small crowds

Every time I see figures like this, I am proud to be a HomeSider. Official attendance in Lakeland last night for the Threshers doubleheader: 590. And it was 75 degrees at gametime!! That edged out the 588 who braved the 47 degree chill in Bowie for the Reading game. Add those together and we had more people in Lakewood Sunday afternoon on a frigid day.

While I am still looking for a medical report on Jason Donald after he got plunked last night, I did get the result. Reading improved to 4-1 on the season when Javon Moran broke an 0 for 10 drought with a game winning 2-run triple in the top of the 10th inning. Moran scored on a sac fly by Neil Sellers, who replaced Donald, and the Phils won, 6-3. Lou Marson (.400), Brad Harman (.263) and Greg Golson (.304) had 2 hits each for Reading and Golson stole his 6th base without being thrown out. Marson also threw out Blake Davis trying to steal in the 3rd inning, and is 3 for 6 against would be base stealers this young season. Pat Overholt recorded 7 outs, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 3 to pick up the victory. Drew Carpenter gets the ball tonight.

Meanwhile, the Threshers parlayed a mere 5 hits into a 3-2 win in the nightcap of their doubleheader with Lakeland. Gus Milner had 2 of the hits, a single and a double, stole his 2nd base and scored a run. Gus is off to a .316 start. Quintin Berry was 1 for 3, and pulled a "Golson", stealing second and then third. That is a total of 3 for "Q" so far. Dan Brauer pitched 3.2 innings, giving up just 1 hit, Brett Harker pitched 2.1, allowing just 1 run and picking up the win, and Brian Schlitter recorded his second save. Joe Savery gets the assignment Tuesday as the team returns to Clearwater to face Fort Myers.

HomeSide interest in the box score from Norfolk last night where Rochester topped Norfolk 4-1. Randy Ruiz was 2 for 4 and drove in 2 runs for the Red Wings. "Homie" is hitting .313 in the early going. (For those who don't know, Randy is my homie, we are both from the Bronx). Bobby Korecky got the last 4 outs, including 3 strike outs, to record his first save. Chris Roberson picked up 2 walks in 4 plate appearances for Norfolk to drop his average to .417.

Last night in Columbus, Eude Brito came in in a mop up role, as the clippers lost to Durham 11-5. Brito got the last 4 outs, including 3 strike outs, but gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks.

The slide of the IronPigs continued in Pawtucket last night a the Sox downed Lehigh Valley 9-3. The IronPigs fall to 0-5 in this, their inaugural season. Jason Jaramillo did belt his first home run of the season in the loss. The Pigs take on the Sox again this afternoon, J.A. Happ tries again to get the first win for the franchise.

Sunday night in Tacoma, Giovany Gonzalez threw 3 innings for Sacramento, yielding 1 run on 2 hits for the River Cats. Gio has played in the Phillies system twice, although never here in Lakewood.

The BlueClaws return to action tonight, taking on the Hagerstown Suns at 6:30.