Bunts and Balks (8/27)

Brett Myers was overpowering, in his two-inning rehab stint on Wednesday night. On one hand, Myers was facing AA hitters. On the other hand, Myers pitched two scoreless innings, threw seventeen of twenty-four pitches for strikes, utilized a 92 MPH fastball to whiff five (of seven) batters, and will be appearing in both the R-Phils' and P-Phils' Championship Parades. Myers needs to pitch on consecutive days this weekend, and then he should be ready to join the P-Phils' bullpen on Tuesday, Roster Expansion Day! GM Ruben Amaro indicated that the Phillies wouldn't be make any more acquisitions, prior to Sept. 1st. The cagey Amaro is, definitely, going to pick up a bench bat. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) pounded the Rochester Red Wings on Thursday, 11-2. With the game tied 2-2, heading into the eighth inning, the FeHogs exploded for a three-run eighth, and a six-run ninth. Starter Kyle Kendrick pitched seven and two-thirds innings, permitting only two runs (seven hits, zero walks/one whiff). The Reading Phillies (AA) lost an epic game to the rival Erie Seawolves, 9-6, in thirteen innings. Four hours and twenty-nine minutes, in front of 6915 rabid fans, against the team chasing them for the final playoff spot. The R-Phils trailed 6-2, after three innings, but scored single runs in the fourth, fifth, eighth, and ninth innings. Neil Sellers had four hits, including a homer and a double. Kevin Nelson had (another!) home run, and four RBI. Starter Mike Stutes surrendered six runs, in only five innings (seven hits, two walks/four whiffs). The R-Phils' bullpen (Alex Concepcion, Pat Overholt, Mike Zagurski, Sergio Escalona) combined for seven scoreless innings, until Escalona was touched for three runs (two earned) in his third inning of work. The R-Phils lead Erie by a game and a half. Bowie is three games behind Reading, with a four-game series between the two scheduled this weekend. Vance Worley, Yohan Flande, Kyle Drabek, and Mike Cisco are lined up to make the starts, and Brett Myers may be available out of the bullpen. The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Brevard County Manatees on Thursday, 7-2. Those Sea Cows are too tough. Clearwater had five hits...and five errors. Starter Darren Byrd permitted five runs (four hits, six walks/two walks), in five innings. The Threshers, and the IronPigs, are pretty much playing out the string. All of our minor league focus should be on Reading right now.