounder back to pitcher Salvini, who immediately threw home for the force, but on the attempt to double of Winston up at first, Totten alertly scampered home. Griswold then reached on an error, Witek laced a 2-run single and Baker bashed a long double to deep right-center to score Griswold and Witek.
Both pitchers hurled scoreless 3rd and 4th innings with Sloat fanning the side in the 3rd, and after a 1-2-3 top of the 5th, the Phillies plated 3 more in their half. With 1 out, Witek beat out an IF hit, and with 2 outs, Hosley drew a walk and Andy Klepacki followed with an RBI single. After another unsuccessful FC loaded the bases, Sloat lined a ball to short RF which Ken LePage tried to make a spectacular sliding catch, but the ball rolled off his glove, allowing 2 runs to score.
After another scoreless inning by Sloat, the Phils added 2 more in their half of the 6th. With runners on 2nd & 3rd after a walk, FC and E1, Winston greeted reliever Tom Conway by grounding a 2-run single to RF.
The Phillies brought in Hosley for the top of the 7th, with two walks and strikeout, closed the outing with a zero. After 6-1/2 completed, the home team Phillies didn’t get a chance to finish the frame as the playoff mercy rule (10+ after 7) kicked in, ending the game.
Ken Sloat was fantastic on the mound for the Phillies, with a stat line of 6IP, 3H, 1ER, 7K, 2BB
Top hitters for the Phillies were Matt Witek (2-3, 2R, 2 RBI), Yami Baker (2-3, 2RBI, 2B), Ken Sloat (3-3, R, 2RBI) and Ron Totten (2-3, 2R, RBI). For the Goats, Eddie Esposito doubled, and Duquette and Edwards singled.
8/24/26- Isotopes 0 - Grays 15 (5.5 inn)
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