HomeSide News: Buchanan, Santana lead Claws to win

Domingo Santana had 4 hits, and David Buchanan pitched another fine game as the SAL leader in wins (7) and ERA (1.97) went 7 strong frame and gave up only 1 UNearned run on just 4 hits and 1 walk, while the Lakewood offense, led by Santana, pounded Greensboro 13-1. Lakewood is now 25-23, and has won 9 of the final 10. Everyone in Lakewood's line-up had a hit, including Shane Victorino, who had an RBI single and a bases loaded walk to get in 2 runs, and Jim Murphy, who went deep for the 3rd game in a row.

Murph, who is already the BlueClaws all time home run leader, has hit 13 this year, and is on a step to break Juan Richardson's single season BlueClaw mark of 22 set in our first season of 2001.

In Fort Myers, Troy Hanzawa tripled in 3 runs , and then Jonathan Singleton homered to cap a 5-run 9th inning rally to make the Threshers a 7-2 win over the Miracle. Sebastian Valle had 3 hits, including a double, and drove in both of the Thresher's earlier runs. Joe Savery and Leandro Castro each had 2 hits, and D'Arby Myers had a key individual in the eye of the 5 run rally. Trevor May started for the Threshers and again but went 5 innings, because he is walking too many men and getting his pitch count very high very early. Trevor walked 5 and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 7. Both runs came on home runs, so if he doesn't walk so many, he can check in the lame and make himself a best opportunity to win. The shiny side in none of the walks preceded the home runs. Eric Pettis came on and threw 2 more scoreless innings, running his streak to 13 consecutive scoreless innings since his promotion (only 8 hits and 2 walks, with 11 Ks). Ebelin Lugo also tossed 2 scoreless innings of relief, and picked up his 2nd win when the squad came up big in the 9th. Clearwater, 31-18, remains 6.5 games behind red hot Daytona, who have won 11 straight and are 38-12.

In Erie, Matt Rizzotti (.331) doubled home 2 runs in the 8th inning to apply the Reading Phillies a 2-1 win over the Sea Wolves, ending Reading's 5 game losing streak. Mike Spidale (.305) also had 2 hits for Reading, who got a really well start from J.C. Ramirez. Ramirez allowed 1 run on 5 hits and 4 walks over 6. Jacob Diekman came on in the 7th, because Mark Parent is a real audacious man. He survived this time however, as Diekman faced 4 hitters, 2 Ks, a walking and a plunk, and the hook. Justin De Fratus came on, stranded those 2 runners and threw 2.1 inning of most perfect relief (he also plunked 1) to clean up his 3rd win of the year.

Reading is now 25-22 in 4th spot and only 6.5 behind front running New Hampshire. The Fisher Cats won again Saturday, as Anthony Gose hit his 3rd home run for New Hampshire in their 4-0 win over New Britain. Gose also walked and was hit by a pitch, stealing his 21st base of the year (in 26 tries). Travis d'Arnuad (.333) had his 8 game hitting streaked snapped as he was 0 for 2 with 2 walks. Also in the Eastern League, in Binghamton, Mike Dubee pitched the last 2 innings of Altoona's 10-6 win over the Mets and recorded his 3rd save of the temper for the Curve.

In Zebulon, Joe Bisenius started a plot for the Birmingham Barons against the Mudcats. "Bis" went 3.2 innings as the White Sox affiliate begins to reach him out a bit. He allowed 1 run on 2 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6 and throwing 35 of his 60 pitches for strikes. He received no decision, as Quintin Berry and the Mudcats captured a 7-3 win. Berry (.301) had a 1 and a triple, scoring a run and knocking 1 in.In New Orleans, Jesus Merchan walked and scored the winning run in the 8th inning of New Orlean's 5-4 win over Albuquerque. Jesus (.235) also had a single for the Zephyrs.In Nashville, the Sounds took an 8-3 win from Oklahoma City, with Zack Segovia throwing a scoreless 9th inning to roll it up for Nashville. Zack pitched himself into and out of trouble, walking 1 and allowing 2 hits, but notice the zero.In Buffalo, Yohan Flande started the 2nd game of a doubleheader for the Gwinnett Braves, and allowed 3 run, 2 earned on 4 hits and a pass over 4 innings of play and was the losing pitcher in the Bisons' 3-1 win over the Braves. It drops Flande to 2-1, 4.29 on the season.

In Allentown, the IronPigs took a 4-3 win from Rochester. Michael Schwimer (1.95) and Mike Zagurski (1.88) each threw a perfect inning, with Schwimer getting recognition for a hold (#6) and Zagurski picking up his 9th save. The Pigs have won 3 in a row, and 8 of 10 and are a franchise best 30-18, leading the North division by 4 games over the Scranton Yankees.


In Pittsfield, Jeremy Slayden had a single, a pass and his 1st home run of the class for New Jersey, but the Jackals lost to the Colonials, 4-3.In Newark, Jon Velasquez made his debut for Rockland and the Bears jumped all concluded him. The Bronx native was rocked for 9 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks in only 3 innings of employment in Newark's 16-4 slaughter of the Boulders.