Sunday, May 24, 2009

Happ great in first start

J.A. Happ has certainly made the most of his opportunities this year. Earning a spot on the roster in spring training, Jay has worked effectively out of the bullpen until Chan Ho Park proved ineffective. Happ stepped in Saturday at Yankee Stadium and gave the Phillies all they could ask for. 6 innings, 2 runs on 4 hits and NO walks, 4 Ks, and he left the game with a 4-2 lead thanks to the 3-run home run from John Mayberry Jr. in his Philadelphia debut. Unfortunately for the World Champs, Brad Lidge surrendered 3 runs to New York in the 9th to take the win out of Happ's column.

In Chicago, the White Sox shut out the Pirates for the 2nd straight day. After only getting 2 hits Friday, Pittsburgh exploded for 5 hits Saturday in the Sox' 4-0 win. Jason Jaramillo was 1 for 3 for Pittsburgh. He has 2 of their 7 hits in the series.

On to Lehigh Valley, where Antonio Bastardo made his AAA debut for the IronPigs. Impressive as ever, Bastardo went 6 innings, giving up just 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 11. He left the game with a 4-3 lead, but like the parent team, the bullpen lost it in the final frame, when the Durham Bulls rallied for 2 runs off Mike Koplove for a 5-4 win. My opinion: they should have gone to Sergio Escalona! Anyway, Lou Marson hit his first dinger of the year, and Jason Donald had a double and an RBI for Lehigh Valley. Carlos Carrasco will try for that elusive first win Sunday afternoon.

Next stop, Nevada. In Reno, Chris Roberson (.261) had a double, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases, and scored a run in the Aces' 6-4 win over New Orleans. Bobby Korecky threw a 1-2-3 9th inning for Reno to notch his 5th save. Over in Vegas, Kevin Howard had a 2-run single in Las Vegas' 4-run 9th inning rally to help the 51s to a 6-5 comeback win over Oklahoma City. Greg Golson was 1 for 4 for the RedHawks.

In Altoona, Reading swept a doubleheader from the Curve to get themselves back on track. In the opener, a 5-3 win for the R-Phils, Quintin Berry had 2 hits, stole a base (#12), knocked in a run and scored one, and Mike Spidale had a pinch-hit RBI single, then scored in the 4-run 6th innings which decided the game in Reading's favor. Gustavo Chacin picked up the win with 5 good innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and 1 walk in his Reading debut. Mike Zagurski was knocked around again, surrendering 2 runs on 3 hits in 1 frame. "Zag" has hit a rough spot, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks in his last 2 innings. Francisco Butto allowed 2 hits, but no runs, pitching the 7th to pick up the save. The nightcap was a combined 1-hitter for Alex Concepcion (1 hit, 1 walk over 5 innings) and Pat Overholt (2 perfect innings) as Reading took a 5-0 decision. Brad Harman (.293, single, double, run scored, RBI), Michael Taylor (.312, single, home run #7, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI) and Neil Sellers (.310, RBI) had 2 hits each for the Phils. Spidale (.322) had an RBI triple and then scored a run, and Tuffy Gosewisch had a single and a walk and scored a run. Tyson Brummett (1-5) will try to rebound from a bad start last Tuesday in Sunday night's contest.

In Tampa Saturday night, Kyle Drabek pitched 5 hitless innings, before allowing 4 runs on 4 hits in the 6th as Tampa topped the Threshers, 4-3. Dominic Brown (.336) had a single, a double, 3 walks, and scored a run, Tim Kennelly (.295) had 2 hits and 2 RBI, and Joel Naughton hit his 5th home run of year for Clearwater. Carlos Monasterios and Mike Schwimer each threw a scoreless frame.

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