We’re now six games into this young season with the Threshers off to a slow start at 2-4 on the year. Five players: Adrian Cardenas, Quintin Berry, Gus Milner, Matt Spencer, and John Urick have played in every game, while six different pitchers: Joe Savery, Carlos Monasterio, Antonio Bastardo, Darren Byrd, Edgar Garcia and Dan Brauer have been handed the ball to start a game.
So far Adrian Cardenas has stolen the show for the team as he has hit safely in all but one of the games including a 3-4 and a 4-5 effort. He is currently hitting .417 with 3 doubles, a stolen base and a team best 4 runs scored. Gus Milner started hot with the bat getting a hit in the first 5 games this season, but is currently hitting .261 with 3 RBI, is tied with Cardenas for a team high 4 runs scored, has the team’s only home run of the year and despite his 6-5 245 pound frame has two stolen bases. Quintin Berry has hit safely in 4 of 6 games, and has three stolen bases. Matt Spencer has hit safely in 5 of 6 games with three RBI as has John Urick as well.
For the pitchers Joe Savery has been the only starter to throw twice (though one was not a start since he came in after a one-inning rehab stint by Brad Lidge.) In his first outing he went 5.0 innings giving up no runs on only 3 hits while fanning 7, but he also walked 5 batters in the process. In his second outing yesterday he went 7 innings with 2 runs on 7 hits including a solo HR, had 2 Ks and 2 BBs to give him a 1.50 ERA.
Carlos Monasterios has been the only starting pitcher to earn a win as he went 6.1 innings in the second game of the year. He scattered 6 hits with 4 Ks and 1 walk, while both earned runs he allowed came off of solo home runs. The next night Antonio Bastardo took the hill. He held his own allowing just 2 runs on 7 hits in 5.0 innings of work while striking out 7 and walking 2. He left the game with a lead, but did not get a win as the bullpen surrendered 3 runs and the team fell 4-3 in the end.
In the fourth game of the year Darren Byrd got the nod, but his outting would prove short-lived as he faced just one batter before the game was suspended by rain. Edgar Garcia (who I credited earlier with a start, though it technically was not) would take over for Byrd the following day when the game was restarted as part of a double header. Garcia put forth a solid effort giving up 2 runs on 5 hits with 4 Ks and no BB in 6.0 innings of work. Like Bastardo in the previous game he left with a 2-0 lead, but could not earn a win as the bullpen gave up six runs including a grand slam off of Andrew Cruse and the Threshers fell 6-5 in the game.
In the fifth game of the year Dan Brauer got his first start since going on the DL for the Threshers in June 2007. He looked good in the effort giving up a lone hit with 5 Ks but was pulled after just 3.2 innings of work. At this point I’m not sure whether he was on a pitch count in the game, or if he suffered some sort of set back in the effort. I’ll keep my ears open and report on that as needed.
.html>Brett Harker came on in relief of Brauer giving up 2 hits including a solo home run before he was replaced by closer .html>Brian Schlitter. Schlitter gave up another solo home run, but was able to get out of the game with the Threshers on top as the team picked up their second win of the year in the fifth try.
Clearwater Threshers News 