Hamels drops first decision in 6 weeks

In Seattle, Cole Hamels was a victim of non-support, as Jason Vargas threw a complete game, 3-hit shut out for the Mariners in their 2-0 win over the Phils. Hamels went 6.1, and allowed the 2 runs on 7 hits, NO walks, and absorbed the loss to fall to 9-3, 2.51 on the year. Ryan Howard (.256) had 2 of the 3 hits for Philadelphia...........In Los Angeles, the Dodgers sgut out Houston, 1-0. Sergio Escalona (1.54) faced 3 hitters, retired 1, walked 1 and allowed a single, but no run scored against him.

In Pawtucket, the IronPigs started Scott Mathieson for the 1st time this year, and Scott did very well, going 3.2 innings, throwing 60 pitches, 42 for strikes, and allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk, striking out 7. Mike Zagurski and Mike Schwimer each threw 2 shut out innings in the Pigs 2-0 win. Cody Overbeck hit his first home run for Lehigh Valley, and his 19th this year.

In Reading, Freddy Galvis had 3 hits, including a double, an RBI and scored a run for Reading, but New Britain prevailed again, 5-3. Steve Susdorf (.321, stolen base) and Derrick Mitchell (.284, RBI) added 2 hits apiece for the R-Phils. Susdorf is 8 for 18 (.444) the last 6 games, and Mitchell has had 4 2-hit games over the same span. Austin Hyatt started for Reading, and went 5 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7. Les Walrond gave up the game winning run in his 2 innings, before Justin Friend came on and allowed 1 run over his 2 frames of work.


In Las Vegas, Kyle Drabek made his first start since being sent down, and his control problems continued. Kyle only made it through 4 innings, and gave up 5 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits and 7 walks (way too many) and received no decision in Reno's 12-7 win. Kevin Howard, a BlueClaw in 2007, has been with the 51s for 7 games. He hit his second home run Sunday, and is batting .348 in 7 games with Vegas so far...........In Sacramento, the River Cats dropped a 4-2 decision to Fresno, with Adrian Cardenas (.332) and Michael Taylor (.284) picking up the RBIs for the Cats.................In Corpus Christi, Jonathan Villar had 4 hits, including a double and an RBI for the Hooks, but Frisco won the game, 9-8 in 12 innings..............In Huntsville, the Stars have restored Jesus Sanchez' spot in the rotation, and he returned Sunday to face Birmingham. Jesus went 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks, picking up 7 Ks in the Baron's 6-5 win. Darren Byrd allowed a run on 2 hits in his inning for Huntsville.