Oswalt shines

In Washington, Carlos Ruiz (.267) had 2 hits and a walk, and scored 2 runs to back fine pitching from Roy Oswalt, and the Phillies beat the Nationals, 5-0. Mike Stutes (3.33) threw a 1-2-3 9th inning to finish it off............In Houston, the Astros made it 4 wins in a row with a 7-5 victory over the Giants. Sergio Escalona (3.08) recorded 5 outs, 3 with strike outs, but did give up a run on a home run by San Francisco's Aubrey Huff....................In Atlanta, Michael Bourn (.304) had 2 more hits and scored twice for the Braves in their 8-1 thrashing of the Diamondbacks.


CARDENAS, MALONEY STILL SMOKIN'

In Tucson Saturday night, Adrian Cardenas (.312) had 4 hits, including a double, a walk, scored a run and drove in 3 more to lead the Sacramento River Cats to a 9-5 win over the Padres. Adrian is 12 for his last 21 (.571) and is hitting .455 over the last 10. Can you say "September Call-up"?
Michael Taylor (.275) added 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBI for the Cats.................In Toledo, Matt Maloney was his old awesome self, throwing 7 shut out innings for Louisville, improving to 5-1, 3.07 with the Bats. Matt scattered 8 hits and 1 walk, in the 12-1 victory for Louisville, finding himself since being reassigned.

In Lakeland, the Flying Tigers topped the Threshers, 7-3. Brody Colvin (2-8, 5.02) struggled again, giving up 7 runs on 10 hits and 1 walk, striking out 2 in just 5 innings of work. Ebelin Lugo (2 IP, 2 hits 1 walk, 2 Ks) and Chance Chapman (1-2-3) tossed scoreless relief. Jiwan James (.271) and Brandon Tripp (.326) had 2 hits each for Clearwater, who slip 3.5 games behind Dunedin.

In Reading, the R-Phils scored 4 in the bottom of the 9th inning off Mike Dubee (2-6, 3.27) to steal a 7-6 win over Altoona, and take sole possession of the final playoff spot! Steve Singleton (.300) had 3 hits, including 2 doubles, and Matt Rizzoti (.287) and Tuffy Gosewisch (.261) added 2 hits each. BJ Rosenberg (4.59) and Chris Kissock (5.20) gave up 3 runs each, but Jacob Diekman (3.05) tossed 2 scoreless innings, setting up the game winning rally.

The IronPigs have got a piece of first place, thanks to a 3-1 win in Indianapolis. Great pitching from Nate Bump (5 IP, 4 hits, 1 UNearned run, NO walks), Joe Savery (2 IP, 2 hits, 2 KS) and Justin DeFratus (2 IP, 2 hits, 3 KS, 3rd SAVE).

In Stockton, Jonathan Singleton hit his 4th home run since being traded (#13 overall) to help the JetHawks to a 3-0 win over the Ports.................In Springdale, Edgar Garcia (2.96) recorded his 4th save of the year for the Naturals, throwing 3 scoreless innings in Northwest Arkansas' 6-3 win over Midland...............In a wild one in Chattanooga, the Lookouts outscored the Mudcats, 15-14. Quintin Berry (.299) had 2 more hits, drove in a run and scored a run for Carolina, and now has an 11-game hitting streak active!...............In Pearl, the Braves defeated the Stars, 3-1. Jesus Sanchez (3-6, 4.84) was the starter for Huntsville, throwing 5.1 innings, and giving up 3 runs on 8 hits and 1 walk, taking the loss. Darren Byrd (3.48) relieved him, getting 2 outs, but allowing an inherited runner to score................In Omaha, Robinson Tejeda (3.55) made his first appearance in 8 days, throwing 3 pitches and getting 1 out for the Storm Chasers in their 4-1 loss to Nashville. Omaha has a 5 game lead in the division and appears playoff bound!..................The trade of Jesus Merchan to the Rockies has worked out nicely for him. Playing everyday since he got there, Merchan is hitting .385 for the Sky Sox in 13 games, raising his season number to .291. He had a double and a walk in the Sox' 5-4, 10-inning win over Salt Lake............In Rochester, the Yankees defeated the Red Wings, 6-4. Greg Golson (.267) seems to be coming around, picking up 2 hits in the game.



In New Britain, the Rock Cats took a 5-4 squeaker from the Fisher Cats. The Rock Cats are 1 game behind Reading in the race for the final playoff spot. Kevin Howard (.323) had 2 hits and scored a run for New Hampshire. (It appears the Blue Jays have assigned Howard to the Fisher Cats to help them make their playoff run, but in my opinion, the veteran is clearly a "ringer" on the AA roster, and should be back in AAA. Maybe he has agreed to this in exchange for a September call-up after the Eastern League Playoffs.)