Bunts and Balks (7/23)

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) avoided a series sweep by the Charlotte Knights, with a 4-3 victory, on Thursday. Starter Gustavo Chacin surrendered six hits and three walks, over six innings, but allowed only a pair runs. Michael Taylor, in his eighth game at the AAA level, went 3 for 4, with a pair of singles, and a solo homer. Taylor has a .946 OPS, in 28 ABs for the FeHogs. In a story found only on PhPh, IronPigs reliever Jack Taschner surrendered uniform #33, when Michael Taylor was promoted. Taschner is, currently, wearing #8. This is inconvertible evidence that Taylor will be traded to Toronto, in The Halladay Deal. Taschner is involved in the decision-making process behind each Phillies transaction, and never would have given up #33, if he wasn't aware that the sacrifice would only be a short-term one. The IronPigs send Carlos Carrasco to the mound on Friday, as they face the Gwinnett Braves on Pigs in Paradise Night. Has there been a "IronPigs in Space" Night? FeFe and Ferrous in spacesuits. An anti-grav Moon Bounce. J.J. Furmaniak and Terry Tiffee constructing a rocket, and attempting to propel Gary Majewski into space. There are infinite possibilities... The Reading Phillies (AA) were whitewashed by the Altoona Curve on Thursday, 8-0. The R-Phils fell behind 8-0 after four innings, but held the Curve off the scoreboard in their final four at bats. Seven of the runs were scored with two outs. Starter Joe Savery was charged with all eight runs, surviving only four innings, and increasing his ERA by .53, to 4.36. Savery has struggled mightily in July, permitting twenty-three runs (thirty-five hits, eleven walks/sixteen strikeouts) in twenty-two and two-thirds innings. Savery has a 9.13 ERA, in four July starts. The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Charlotte Knights, 4-1. Starter Drew Naylor gave up four runs, over six innings (five hits, three walks/six strikeouts), in taking his ninth loss. Steve Susdorf (pictured) had one of the four Thresher hits, a double, in his 1 for 4 effort. Susdorf's average dropped to .406.