3 titles in 5 years

BlueClaws celebrate their 3rd SAL title in 5 years Saturday at First Energy Park!

9th time the charm!!

Thanks to 3 home runs and 7 RBI by Shin-Soo Choo and a single, and a double and 3 more RBI by Lou Marson, the Indians defeated the Royals 11-4 Friday night as Carlos Carrasco recorded his first major league win. Carlos gave up 3 runs on 8 hits over 6 innings, walking just 1 and striking out 6 in his 9th major league start over the last 2 Septembers. This year in 4 outings, Carrasco has posted an impressive 2.70 ERA in 26.2 big league frames and hopes to compete for a rotation spot in 2011. I think he will get 2, maybe 3, more starts this year for the Indians.

In Lakewood Friday night, Jeremy Barnes had a walk off single in the bottom of the 9th to give the Lakewood BlueClaws a 2-1 win in game 3 of the SAL Championship Series. The BlueClaws lead the best of 5 series, 2 games to 1, with game 4 Saturday at 4:05. Game 5, if necessary, will follow about 30 minutes later. With 1 win today, Lakewood would win back-to-back titles and 3 in the last 5 years.

and the winner is.....

Jay Happ had a rough start to his game (home run-double-home run-single to the first 4 hitters) but got no decision, Gavin Floyd looked good until the 5th when he allowed a 3-run homer (he is 0-4 against Minnesota, 10-9 against the rest of the league), and Kyle Drabek looked cool and calm in his major league debut but lost 3-1 due to lack of support, but the HomeSider who managed a major league win last night was Matt Maloney in relief for the Reds as Cincinnati expanded their lead over the St Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

For Maloney, it was his first major league victory of 2010, and the 3rd of his career.

more history today

Today Gavin Floyd will take to the hill in a big game for the White Sox as they try to catch the Twins in the AL Central, Jay Happ will face the Brewers for Houston, and Kyle Drabek will make his major league debut for Toronto against the Orioles.

This marks the first time 3 former BlueClaws will make major league starts on the same day, and none of them is pitching for the Phillies. It has been 10 years and, with the Phillies trading like a day-trader on Wall street, former BlueClaws are popping up on rosters all over the majors!

Speaking of the BlueClaws, emotion ran high last night in Greenville, as the 'Claws evened the SAL Championship Series at a game each with a 6-1 win over the Drive that featured a bench clearing brawl after Derrick Gibson of the Drive tried to bowl over Sebastian Valle at home plate in the bottom of the 5th inning. He was out and then the talking began, the benches cleared, and 2 players from each team were ejected. So this sets up an emotional Game 3 tomorrow here in Lakewood. The remainder of the series will be in First Energy Park Thursday, Friday and, if necessary, Saturday.

playoffs are here

With Travis d'Arnaud and Anthony Gose both on the DL, the Dunedin Blue Jays were shut out on 3 hits by Tampa in game 1 of the FSL playoffs last night. The pair were the catalyst in the BlueClaws playoff run in 2009.

Speaking of the BlueClaws, Lakewood opens defense of their SAL title with game 1 of their best of 3 series tonight in Hickory. Trevor May will take the hill for the 'Claws.

In Trenton tonight, the Thunder will face Eastern League pitcher of the year Kyle Drabek (14-9) and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in game 1 of the best of 5 series for the a berth in the EL championship series.

Out west, Adrian Cardenas and Mike Taylor and the rest of the Sacramento River Cats will face Andy Baldwin and Tacoma in the opening game of their best of 5 series in the PCL semifinals.