After rain last Saturday at the ballpark in Philadelphia and lots of people were on Ashburn Alley, located behind center field. It's another cool, rainy day here and I am getting over a sudden stomach virus.Both Antonio Bastardo and Raul Ibanez delivered big last night in San Diego. Bastardo went six strong in his debut, giving up just one run (a solo shot to Adrien Gonzalez) while throwing a steady diet of fastballs which started out in the mid-90's and by the 6th had subsided to around a more typical 90 or so. It was quite a show and made possible in no small part by the Phillies getting four runs in the 1st off Jake Peavy, who then left the game with a viral respiratory infection. Raul Ibanez had an RBI double in the first, then two 2-run homers. Some kind of birthday outing for the guy, some kind of debut for the rookie. If this means Bastardo gets a second shot in LA on Sunday, it will be interesting to see how he does in front of a more energized fanbase--and throwing some other pitches.
When suspended pitcher J.C. Romero visited the clubhouse last week in Philadelphia, several of his mates were wearing t-shirts printed with a countdown to his return to the team. That happens--hallelujah--today. To make room for J.C. on the roster, lefty reliever Sergio Escalona was sent down to Lehigh Valley.
