73 and counting

Some of Thursday's highlights before Friday's games start-

Travis d'Arnaud and Travis Mattair had 3 hits each for the BlueClaws as Lakewood completed the sweep in Hagerstown, defeating the Suns, 7-2. Lakewood got great pitching again, this time from Trevor May (5 IP, 1 run, 3 hits, 6 walks-a little high, and the victory to go to 3-1, 2.94 on the year), Freddy Ballestas (2 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk) and Jordan Ellis (2 IP, 1 run on 2 walks, 5 Ks), and Anthony Gose stole #73!!

Javis Diaz had 2 hits, a walk, and stole his 30th base, and Gus Milner had 2 hits, including a home run, but the Manatees topped Darren Byrd and the Threshers, 7-2 as Clearwater made 5 errors. Ouch! Jesus Villegas has taken over as the everyday shortstop with Freddy Galvis being promoted.

In Reading, the R-Phils rallied from an early 6-2 deficit to tie the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the 9th, only to fall in the 13th, 9-6 to Erie. This reduces the Phillies lead to 1.5 games in the wild card playoff race. Neil Sellers had 4 hits, including his 15th home run, and Mike Spidale had 3 hits and a stolen base. Mike Stutes had a tough outing, giving up 6 runs in the first 3 innings, before settling down. Excellent relief from Alex Concepcion (2.1 perfect innings), Pat Overholt (.2 IP, 2 hits), Mike Zagurski (2 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 Ks) kept reading in the game. Sergio Escalona tossed 2 scoreless innings, before allowing 3 runs (2 earned) in the 13th.

In Louisville, Carlos Carrasco won again for Columbus, throwing 7 strong innings for the Clippers, giving up just 1 earned run on 4 hits and 1 walk. Carlos threw 98 pitches, 71 for strikes in Columbus' 7-2 win. Not to be outdone, Kyle Kendrick threw 7.2 great innings for Lehigh Valley as the IronPigs won in Rochester, 11-2. Kyle gave up 7 hits, but NO walks, to improve to 8-7, 3.38 for the season. In Las Vegas, Kevin Howard (.304) had a single, a walk, and scored the game's lone run as the 51s topped the Reno Aces, 1-0. Chris Roberson (.264) was 1 for 3 for Reno.