pitching notes

There is a lot going on for HomeSide pitchers, so here is the rundown.

Friday in Reading, Carlos Carrasco pitched 2 pain free innings in Reading's 3-2 loss to Akron. Pat Overholt took the loss, giving up 2 runs in the 9th inning. Overholt (3-4, 4.15) and Josh Outman were added to the Eastern League All-Star game rosters yesterday, making that 7 R-Phils going to that contest. Not bad for a last place team!!

Brett Myers will start for Reading tonight.

In Clearwater on Friday, Darren Byrd made his first start since returning to the Threshers from Lakewood and threw 7 scoreless frames, striking out 9. Ron Hill gave up 3 runs in 2 innings, losing his first game of the season as Daytona topped Clearwater 3-1. Joe Savery, who was a great hitter at Rice University, was used as the DH last night and had a double in 3 at bats!! Savery will pitch tonight. Both Berry and Cardenas had their hitting streaks stopped, Matt Spencer's 6th home run providing Clearwater's lone run. Gus Milner (.275) had 2 hits.

In Lakewood, Vance Worley made his home debut and impressed me. 6 innings, 2 earned runs, 3 hits and 1 walk, 5 strike outs. Zack Sterner (pictured, 7-1, 1.91) picked up his 7th win in relief with 2 scoreless innings, and Jared Simon collected his 18th save, tying Andy Barb's team mark. (Simon says, "Game Over")

The BlueClaws, trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the 8th, rallied for 4 runs to beat Greenville 4-2. The game winning hit was a 2-out, 2-run single by Mike Durant. Mike has 5 RBI in the 5 games on this home stand, but the most impressive thing to me is his play in the field. Since he has been playing everyday at first base, Durant has gotten better and better, and a game does not go by when he fails to make a web gem. He shows no lingering effects of the ankle injury that sidelined him for 3 weeks, although he was wearing a sleeve on his right arm last night, which was new. Hopefully, nothing major there.

T.J. Warren (.269)had the only 2-hit game for the 'Claws. (That's T.J. at the top of this post) Julian Sampson will get the ball Saturday night.

Matt Rizzotti has been sent the GCL to see some live pitching before returning to the BlueClaws.