Bunts and Balks (8/28)

Brett Myers is expected to make a rehab appearance for Reading (AA) on Saturday. Antonio Bastardo has a rehab appearance planned for Monday, with the GCL Phillies (Rookie). Clay Condrey threw a simulated game on Thursday, and may pitch in a non-simulated game next week. J.C. Romero long-tossed on Thursday, and the next stage in his rehab has not been determined. Perhaps Charlie Manuel will actually utilize some of these relief options, when they return to the active roster. Current relief options Chad Durbin and Scott Eyre have been used so infrequently that it is possible that they are struggling with injury concerns of their own. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) and Reading Phillies (AA) both had their Friday night games postponed, due to rain. Each time will play a doubleheader on Saturday. Fortunately, neither team burned a starting pitcher, in a rain-shortened contest. Joe Savery doesn't handle such things well. The Clearwater Threshers (A) won the first game of their Friday night doubleheader, beating the Daytona Cubs, 3-2. Threshers' starter Jon Velazquez pitched well, permitting only two runs (one earned), in seven innings (two walks/five whiffs). Carlos Monasterios followed with two scoreless frames (two hits, one walk/three whiffs), and picked up the victory, when the Threshers broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth inning. The Clearwater Threshers were no-hit in the second game, losing 3-0. Perhaps the Threshers would have gotten a hit, if the doubleheader finale wasn't shortened to seven innings. It was the first no-hitter for the Daytona Cubs, in thirteen days. The Threshers did draw three walks in the game, so there's that. Clearwater used three relievers to pitch the game: Walter Tejeda (three innings, two unearned runs), Chris Kissock (two innings, one run), and Michael Schwimer (one scoreless inning). The bullpen game worked out pretty well for the Threshers. Well, except for the no hits.