Thursday, June 13, 2013

Threshers win, tied for 1st

On Wednesday in Minnesota, the Twins rallied for 2 runs off Antonio Bastardo in the bottom of the 8th inning and took a 4-3 decision from the Phillies.  Tyler Cloyd started and kept the Phillies in the game with 5 innings of work, letting in just 1 run on 6 hits and 3 walks.  Joe Savery allowed a run on 2 hits in the 6th, but Philadelphia still had a 3-2 advantage.  When Savery gave up a lead off single to Joe Mauer in the 7th, Mike Stutes was called in. Stutes got Ryan Doumit and Josh Willingham, before yielding to Bastardo.  Bastardo retired Justin Morneau on 1 pitch to end the inning, but gave up 3 straight hits on just 6 pitches to start the 8th,  leaving in favor of Justin De Fratus.  Justin got 2 outs before a wild pitch let the game deciding run score in heart breaking fashion.  Ryan Howard, Domonic Brown and Freddy Galvis were a combined 0 for 10 in the game.

In Arlington, Michael Bourn had 2 hits and a walk, and scored a run for the Indians in Cleveland's 5-2 win over the Rangers..........In Clearwater, Hoby Milner was spectacular!  Milner (6-2, 3.36) went 7.2 innings of shut out baseball against St Lucie, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk, while striking out 7 as the Threshers won an important game, 6-0 over the Mets.  Maikel Franco belted 2 home runs for Clearwater, and now has 47 RBI.  Remember, Franco drove in 57 runs in the second half with the BlueClaws last year.  The Threshers are currently in a tie for 1st place with Dunedin, just half a game ahead of  Brevard County, and a full game in front of Daytona in the final week of the first half!

In Frisco, Sergio Escalona was the winning pitcher for the Corpus Christi Hooks, pitching 3 innings of effective relief  (4 hits, 1 walk, 3 Ks) in the Hooks' 8-5 victory over the RoughRiders.  Domingo Santana had a single and a double and scored 2 runs for Corpus Christi.



Wednesday, June 12, 2013

hard luck for Hamels, again.

After a nice run to get above the .500 mark, the Phillies have lost 4 in a row, including last night's game in Minnesota, 3-2.  Ryan Howard had 2 hits and an RBI, and Philadelphia wasted another good outing from Cole Hamels.  Hamels went 6 innings and gave up just 2 runs on 7 hits and NO walks, receiving no decision.  Justin De Fratus tossed a scoreless 7th and Antonio Bastardo got the final out of the game, after giving up the game winning hit allowing an inherited runner to score.......The Rockies have recalled Josh Outman, and used him in last night's 8-3 win over Washingtom.  Josh retired 2 hitters, allowed 1 hit, and earned his 4th hold of the year.

With all the catching injuries in the Phillies system, Cameron Rupp has  moved up to Lehigh Valley and will be replaced in Reading by Justin Dalles.  In Allentown, the IronPigs defeated Charlotte 2-1 in the opener of their doubleheader.  Jake Diekman notch his 11th save in the game. Rupp made his AAA debut in the second game, and had an RBI double in the Knights' 8-4 win.  Darin Ruf had 3 hits and  knocked in 2 runs for Lehigh Valley...............In Reading, the BaySox topped the Fightin Phils, 8-4.  Jim Murphy and Tommy Mendonca had 2 hits each for the R-Phils.........In Clearwater, Aaron Altherr hit his 7th home run to tie the game in the 7th inning, but the Threshers lost in 10, 4-2 to St Lucie.  Brock Stassi had 3 hits for the Threshers, and Kelly Dugan had 2 hits and 2 walks.  Dugan's .346 average is tops in the FSL!!  Nick Hernandez started and went 5 innings for Clearwater, allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks, Juan Sosa was excellent with 4 shut out frames (just 1 hit and 1 walk with 6 Ks), before Colton Murray gave up the game deciding runs in the 10th.   Sosa had struggled in Reading, but has not allowed a run in 8 innings since being sent back to the Threshers.........In Lakewood, Yoel Mecias won his 4th game with 5 more solid innings in the opener of the Claws doubleheader, a 5-2 victory for Lakewood.  The 19-year old allowed just 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7 to improve to 4-2, 3.71 on the season.  The Claws got just 3 hits in the game, but took advantage of 6 Greensboro errors.  The Grasshoppers came back for a 5-2 win in the nightcap.  Willie Carmona and Larry Greene had 2 hits each in the second game, and Geoff Broussard pitched very well, allowing just 1 run in 4 solid innings of relief.


In Oklahoma City, Jonathan Villar had 2 walks, 2 stolen bases and scored 2 runs to help spark the RedHawks to an 8-5 win over the Iowa Cubs.............In Scranton, the RailRiders won both games from the Bisons, 6-5, and 6-2.  Anthony Gose had 3 hits on the day, stole a base, drove in a run and scored 2  for Buffalo..............In Louisville, Jason Donald had a single, a walk, a stolen base, and scored a run for the Bats in their 8-5 win over the Bulls............In Midland, D'Arby Myers drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning, then singled and scored what turned out to be the winning run in the 5th, as the Rock Hounds beat Frisco, 4-3................In Pearl, Travis Mattair had 2 hits, a walk, and scored 2 runs for Pensacola, and the Blue Wahoos scored 6 runs in the final 2 innings to grab a 7-3 win from the Braves............In San Antonio, Domingo Santana hit his 12th home run, and Jonathan Singleton had 2 hits and 2 RBI as the pair of former Claws led Corpus Chrsiti to a 6-2 win.   Singleton is 5 for 8 in the last 2 games and may be moving on to Okalhoma City before too long.  As for Santana, the 20-year old is having a fine AA season, with a .260 mark, the 12 HR and 36 RBI.  He is 6 for 7 in steals, and this part of his game is there, just waiting to be utilized.

Greg Golson is on the DL for the Colorado Springs SkySox, that is why we haven't heard from him in a few days.

In Rochester, Vance Worley was OK for 5 innings, but never got out of the 6th, allowing 7 runs on 9 hits in the Red Wings' 9-5 loss to the Mud Hens.  (It seems the current adjustment that Worley must make is not coming easy for the 25-year old.  This happens to a lot of players, and the key is to stay positive while the whole world is falling down around you) Hang in there, and keep working hard, Vance!  The HomeSide is still on YOUR side!

Monday, June 10, 2013

Phillies lose 3rd straight

Sunday in Milwaukee, the Brewers made it 3 in a row over the Phillies, pounding Jonathan Pettibone by the score of 9-1.  "J-Bone" lasted 5.1 innings, allowing 6 runs, 4 earned on just 4 hits and 2 walks, and absorbing the loss.  Justin De Fratus tossed a scoerless frame in the 7th.  The Phillies managed just 5 hits, one of them by Ryan Howard (.251) .........In Detroit, the Tigers beat Cleveland, 4-1.  Michael Bourn (.302) had a hit and stole his 9th base of the season for the Indians................In Chicago, the Cubs defeated Pittsburgh, 4-1.  Mike Zagurski got the final 2 outs for the Pirates, strtanding an inherited runner in the process........In Cincinnati, the Cardinals scored 7 runs in the 10th inning to beat the Reds, 11-4.  Alfredo Simon pitched the 7th inning for the Reds, coming in the game with 2 runners on base.  He recorded 3 outs, walking 1 and letting 1 of those 2 runners to score.


In Delmarva, Zack Taylor was 3 for 3 and drove ina run in the second game of a doubleheader, as the BlueClaws won, 2-0 and gained a split of the activities for the day. Taylor is a player who is not getting in enough games for Lakewood, and with the weay their season is going, they should want ebery good bat in the line up. Great pitching in this one from Jeb Stefan (4 innings in a spot start), Luis Paulino (win) and Delvi Francisco (2 scoreless innnings, save #2).  Claws are scheduled for a home game tonight, weather permitting....................In Clearwater, the Threshers swept Dunedin, 2-0 and 3-1.  In the opener, Mario Hollands went all the way, pitching a 4-hit shut out (1 walk, 6 Ks), and Aaron Altherr hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 6th to provide the winning runs.  It was #6 for Aaron, and RBIs 38 & 39.  In the nightcap, Kelly Dugan (.338) had 2 hits, Juan Sosa picked up the victory, and Colton Murray notched his 6th save of the year............In Reading, the Fightin Phils managed just 3 hits and David Buchanan (2-7) was hit hard by Harrisbugh in an 8-2 Senators' win...........In Allentown, the IronPigs got past Charlotte, 3-1.  Jake Diekman picked up his 10th save of the year in that one.

In San Antonio, Adam Buschini had a single and a triple, and scored a run for the Missions in their 7-4 win over Corpus Christi.

In Midland the Frisco RoughRiders beat the Rock Hounds, 4-3.  D'Arby Myers was 0 for 3.  After that hot stretch D'Arby had for a couple of weeks, he is now in a 4 for 37 funk the last 9 games.  Hang in there, D'Arby!

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Dom hits #19 in loss; Tigers beat Carrasco

In Milwaukee Saturday night, the Brewers edged the Phillies, 4-3.  Domonic Brown had 2 hits, including his league leading 19th home run and drove in all 3 runs for Philadelphia.  Can you say "all-star"?   Kyle Kendrick took the loss, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 6 to slip to 6-4 on the year.  Mike Stutes pitched the 7th, and gave up a run on 3 hits and a walk.................The Rockies have optioned Josh Outman back to AAA-Colorado Springs....................In Detroit, the Tigers roughed up Carlos Carrasco to the tune of 6 runs on 10 hits in just 4 innings of work en route to a 6-4 win over the Indians.  With an off day in the schedule, Carlos can now drop his appeal and serve his 8-game suspension without missing a start.  Michael Bourn (.303) had a double and scored a run for Cleveland.

In Allentown, Darin Ruf (.258) had 3 hits and drove in 2 runs to help the IronPigs take an 8-5 win over Charlotte.  Leandro Castro (.272) added 2 hits, including a doubel and also knocked in a run.  BJ Rosenberg got the win, going 5 innings and allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks, striking out 6 and improving to 2-5 for Lehigh Valley..................In Reading, the Fightin Phils split a pair of games with the Senators.  In the opener, Jesse Biddle allowed the lone run of the game on a 7th inning home run by Harrisburg's Sandy Leon in a 1-0 loss.  Biddle (3-6, 3.030 allowed just 4 hits and a walk, and struck out 7 in the hard luck loss.  Carlos Zambrano pitched 6 solid innings in the nightcap, leading Reading to a 2-1 win and the split. Anthony Hewitt (.274) had 2 hits, including an RBI double and scored the other run for the Phils, and Tyler Knigge tossed a 1-2-3 7th for the save, his 1st of the year.........In Clearwater, the Threshers lost a rain shortened 7-4 contest to Dunedin. Kelly Dugan (.333) had 2 hits and a walk, and scored a run for the Threshers.  Ethan Stewart went the entire 6 innings, and allowed all 7 runs on 9 hits and 5 walks,  "Stew" is still struggling this year with an 0-2 mark and a 7.08 ERA  Ouch!!........The BlueClaws were rained out again in Delmarva, and will try to play 2 today before returning home tomorrow.



On Friday night, Jason Donald came off the DL, and had 3 hits for Louisville, including a double.  It was Donald's first game in over a month.  Then he was 0 for 4 yesterday in the Bats' 6-3 loss to Durham.  the HomeSide is glad to see "JD" back in action!!.................In Scranton, Anthony Gose was 1 for 5, with an RBI and a stolen base for Buffalo, as the Bisons trampled the RailRiders, 10-4............In Tucson, Michael Taylor (.319) had 2 hits, including a double for Sacramento, to help the River Cats beat the Padres, 10-5.................In Pearl, Travis Mattair had a double and a walk, and scored a run for the Blue Wahoos in their 4-1 win over the Braves..................In San Antonio, Domingo Santana hit his 11th home run of the year, 1 of 2 hits on the night for the Hooks as Corpus Christi beat the Missions, 5-1.  Jonathan Singleton was 1 for 4 for the Hooks in his 2nd game with the AA team.


In a move I missed about a week ago, the Cubs promoted Brian Schlitter from AA to AAA-Iowa City.  Since the promotion, Brian has pitched 5 times for the Cubs, a toltal of 7 innings, and allowed just 1 run on 6 hits.  Yesterday, he picked up a save by recording the final out of a 5-4 win over Round Rock.  Lisalverto Bonilla made the start for the Express and was charged with the loss, going 3.1 innings and allowing 5 runs on 8 hits.  I am not sure if the Rangers want Bonilla to be a strater, or if they just needed someone to pitch the second game of a doubleheader yesterday.  I guess we will find out in 5 days.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Tribe recalls Carrasco

The Cleveland Indians have recalled Carlos Carrasco, and he will pitch this afternoon against the Tigers in Detroit.  Best of luck to Carlos from the HomeSide!!

rainy Friday

Friday night in Detroit, the Tigers defeated Cleveland, 7-5.  Michael Bourn (.305) had 2 hits and knocked in a run for the Indians..........In Denver, the Rockies won a wild one, 10-9 over the Padres.  Josh Outman allowed a hit and 2 walks in just .2 innings, and was charged with a blown save, his first of the year, in which he allowed an inherited runner to score...............In Milwaukee, the Phillies had their winning streak ended by the Brewers , who came from down, 4-0 to take a 5-4 walk-off win with a run in the 9th.  Cliff Lee could not hold the 4-0 advantage.  Mike Stutes retired 2 men in the 8th, but an error let a base runner get to 3rd base before Jeremy Horst came on for the final out of the 8th inning.  Horst was the loser, giving up a run  on 3 hits in the 9th.

The elevator ride continues for Troy Hanzawa, as he was brought back to Lehigh Valley.  The IronPigs were in Buffalo, where they split a pair of games with the Bisons.  Buffalo won the opener, 4-3.  Anthony Gose had an RBI double for the Bisons, and Darin Ruf and Steve Susdorf each had a hit and an RBI for the Pigs.  Lehigh Valley bounced back for a 4-0 win in the nightcap............Phillies lefthander John Lannan made a rehab start for the Threshers, and put in 4 frames, allowing just 2 runs, only 1 of which was earned, on 6 hits and 1 walk in Clearwater's 7-1 loss to the Blue Jays.  Lannan's return to the Phillies could see the end of Tyler Cloyd's regular starts in the Phillies rotation, and of Carlos Zambrano proves ready, Jonathan Pettibone could also be bumped.

Jonathan Singleton's return after suspension has stalled in Corpus Christi, where Singleton is just 1 for 10 since arriving from A-ball.  Singleton, Domingo Santana and Midland's D'Arby Myers combined to go 0 for 10 in the Hooks 5-0 win over the Rock Hounds.

Quintin Berry has made a clean start, playing his first game last night in Omaha, and looking like the player we remember.  Berry had a hit and a walk, stole 2 bases and scored a run for the Storm Chasers in a 5-2 loss to Oklahoma City.  Jonathan Villar had 2 hits and 2 RBI for the RedHawks.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Cloyd shines as Phils win 5th in a row

On Thursday in Milwaukee, the Philies made it 5 wins in a row behind a strong effort from Tyler Cloyd, to beat the Brewers, 5-1.  Cloyd went 6.2 shut out innings and gave up just 4 hits and 5 walks en route to the win, his 2nd of the season, before yielding to Justin De Fratus, who finished the 7th.  Antonio Bastardo tossed a scoreless 9th to end the game.  Domonic Brown had 2 more hits and a walk, and is now hitting .289 for the season.  The win by Cloyd was the 28th so far for Homesiders this year.


In Hickory, the BlueClaws were bombed by the Crawdads, 15-4, and have now lost 6 of the last 7.  Justin Dalles (.351) did hit 2 home runs for the Claws, and Art Charles, Josh Ludy and Alejandro Villalobos each had 2 hits in the losing effort...........In Reno, the SkySox topped the Aces by the score of 12-5.  Tuffy Gosewisch (.306) had 3 hits, including 2 doubles and scored 2 runs for Reno...........In Richmond, the New Britain Rock Cats beat the Flying Squirrels, 9-4, behind Trevor May.  May (5-2, 3.92) tossed 6 innings, and allowed just 1 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6 to pick up the victory.......In Gwinnett, Vance Worley's lost season continued.  Vance worked just 3 innings for Rochester in their 11-3 loss to the Braves and gave up 7 runs on 8 hits and a walk, although just 2 of those runs were earned.