Mike Stutes tosses warm-up pitches before last night's game with the Curve in Reading.Before last night hard-throwing Mike Stutes had a 1.59 ERA and had not allowed a run in the first two innings of his previous starts. After escaping a shaky first last night, Stutes gave up four in the second and the Curve tied the game. He never made it back for the third. The Phillies retook the lead 7-4 in the 4th and chased Curve starter Mike Crotta, who had his own issues. I left in the 5th, with the Curve ahead 9-7. In the end, the Curve bullpen prevailed in a 12-7 win.
I had gone to the game to see Stutes pitch so it was a bit of a bummer. But Michael Taylor again impressed. He continues to be hot, with two doubles and a laser home run to left last night. He just looks as if he knows what he is doing at the plate.
Driving home I listened to the last three innings of the IronPigs---the Sixers were already beyond awful. Kyle Kendrick, I learned, had gone six strong innings of three-hit shutout ball. The bullpen finished it off, though Bowers allowed two runs in the 9th. 'Pigs took the first of the series with Toledo 4-2. Carlos Ruiz again on a rehab stint had two RBI. Yay, Carlos! Tonight it's the rehabbing Dontrelle Willis vs. Carlos Carrasco, weather permitting. Rain is now falling.
