BlueClaws Up 1-0 in SAL Championship

Monday night the BlueClaws hosted game 1 of the South Atlantic League Championship and came out victorious over the Greenville Drive by a score of 6-3. The BlueClaws were led by second baseman Harold Garcia, who had a lead off homer in the 8th inning, and catcher Travis D'Arnaud who had two hits, including a double, an RBI and two runs scored.

Garcia, D'Arnaud and the other Lakewood players were joined by two big league Phillies for the series. Clay Condrey pitched a shaky inning in relief, while he continues to rehabilitate his injured oblique. The Phillies also assigned multi-time 2009 call-up Andrew Carpenter to Lakewood for the remainder of the week.

Condrey's inning was difficult. He allowed the first three batters to reach base before finding a groove, becoming loose and downing the next three batters. Condrey allowed a run on a walk and two hits.

Lakewood manager Dusty Wathan said of Condrey, "It's kind of a tough situation for him to be put in", hinting that Clay was there to focus on getting himself right, not on the SAL postseason. Wathan also said, "I think we saw a healthy Clay Condrey the last three batters he faced. As opposed to the first couple. He started to trust himself...and felt a little more confident."

Condrey said of his outing on Monday, "The way I reacted was a little tender with the oblique, I guess. But, the last three hitters all went aside and instincts kicked in a little bit."

When asked if he was favoring his injury, Clay said, "I think I am." Condrey and the Phillies' training staff will wait and see how his oblique reacts before they decide if he's ready to return to the big leagues. Condrey has been out since July.

About Carpenter's role with the BlueClaws, Dusty Wathan said, "We don't know yet. It's totally up to a day to day thing. It'll definitely come from above."

The BlueClaws struck early offensively. Anthony Gose began the night with a big fly that left the park and reached the tiki bar in right center field. Greenville took a brief lead with a run each in the 2nd and 3rd innings, off of Lakewood starter Matthew Way, but the 'Claws struck back with a pair of runs in the third inning on an RBI ground double by Garcia and a single by D'Arnaud that drove home Garcia. The 'Claws never gave up that lead.

Lakewood starter Matthew Way

Way struggled a bit through 4 1/3 innings. He walked 4 and gave up 6 hits, but only allowed 2 runs, both earned. Way had walked just 12 batters through 14 professional regular season starts this year. Way was relieved by Luke Wertz, who earned the victory for Lakewood with a scoreless inning of work.

Santo Hernandez closed the game out for the 'Claws, earning the save while striking out two Drive hitters.

The BlueClaws and Drive are back at it on Tuesday night at 7:05pm, when Lakewood righty Jesus Sanchez (10-6, 3.44 ERA) faces righty Caleb Clay (6-7, 4.01 ERA). After game two, the series will move to South Carolina for the remaining games of this best of five series.

----------------------

Tim Gradoville has been assigned to catch in the Major League Phillies' bullpen, for the remainder of the regular season, now that the Reading Phillies' season has ended.

Hey, follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!

Sunday School: Phillies History Lesson 73

Danny Ozark was the Phillies' manager from 1973-1979. During his tenure as the team's general, Ozark led Philadelphia to three straight division titles. In his playing days, Ozark was a first baseman, who was a career minor leaguer in the Dodgers system. When Ozark took over the team in 1973, the Phillies were fresh off 5 consecutive losing seasons and 3 straight last place finishes. During his first season in charge, the Phillies would again finish in last place, 20 games under .500, but as his core of young talent, like Mike Schmidt and Larry Bowa, developed, the Phillies' win totals rose. Within 2 years, the Phillies were above .500 and in the playoff hunt until late in the season and the most successful era of Phillies history was about to begin. By 1976, the Phillies were headed to the post-season for the first time since 1950. The Phils would enjoy a 10-game lead over their nearest division rival at the midway point of the season. Despite a lul, which saw their lead d...

Velasquez shut down, Eflin on deck?

Eflin with Reading in 2015, image- Jay Floyd Following Vincent Velasquez leaving his start after just two pitches for the Phillies on Wednesday, righty prospect Zach Eflin was pulled from his start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley at Gwinnett. The 22-year-old sports a 5-1 record with a 3.14 ERA and a .210 batting average against in 10 starts for the IronPigs this season. He could take the place of Velasquez if he is required to miss any additional time. Initial word on Velasquez after he threw two fastballs that clocked in the 86-87 MPH range (considerably slower than the 94 MPH he averages) and was swiftly pulled from his outing, is that he has a biceps strain. He'll be further evaluated in the coming days. Prior to the regular season, Eflin got a taste of competing against big leaguers when he was charged with 12 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits while striking out two and walking one with a wild pitch in three innings of work in an intrasquad exhibition that pitted the Phils...

Mathieson Still Focused Despite Being Sent Down

CLEARWATER, FL- Somehow, despite the recent news that Brad Lidge is set to begin the season on the disabled list with a right shoulder injury, the Phillies didn't see fit to keep fire-balling righty hurler Scott Mathieson around. Mathieson, who has had a long road back to the big leagues following three elbow procedures (two of which were Tommy John surgeries), appeared in 7 games with the Phillies in spring training this year, posting a 2.00 ERA with 9 strike outs and 6 walks over 9 innings. The Vancouver, British Columbia native made his Major League debut with the Phils in 2006 as a starter, going 1-4 with a 7.47 ERA, but had his career sidetracked due to arm trouble. This spring, Mathieson was back where he wanted to be and felt that he was primed to return to a regular gig in the big leagues. However, on Saturday, the Phillies sent Mathieson back down to minor league camp. Mathieson's goal throughout his recovery has been to get back into the Phillies' red pinstripes...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog