Three former BlueClaws and a possible future one took to the hill on Tuesday and the results could not have been better. We begin at Bright House Networks field where Cole Hamels got the assignment for the Phillies against the Rays. Cool Cole tossed 6 strong innings, giving up just 1 run on 2 hits, no walks and struck out 7. Ryan Howard (.333 this spring) picked up his 9th RBI with a sac fly.
Meanwhile, over in St. Pete, where the upper minor leaguers spent the afternoon, J.A. Happ threw 4 hitless frames in the AAA game, which ended in a scoreless tie. The Phillies side got only 4 hits, but 3 of them went to ex-'Claws. Javon Moran had 2 and Mike Spidale picked up 1. If I had to guess at this point, I believe both of those outfielders will start the season at AAA Lehigh Valley.
The AA start went to Josh Outman, who was also sharp. 4 innings, 1 run on 4 hits in a 2-1 victory. As in the AAA game , hits were at a premium, Phillies getting 6, with 5 of those going to 2007 BlueClaws Zac Penprase (2 for 2, RBI), Tim Kennelly (2 for 2 with a double) and P.J. Antoniato.
Back at the Carpenter complex in Clearwater, 2007 first round draft pick Joe Savery showed why the Phillies drafted him out of Rice, allowing just 1 earned run in 4 innings, striking out 5. Depending on how well his next few starts go, he could bypass Lakewood and start the season at Clearwater. The Phillies won this game 11-10. Once again Tuffy Gosewisch had a big hit, a 2-run triple and scored 2 runs. Tuffy's 2007 teammates in Lakewood, Adrian Cardenas and Quintin Berry, also had 2 RBI each.
Leaving the field of play for a moment, the HomeSide wire was ringing with good news as I was informed 2001 BlueClaw Mario Delgado became a father two weeks ago. No statistics are currently available on the baby girl. We are waiting for the follow up call for that information and also on where (or if) Mario will be playing this year. He spent 2007 in the independent Northern League with the Kansas City T-Bones.
One final note of interest for BlueClaws fans. 2007 bench coach Joe Alvarez, who was released by the Phillies at the end of last year, has landed on his feet in the Tampa Bay organization, and will be managing in the NY-Penn league with the Hudson Valley Renegades. Joe was an invaluable source of information for me during the 2007 season and I will make every effort to get to a Renegades game this year to say hello. They play their home game in Fishkill, NY, along the banks of the Hudson River. They will also play road contests in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Aberdeen, and of course Williamsport. Did somebody say "road trip"?
There are 15 days to go until opening night in Lakewood.
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