Ricky Romero, rookie pitcher for the Blue Jays, warms up in the bullpen at Oakland's Coliseum Stadium last month.
I spent the evening switching between the Phillies and the Reading Phillies. I saw much of Cole Hamels, who went eight strong innings, but missed Utley's solo home run in the first, which gave the Phils a 1-0 lead. I also missed the solo homer that Ryan Madson gave up to Brandon Moss in the 9th to allow the Pirates to tie the game. But I did not miss the 10th. Rollins led off with a walk, Victorino followed with a single and, after a shallow fly-out by Utley, Ryan Howard with a mighty crack of the bat sent the ball deep into the right field seats. Madson then came back for the 4-1 win in the 10th.
It will be nice when the dozing z's at the end of the order (Ibanez, Feliz, and Ruiz) again wake up.
In Reading, meanwhile, the R-Phils were battling the Erie SeaWolves for a play-off spot. Starter Mike Cisco hung on for six innings, giving up four runs. By then the Phillies had six on the board, thanks in part to some strong hitting by Neil Sellers and Freddy Galvis, playing in just his third game at Double-A. Galvis, a 19-year-old shortstop from Venezuela known for his defensive wizardry, went 3 for 4, including a two-run homer. Interviewed after the game, Galvis flashed some serious dimples.
The rehabbing Brett Myers was the other reason to monitor the Reading game. It took Myers 24 pitches to dispatch the SeaWolves in the 7th and 8th. He looked great. Really. Read what you will into it.
