Something just goes off inside Ryan Howard every year around this time. He just seems to lock in, regardless of what his stats have been all season long, when the calendar turns to August, and the stretch run is upon us, Ryan gets hot with the weather!! Ryno belted another 3-run home run, #32, Wednesday night, driving in 4 runs helping the Phillies to a 12-3 mashing of the Diamondbacks. Ryno is 15 for his last 41 (.366) since August 8, and has homered 6 times in the last 10 games. His 98 RBI is 3rd in MLB, trailing only Prince Fielder (108) and Albert Pujols (105).
Today's MLB action includes Gavin Floyd (10-7) for the White Sox, and Cole Hamels (7-7) for the Phillies.
My calculation was incorrect, Jason Knapp will start tonight in Delmarva for the Lake County Captains, and miss the 3-game series against Lakewood which starts tomorrow. This at least makes it easier to root for him than if he were pitching against the 'Claws!
In case you have been wondering about Chris Roberson, he has been sitting as a result of the Diamondbacks sending Chris Young down to Reno to work some of the kinks out of his game. "Robey" has played 115 games for Reno, posting a .267 mark, with 24 doubles, 8 triples, 7 home runs, 54 RBI and 27 stolen bases.
In another note, Michael Taylor suffered an oblique strain when the team was in Buffalo, and has been sitting out. Latest reports have him trying to return this weekend. In the meantime, Lehigh Valley and Scranton split a doubleheader Thursday in Allentown, with the Yankees winning the opener, 4-3 and Pigs grabbing the nightcap, 9-4 behind Drew Carpenter (10-4, 3.20).
Thursday in Nashville, Adrian Cardenas had 2 more hits in Sacramento's 6-1 win over the Sounds. "A.C." is now hitting .252 for the River Cats after a terrible start!!
In Portland, Kyle Drabek threw 7 shut out innings at the Sea Dogs, allowing only 3 hits and 1 walk to improve to 8-2 for Reading (12-3 overall). Alex Concepcion completed the shut out with 2 clean frames, as the R-Phils won, 6-0. Quintin Berry and Domonic Brown had 2 hits each for Reading, who moves to 67-56, 2.5 in front of Erie in the race for the final playoff spot. The R-Phils head to New Britain next for 4 games, with Mike Cisco (0-2) getting the ball Friday.
In Clearwater, the Threshers swept a doubleheader from Dunedin, 1-0 in the completion of a game suspended on August 7, and 4-2 behind Drew Naylor in the regular game. It was Naylor's 8th win of the season, and Derrick Mitchell homered in each game (he now has 10). Arlon Quiroz had 3 hits in the nightcap, driving in 2 runs, and Gus Milner and Jesus Villegas chipped in with 2 hits apiece.
In Lakewood, the BlueClaws were shut out, 2-0 by Hagerstown, in an outstanding pitching performance by the Suns' Marcos Frias. Frias, an SAL all-star, threw 6 shut out frames, allowing just 2 hits and a walk, striking out 7 to improve to 8-4 on the year. Justin De Fratus, battled through 6 innings, allowing only 1 run to absorb the hard luck loss. Justin was in trouble all night, but found his way out of almost all of it on a night where he gave up 8 hits. No walks, and 8 strike outs helped him avoid further damage. T.J. Warren and Jeremy Hamilton had 2 hits each for Lakewood. Trevor May (2-1, 3.14) will get the assignment tonight in the finale of the 3-game series.
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