wrapping up my trip

Lena and I are wrapping up our Florida vacation this afternoon in Sarasota, lounging by the pool at the La Quinta. We will attend one more Threshers game tonight, before packing up the car and heading home Sunday. I am putting the computer away and will catch up on all the HomeSider info I have neglected while here when I get home.

Rangers recall Tejeda

The Texas Rangers recalled original BlueClaw Robinson Tejeda Friday. The 26 year old from the DR, who made his major league debut in 2005 with the Phillies, has a career mark of 14-17 in 59 appearances (46 starts) in 3 years with Philadelphia and Texas.

'Claws back on track

The Lakewood BlueClaws bounced back into the win column, defeating first place Lake County on Thursday, 8-6 in 11 innings. Michael Taylor (.359)belted the game winning 3-run home run in the top of the 11th to provide the margin of victory. Mike now has 8 homers and 41 RBI. Derrick Mitchell continued his hot hitting, smacking out 3 hits, including his 7th home run and drove in 4 (33). Derrick was off to a slow start, but now has his average up to .259. T.J. Warren (.333) and Dennis Winn (.286) also added 2 hits each for the BlueClaws. Lakewood has now won 10 of 12 and continues to make their run at a playoff spot. Jared Simon picked up his 5th win in relief.

In Clearwater, the Threshers salvaged the final game in their series with Dunedin, topping the Blue Jays 4-1. Excellent pitching from Andrew Cruse (3.2 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 6 strike outs), Brett Harker (2.1 innings, 0 hits, 1 walk, WIN), Brian Schlitter (2 perfect innings) and Sam Walls (8th save) was enough to shut down Dunedin. Adrian Cardenas (.336, double, triple, sac bunt), John Urick (.268, double, triple, 2 RBI), and Gus Milner (.295) all had 2 hits for Clearwater and Welinson Baez belted his 2nd home run of the season. Clearwater will head to Sarasota tonight to face the Reds, Zack Segovia gets the start.

The Florida State League announced their all star selections today. Gus Milner, Edgar Garcia and Matt German will represent Clearwater. It is the first professional all star selection for each. Congrats to all!!!

I am running out the door to the Threshers game now, and will be returning to New Jersey on Sunday. I want to say thank you to all my Clearwater friends who made me feel so welcome during my time here this week.

a bad night in the system

Wednesday was a tough night for the Phillies affiliates as Lakewood, Clearwater and Reading were all defeated. In East Lake, Ohio, the BlueClaws got off to a great start, thanks to a 5 inning no hit performance from Darren Byrd. 4th inning RBI's from Karl Bolt and Freddy Galvis gave the 'Claws a 2-0 advantage, and when Dominic Brown singled in Tim Kennelly in the 7th, Lakewood was looking good. Ben Pfinsgraff took over for Byrd and pitched a scoreless 6th and 7th before allowing 2 runs in the 8th, Joe Rocchio getting out of that jam. Rocchio could not finish it off, however, allowing the Captains to score twice in the 9th without recording an out, and the evening that started so promising, ended with a 4-3 Captains win. The loss dropped the BlueClaws 6 games behind the Captains. They will go at it again Thursday night, Jacob Diekman (1-3) gets the ball.

Down the interstate from Lake County, Reading was in Erie with Antonio Bastardo on the mound. Reading built a 6-2 lead after 5, but Bastardo tired in the 6th and the Seawolves scored 4 times to tie the game. Josh Outman gave up the go ahead run and the R-Phils never recovered, losing the game 8-7. Greg Golson (.320, single, double, RBIs #30 &31), Lou Marson (.345, 2 singles, 2 runs scored, RBI #32) and Joey Hammond (.329, 2 singles and a walk) all had 2 hits for Reading.

In Clearwater, the Threshers were dominated by Dunedin pitcher Robert Ray, who threw a complete game, striking out 11 Threshers and giving up just an unearned run, with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, as the Blue Jays beat Clearwater again, 8-1. Dunedin has hit 4 home runs in each game I have been to. We will try again tonight, Andrew Cruse will make the start.

Lena and I were joined by Carlos Monasterios last night, who saw us and sat with us for the whole game. Carlos says he is still a few weeks away from returning to the action.

Floyd wins 5th

Wednesday afternoon in Cleveland, Gavin Floyd picked up his 5th win of the season for the White Sox, in Chicago's 6-5 triumph over the Indians. Gavin gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and an error in the first inning, but 2 of the 3 hits were infield hits. He then settled in to retire 10 in a row before allowing a 2-out double in the 4th. He escaped that frame without any damage, but did allow 3 more runs in the 6th. In all, over 6 innings, Floyd allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, on 8 hits, NO walks and struck out 7 to improve to 5-3, 3.22 for the year.

Meanwhile, late last night in Portland, Gio Gonzalez pitched 5 shut out innings against the Beavers in the River Cats 3-2 victory. Gio gave up just 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7 to gain his second win of the year for Sacramento.

Andy Baldwin also won his second game of the year last night in Fresno, in Tacoma's 4-3 win over the Grizzlies. Baldwin, who has had some rough outings this year, was great Wednesday, throwing 7 shut out innings while giving up just 4 hits, striking out 8.

Threshers fall to Blue Jays

Lena and I attended our first Thresher's game at bright House Field Tuesday night, and were welcomed with open arms by both the Clearwater players and fans. Joe Savery (2-5, 4.79)struggled to get started, giving up 3 first inning runs before recording an out. The Threshers responded immediately in the bottom half. Quintin Berry (2 doubles, 2 runs scored) led off with a double, and scored on Adrian Cardenas' triple. A.C had 2 hits and a walk on the night, scoring 3 times and driving in 2. John Urick then hit the first of his 2 doubles (and 3 hits) and Threshers (or the ex-Claws) were back in the game. We tied it in the third when Cardenas walked, Urick singles and Matt Spencer hit a sac fly. In the 5th, Savery surrendered a 3 run homer to Jesus Gonzalez (his first of 2 on the night) and Bear Hill came in to relieve Savery. After getting the final out of the 5th, Hill gave up 3 runs on 2 more home runs in the 6th, and Dunedin took a 9-3 advantage. Matt German pitched the final 3 frames, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits, striking out 5.
Gus Milner (.297) also had 2 hits for Clearwater, Tuffy Gosewisch and Fidel Hernandez picking up the other hits.

The same 2 teams tonight, I believe it is Tyson Brummett's turn in the rotation, and have been told Edgar Garcia has some soreness in his his pitching shoulder and will miss his start this week, Andrew Cruse to take his turn.

I did see Michael Durant hobbling around on the concourse after the game, without the cruthes. He told me he is still a few weeks away from returning to the action, but is feeling much better.

'Claws sweep Power

The Lakewood BlueClaws completed the 4 game sweep in Charleston, West Virginia on Tuesday, topping the Power, 6-5. This extends Lakewood's winning streak to 7 (and 9 of 10) heading into Lake County tonight to face the first place Captains. Lakewood is now 28-24, 5 games behind Lake County with 18 games remaining in the first half. Darren Byrd will make his first start for Lakewood since rejoining the team. In Tuesday's game, Matt Rizzotti hit a 2-run home run in the second inning and then drove in another run with a sac fly to up his RBI total to 21. Travis Mattair (2 doubles) and Dominic Brown (.287) added 2 hits each, and Michael Taylor (.361) had a double and 2 walks, and drove in his 38th run of the year. Chris Kissock made another good start, this time 4 innings, no earned runs, just 2 hits and 1 walk, before yielding to Moises Melendez, who got the win, his second. Jared Simon recorded his 8th save.

Out in Erie, Reading dropped a 3-1 decision to the Seawolves, Brad Harman's 5th home run of the season accounting for Reading's only tally.