Nate Bump got the nod over Cliff Lee in yesterday afternoon's final game in Clearwater, against the Astros. I tuned in expecting to see Lee, but of course he was having his final tune-up in a minor league game. He is, after all, scheduled to face the Astros on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Instead, I watched Nate Bump, last year with the IronPigs, who had his sinker ball going and who ended up, I was happy to see hours later, getting the win. The Phillies pulled out to a 7-1 lead, which was then almost squandered by some shaky relief work from the low minors. But they held on in the rain for a 7-6 win, which put their Grapefruit League at 20-13. Good-bye, meaningless games!
The Phillies yesterday signed utility infielder Kevin Frandsen, who will start the season at Lehigh Valley. Frandsen adds to the growing stockpile of Triple-A infielders acquired because of Chase Utley's knee.
Two exhibition games with the Pirates, tonight and tomorrow afternoon, remain but they will be played in Philadelphia. I did not get my wish for a healthy spring training. Opening Day is on Friday. The forecast is for temperatures around 40 and rain. The Phillies will play the Astros. Could they not play them in Houston?
