Bunts and Balks (7/27)

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) fell to the Gwinnett Braves on Monday, 7-2.
The FeHogs were held scoreless (four hits/no walks) for the first four innings, by Tim Hudson. Not surprising. Meanwhile, Tyson Brummett surrendered six runs (five earned) on seven hits, in his four innings. Also, not surprising. The IronPigs went 0 for 7 w/RISP, stranding nine runners. Brummett's seventy-pitch outing helped get the weary and depleted Lehigh Valley staff through another game, with Gustavo Chacin and, presumably, Andrew Carpenter, ready to start the next two games.

The IronPigs activated IF Jason Donald from the Disabled List. OF Michael Spidale was assigned to Reading (AA), in order to open a roster spot. With an infield full of AAAA non-prospects, Donald should get some regular playing time for the FeHogs. Spidale batted .289 in AAA, but his OPS was only .674. He should help the R-Phils' offense, which has a Michael Taylor-sized void in it's lineup.

With Toronto Blue Jays scouts in attendance, top prospect Kyle Drabek had a strong outing, in a 4-3 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs. Drabek improved to 7-1, with a 3.06 ERA. The highly-touted southpaw pitched seven innings, allowing only two runs, on seven hits (zero walks/five strikeouts, one home run allowed). Chance Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth, picking up his first save.

The Clearwater Threshers (AA) won Sunday's suspended game over the St. Lucie Mets, 4-2. Dominic Brown went 2 for 4, including his tenth homer. Steve Susdorf was 2 for 3, improving his average to .397. Travis Cloyd pitched five and two-thirds innings, limiting the Mets to a pair of runs (seven hits, one walk/five strikeouts). Michael Schwimer followed with two scoreless frames, for his 12th save.

The Threshers completed their Monday sweep of the St. Lucie Mets, winning the seven-inning nightcap, 4-3. Dominic Brown was 2 for 2, with his second home run of the day, improving his average to .305. Steve Susdorf was 2 for 3, getting his average back over the .400 mark, at .403. Starter Edgar Garcia made his first appearance for the Threshers, pitching three innings, and allowing three hits (one walk/one strikeout). He was responsible for two runs, both of which scored after he left the game. (Garcia had been unavailable due to visa issues, which were resolved in the past week.) Scott Mathieson pitched two more scoreless innings, giving him seven flawless frames for the Threshers this season, and picked up his first save.

Bunts and Balks (6/11)

The Phillies agreed to terms with their top selection in the 2009 First-Year Player draft, centerfielder Kelly Dugan. The switch-hitting Dugan opted for the Phillies, over Pepperdine University. He should be ready to succeed Shane Victorino by 2014. Perhaps Dugan's father, the brilliant directing mind who brought us "Don't Mess with the Zohan", can find a movie role for Muffin?

The Phillies selected 3B Robert Amaro, the nephew of General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. with the 1217th pick. The Phillies definitely reached with this 40th round draft choice, who will likely attend the University of Virginia.

We may have found out why utility man/three-hole hitter Pablo Ozuna has been out of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lineup. It was announced Thursday that Ozuna will be suspended for fifty games, as a result of a performance-enhancing substance violation. The pressure of carrying the IronPigs' offense may have lead Ozuna to make a bad choice.

Despite the absence of Ozuna, the IronPigs defeated the Charlotte Knights, 2-1. Andrew Carpenter pitched well, surrendering only a single run, in seven innings (six hits, zero walks/four strikeouts, ninety-seven pitches). Carpenter's 5-0 record (and 2.75 ERA) must look good to potential trade partners.
Veteran IF/OF Mike Cervenak returned to the lineup, after missing almost a month, and had a pair of singles. The right-handed batting Cervenak might be a good fit for the parent club's bench. The 32-year old Cervenak really isn't a prospect at this point, but could be a useful (i.e. better than Eric Bruntlett) pinch-hitter for the P-Phils, and allow John Mayberry, Jr. to continue to play every day in AAA. Perhaps if Cervenak had been healthy last week, he would be on the P-Phils roster, rather than catcher Paul Bako.

The Reading Phillies (AA) beat the Trenton Thunder 6-3, sweeping the series on a walk-off grand slam by Jeremy Slayden. Yep. The same Jeremy Slayden who was an IronPig yesterday. (He swapped levels with Michael Spidale.) Vance Worley, the R-Phils ace, at least during the pre-Drabek era, pitched six effective innings (two runs, four hits, three walks/three strikeouts).

The Clearwater Threshers (A) crushed the Jupiter Hammerheads, 7-3. Drew Naylor got the win, throwing six and two-thirds innings (three runs, nine hits, zero walks/three strikeouts).

It was a good day for the Phillies' minor league teams, and the Phillies, who saw many of their prospects' trade values increase.