Friday, April 17, 2009

LOUUUU...and 2 guys named Carlos

We have much to cheer this morning, HomeSiders, our boys had some good games!!

At the top, in DC, Lou Marson made his debut a notable one, a single and a double in 3 at bats, but the Nationals won their first game of the year, 8-2. Ryan Howard was 0 for 3, but reached base on a walk. Howard is off to a .313 start. J.A. Happ was called upon to record the final out, which he did without incident. Cole Hamels (0-1) will pitch tonight against San Diego in Philadelphia.

In Lehigh Valley, Carlos Carrasco made his 2nd start of the year, and once again turned in 6 innings. He did give up 4 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits, NO walks, and 6 Ks. He received no decision, and the Chiefs scored in the 12th to take a 5-4 win over the IronPigs. That's 12 IP, 2ER, 11 hits, NO walks, 10 strike outs, 1.50 ERA. Nice 2 games back to back. GO Carlos!! Jason Donald had a double in 5 at bats, and Jeremy Slayden made his season debut, with a pinch hit single in the ninth inning, game-tying rally!

In Clearwater, in game 1 of a doubleheader, Carlos Monasterios made his season debut with a complete game (7 inning), 3-hit shut out in Clearwater's 1-0 victory over Lakeland. Apparently, Carlos likes working with Luis Arzeno, who caught the game for him. Arzeno, recently called to Clearwater from Lakewood, was 0 for 2 at bat. The Threshers got 2 hits each from Yonderman Rodriguez and Arlon Quiroz, cashing in that combination for the game's only run.

Lakeland rebounded, gaining a split with a 6-3 win in the second game. The Threshers got just 5 hits, but I find it noteworthy that the five who got the hits, are the hot ones so far. Tim Kennelley: .368, double, run scored....Matt Rizzotti: .476, single, run scored, RBI #7.....Yonderman Rodriguez: .368, single......Arlon Quiroz: .417, single , RBI ......Fidel Hernandez: .333, double........

The Lakewood BlueClaws had to win Thursday night's game twice. First they fell behind 5-0 after 2 innings. Then they took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the 8th, where Ryan Bergh gave up 3 unearned runs to give Hagerstown a 9-7 advantage. The 'Claws would not be denied, rallying for 2 in the 9th to tie it on a 2-run double by Sebastian Valle, one of his 3 hits on the night. Then, after 2 out, nobody on in the 10th, it all started....Villegas singled. Gose singled. Mattair walks...setting up the game winning hit by Harold Garcia, a line drive single into right field. James Murphy had 3 more hits and 2 RBI, and is now hitting .522, and has reached base via hit or walk in 16 of his last 23 plate appearances. That is workin' it!! Go Murph! Moose Mattair had a single, a double and 3 more walks, scoring 3 times to aid the BlueClaw's effort. Moose' better recognition of balls and strikes has him not swinging at pitches he can't hit, and hitting the ones he can hit, better. ......Sorry, baseball is measured in numbers: he has a .348 batting average and a .595 on base percentage. At 4-4, Lakewood is a very interesting team to watch.

Reading lost in Harrisburg last night, 7-2. Mike Spidale, getting his first start, was 3 for 5, while Tuffy Gosewisch (.313, single, double, walk, 2 RBI) and Carlos Leon (.250) had 2 hits each for Reading. Joe Savery started and took the loss, throwing 4 innings, 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks, 3 strike outs. Matt German and Pat Overholt split the 5th frame, and Joe Bisenius threw 2.1 innings, giving up 2 runs on a walk and a homer.

In Pittsburgh yesterday, Jason Jaramillo made his first major league start for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their 6-3 loss to Houston. Jaramillo, a 2005 BlueClaw, was 1 for 3. Michael Bourn, who played for the BlueClaws in 2004, had a hit and 2 walks for Houston, scoring twice and stealing his first base of the year.

In Midland, Adrian Cardenas (.300)had a walk and a hit and drove in a run in Midland's 5-4 loss to Arkansas. In Nashville, Greg Golson had a single, a double, 3 walks, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI as the Oklahoma City RedHawks put a 17-3 beating on Nashville Sounds. E-Gads!! Golson is hitting .381 and has an OBP of .458. In Salt Lake City, Randy Ruiz was 1 for 3, a 2-run home run in Las Vegas' 7-5 loss to Salt Lake. Randy, my "homie" from da Bronx, is hitting .423 with 4 doubles, 3 home runs and 12 RBI in his first 7 games for the 51s. In Sacramento, Kevin Howard was 2 for 5 with an RBI in Portland's 7-6, 10 inning defeat to the River Cats. Kevin is hitting .318 in his first 7 games for Portland. In Fort Myers, the Miracle took a 4-3 decision from the Jupiter Hammerheads. Brett Harker pitched 2 innings for Jupiter, giving up a walk, and an unearned run when an errant infield throw caused the walked baserunner to score. Otherwise, Brett struck out 2 and gave up no hits.

If my calendar is correct I have

Jesus Sanchez for Lakewood

Drew Naylor for Clearwater

Vance Worley for Reading

Drew Carpenter for Lehigh Valley

Matt Maloney for Louisville

Cole Hamels for Philadelphia

Josh Outman for Oakland

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