The Class A Lakewood BlueClaws lost in controversial fashion on Sunday evening, dropping their series finale against the Hagerstown Suns (Nationals affiliate), by a score of 7-6, in front of 5,457 fans at Lakewood's FirstEnergy Park.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, trailing 7-5 with the bases loaded and 1 out, Lakewood second baseman Carlos Perdomo laced a low liner toward Hagerstown shortstop Jason Martinson. In a fashion that Phillies fans are used to seeing, when Chase Utley, on occasion, allows such hits in similar situations to drop so he can attempt to double up baserunners, Martinson did not catch the ball on the fly and immediately flipped the ball to second base for a force out on the runner from first base. Outfielder Brian Pointer, who was on second base, retreated to the bag with the assumption the liner would be caught. A throw to third base drew the call from the umpiring crew for the second out. The umps then ruled that the runner at second had been tagged, off the base, and credited Lakewood with having scored a run between the time the force out was recorded and the imaginary tag out of Pointer was made.
BlueClaws manager Mickey Morandini then gave the umpires, Charlie Tierney and Doug Del Bello, a considerable ear full. Morandini lashed out at the blundering duo until he was ejected from the contest. Video of that exchange can be seen in the media player below.
The loss was Lakewood's 5th in the 6-game set against Hagerstown.
In Sunday's game, 21-year-old right-hander Ramon Oviedo took the loss, allowing 7 earned runs in 5 innings pitched. Oviedo had allowed just 1 run in 6 innings in his Class A debut last Tuesday. Additionally, on offense, Pointer (7) and Kelly Dugan (4) each homered for the BlueClaws.
Several transactions involving Lakewood...
Josh Warner, who was added to the roster on Saturday, to start one end of the club's double header (2nd DH in 3 days) for Lakewood, will return to extended spring training. Infielder Gustavo Gonzalez and catcher Logan Moore are also headed to extended spring training.
Lefty pitcher Mario Hollands has been promoted to Class A Advanced Clearwater.
Starting pitcher Ervis Manzanillo will be activated from Lakewood's disabled list.
20-year-old infielder Alejandro Villalobos will join the BlueClaws from extended spring training.
Catcher John Hill, a 19th round draft pick from 2011, will be added to the Lakewood roster from Clearwater.
More notes...
Outfielder, Zach Collier, who was suspended for the first 50 games of the 2012 season following a positive test result for banned substances last year, is slated to return to action this week. Collier is expected to be activated on the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers roster, once he is cleared to play.
Reading outfielder Tyson Gillies is reportedly day-to-day with a left wrist contusion with no disabled list stint expected. The injury occurred in Reading's match up with Harrisburg on Saturday, when Gillies collided with teammate Jiwan James, while fielding a fly ball. Gillies successfully made the catch. While at a hospital to be examined on Saturday night, Gillies informed PhoulBallz.com that he felt he'd be okay.
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