Today I have to sing the praises of the BlueClaws starting pitching. This week, in particular the last 3 days, they have been outstanding. On Monday, after Brad Lidge threw an inning in a rehab assignment, Jessie Biddle (4 IP, 1 run 3 hits) and Colby Shreve (3IP, 1 UNearned run, 3 hit) kept the Claws in the game and set up Travis Mattair's walk-off hit in the 9th for a 3-2 win. Biddle is 3-6, with a 3.48 ERA overall, but 2.56 in his last 10 appearances. The 19-year old has endured some growing pains this season, but is progressing nicely and the Phillies have to be pleased with how he is coming along. On Tuesday, Garrett Claypool continued to pitch very well without results. Garrett went 7 innings against Hagerstown, and allowed just 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7 and leaving the game with a 3-1 lead. The Suns rallied to win, 4-3 after Claypool came out, and he could certainly have more than the 3 wins he has been credited with. In fact, with the exception of one game in Greensboro, he has been excellent since moving into the rotation, posting a 3.01 ERA in 86.2 innings of work. He has 100 strike outs and only 31 walks in his 18 games (14 starts). Then, on Wednesday afternoon, in the blazing heat, Lisalberto Bonilla threw 9 shut out innings, allowing just 5 hits, NO walks, and struck out a career high 12 Suns. Bonilla lowered his ERA to 1.49, but has yet to record a victory, as once again the BlueClaws won after he was out of the game (1-0 in 10 innings).
Anyone who knows me knows I always say, "it's all about the pitching!!", and they are proving it again in 2011 in Lakewood. In fact, the parade of good pitchers that have come through Lakewood in the past 5 years has been nothing short of fantastic.
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