Thursday, August 20, 2009

Bourn sparks Astros over Fish, HomeSiders hot

The Houston Astros took a 6-3 decision over the Florida Marlins Wednesday, in no small part due to the play of Michael Bourn. Bourn (.291) had 3 hits, including his major league leading 11th triple, scored twice, drove in another and stole 2 more bases, raising his National League leading total to 46.

In Philadelphia, Ryan Howard smashed his 31st home run, a 3-run shot in the 5th inning off Arizona's Dan Haren, helping Cliff Lee to his 4th straight win since his trade over from Cleveland. Howard now has 94 RBI, placing him 3rd in the NL.

Who is hot, you ask? Lets start with Adrian Cardenas. Adrian got off to a slow start at AAA-Sacramento, but has found his stroke lately. He had 3 more hits in Sacramento's 11-1 win in Nashville Wednesday, his 3rd 3-hit game in the last 4, and 4th in the last 6, going 13 for 24 over the week. (that's .542). I can't help myself: Yo, Adrian!!

Not to be outdone, Lou Marson is also smoking hot. Lou had a double and a home run in 3 at bats for Columbus Wednesday, but the Clippers lost to Toledo, 7-6. Lou is hitting .360 since the trade, .405 over the last 10, and is 6 for his last 10!! LOUUUUUU!

Reading scored 18 runs on 20 hits in Portland Wednesday night, and HomeSiders were all over it!! Quintin Berry (.285) had 3 hits and a walk, and scored 3 runs, Mike Spidale (.281) had 2 hits and 2 walks, scored 3 and drove in 2, and Tim Kennelly and Brad Harman added 2 hits and 2 RBI each. Yohan Flande got the win, his 3rd for Reading and 10th overall, going 6 innings and giving up just 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks, and Mike Zagurski, Sergio Escalona and B.J. Rosenberg all threw clean innings.

Matt Rizzotti had 3 for 3 Wednesday, is 8 for his last 11 (.727) and 14 for his last 34 (.412) the last 9 games. Joel Naughton had 3 more hits, driving in a pair of runs, and is 8 for 16 the last 4 nights (.500). The Threshers did drop a 10-7 decision at Lakeland, despite the 17-hit outburst. Freddy Galvis, Fidel Hernandez and Gus Milner added 2 hits each, Fidel and Gus both going deep!

That is a total of 37 hits between Reading and Clearwater Wednesday night!!

In Lakewood, Jesus Sanchez won his team leading 9th game of the year, as the BlueClaws beat Hagerstown, 3-2 Wednesday. Travis d'Arnaud (2 doubles, HBP, walk, RBI, run) was on base in every at bat, and Jim Murphy (RBI triple, run scored) and Jeremy Hamilton (RBI double) drove in the runs for the 'Claws. Eryk McConnell came into trouble in the 6th when Sanchez tired, retiring 2 hitters and stranding 2 runners, before throwing 2 more clean frames. It was as good as I have seen Eryk throw. Santo Hernandez picked up the save by striking out the side in the 9th. Did someone say "lights out!"?

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