Threshers pound Jays, 10-1

Led by Joe Savery's 4, Clearwater put up 15 hits and won their opener 10-1 over the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Jonathan Singleton and Leandro Castro added 3 hits each and Darrin Ruf hit his first home run of the season for the Threshers. Jarred Cosart went 6 strong innings, giving up just 2 hits and 4 walks (1 plunk) , striking out 2 to qualify for the win. Tyler Cloyd surrendered a run in 2 innings of work and Ebelin Lugo threw a perfect 9th. The 2 teams will move over to Clearwater for the Thresher's home opener Friday.

Claws win opener

Mario Hollands pitched 5 shut out innings and Jim Murphy belted a long home run as the Lakewood BlueClaws won their season opener, 2-0 over Kannapolis Thursday night. Hollands gave up 5 hits and 1 walk, and struck out 3 to record the win. Tyler Knigge and Eric Pettis threw perfect relief for 2 frames each and the Claws maximized 5 hits into a victory. Besides Murphy's blast, the BlueClaws got singles from Jeremy Barnes, Cameron Rupp, Domingo Santana and Edgar Duran. Barnes, Duran and Zack Collier each stole a base.

Phils blast Mets, 11-0

It is a big night around the minors tonight, but before I completely immerse myself into the season, I took a ride Thursday afternoon to Citizen's Bank Park to watch the Phillies destroy the Mets, 11-0 behind Roy Halladay. Ryan Howard had a single and a walk and scored 2 runs, and Carlos Ruiz had an RBI single and also scored a run in 16-hit attack led by Wilson Valdez' 4 hits.

Howard's 4 hits gets win for Bastardo

Ryan Howard had a single, 2 doubles, and a home run (#2), scoring twice and driving in 2 as the Phillies outscored the Mets, 10-7. Ryno is hitting .500 for the first 5 games of the year!! Antonio Bastardo was very impressive, coming in for the faltering Joe Blanton and becoming the benificiary of the Phils late rally. Bastardo recorded 5 outs, striking out 2 and allowing 1 hit, and was in the right place at the right time to pick up the victory! Taylor Buchholz relieved Mike Pelphrey with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 3rd inning, and while he struck out 5 of the 6 outs re recorded, Taylor allowed all 3 inherited runners to score........ . Michael Bourn was 1 for 3, and a walk, and stole his first base of the year, but the winless Astros fell to the undefeated Reds, 12-4.......Robinson Tejeda allowed a home run to Carlos Quentin of the White Sox in his 1 inning of work for the Royals in Chicago's 10-7 win.

Cosart and Hollands ready to go

Jared Cosart has been given the opening night assignment for Clearwater at Dunedin, while Mario Hollands will get the ball for Lakewood against Kannapolis. I will be at the Phillies game this afternoon and will miss my first opening night in Lakewood.

Worley, Zeid get openers

The IronPigs have named Vance Worley as their opening day starter against Scranton and Reading has tabbed Josh Zeid to get the ball in Portland. (That's Portland, Maine, folks!)

11 HomeSiders see action in majors

OK, so I was excited last night when I realized Cole Hamels, Jay Happ and Gavin Floyd were all making their debuts at the same time, but it was the relief pitchers who stole the show....... Lets start with Happ, who gave up 7 runs, on 7 hits, 5 walks and hit a batter against the Reds. Michael Bourn had a single and a double and scored a run for the Astros, and Matt Maloney pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning for the Reds, who took an 8-2 decision......... Next up was Hamels, who worked out of trouble in his first inning, by could not get out of the third frame against the Mets. He was charged with 6 runs, on 7 hits and 2 walks in just 2.2 innings, before yeilding to Kyle Kendrick. Kyle pitched well, going 2.1 innings, 2 hits, 1 walk, 2 Ks, trying to keep the Phillies in the game. Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz combined for just 1 walk in 8 plate appearances, and when Antonio Bastardo came on and threw 1-2-3 9th, we had all 5 of our boys who are on the Phillies roster play in the same game!.............. Hamels and Happ were gone by the time Floyd's game started an hour later. Things started out better here, with the White Sox scoring 4 runs before Floyd even took the hill. But it was not to be, Gavin gave up 2 in the first and 2 more in the second before throwing out 5 zeros to get through 7 innings against the Royals. Considering the first 2 innings, 4 runs, on 7 hits and 7 complete innings not a bad outcome. Robinson Tejeda threw a 1-2-3 10th inning for Kansas City and the Royals took the game, 7-6 in 12 innings..........Jason Jaramillo had a single and a walk, and stole a base for the Pirates in their 3-2 loss to the Cardinals.........So while the 3 starters got 2 losses and a no decision by throwing a total of 13.2 innings and giving up 17 runs, our relievers tossed 5.1 frames and gave up just 2 hits and 1 walk.