First Impressions

Storyline in Lakewood would have been the weather, but the Shorebirds and BlueClaws played a pretty clean game, with Delmarva winning, 2-1. Tyler Cloyd pitched 6 good innings, allowing 2 runs, 6 hits, NO walks, 4 Ks. Jon Velasquez (1 IP, 1 hit, 2 K) and Esmelvin Jiminez (2 IP, 1 walk, 0 hits) both threw well in relief, but the offense could not put it together. Lakewood managed just 2 hits all night, the second one, a single by Anthony Gose, drove home D'Arby Myers with the only Lakewood run. Myers was at second base because he put himself there on a pure hustle play, running hard on a slowly hit ball, putting the pressure on the defense and forcing the pitcher, Colin Allen to make an errant throw. I think this team will get more than 2 hits tonight!! Did I mention the weather?

I know the where the weather was good, Clearwater!! So was the news, and the news about Kyle Drabek, is very encouraging. Kyle threw 5 innings against Dunedin, allowing 2 runs, on 2 hits and 3 walks, striking out 7, and picking up the victory 5-2 for the Threshers. Matt Rizzotti had 2 singles, a double, and an RBI. Fidel Hernandez, playing second base, (a single and a double) and Freddy Galvis (a single and a 2-run HR) had 2 hits each for Clearwater. Chris Kissock (2 IP), Michael Schwimer (1 IP) and Jared Simon (1 IP) pitched 4 hitless innings out of the bullpen. It was the first save of 2009 for Simon, who saved a BlueClaw record 30 here last summer. When he came into the game we would say,"Simon Says, Game Over!"

In Reading, Harrisburg rallied from 3 runs behind to take a 6-5 decision from Reading. Tuffy Gosewisch (single, 2 doubles, run scored, RBI) and Brian Stavisky (2 singles, a double and scored a run) led a 14-hit Reading attack that also included 2 hits and a walk for Gus Milner, 2 hits for Brad Harman, and a hit and a walk for Quintin Berry. After a solid effort from Tyson Brummett(6 IP, 2 runs, 5 hits, 1 walk, 2 strike outs), Joe Bisenius could not get going. "Bis" faced 5 hitters, retiring only 1, and having 3 of them score. Matt German came in to restore order. Sergio Escalona pitched a scoreless 8th, but gave up the tying run on a lead off home run by Seth Bynam in the 9th. Josh Shortslef gave up the winning run in the 10th.

In Allentown, Scranton dominated Lehigh Valley, winning 11-3, once they got into the IronPigs bullpen. Kyle Kendrick pitched the first 4 innings for Lehigh Valley, allowing 3 walks and 4 hits, and the resulting 2 unearned runs, but left after 4 with a 3-2 lead. The 'Pig's 'pen gave up 9 more earned runs on 8 hits and 7 walks to put Lehigh Valley away. J.J. Furmaniak had 3 hits and an RBI, and Pablo Ozuna had 2 hits and 2 RBI. Jason Donald and Lou Marson were each 1 for 4.

At Camden Yard, Alfredo Simon started against the Yankees, and gave the Orioles 5 innings. Some very good, some not so good. 4 runs, 4 hits, 2 walks, 3 strike outs. Bullpen gave up 7 more, and Yankees get their first win of the year, 11-2.

In Colorado Springs, Randy Ruiz was 1 for 4, a 2-RBI double for Las Vegas , but the SkySox won the game 9-6. Greg Golson was 2 for 4, and drove in a run, but Oklahoma City lost to Memphis, 4-3 in 10. Kevin Howard got a pinch hit single in the 8th inning for the Portland Beavers in their 6-1 win in Fresno. Adrian Cardenas took an 0 for 4 in Midland's 6-1 loss to Arkansas.

HomeSider's starting tonight-

Cole Hamels @ Colorado 4:10 PM

Carlos Carrasco v Scranton 7:00PM

Matt Maloney v Columbus 7:00 PM

Joe Savery v Harrisburg 7:00 PM

Drew Naylor @ Dunedin 7:00 PM

Jason Knapp v Delmarva 7:00 PM