Scranton 4, Lehigh Valley 0 (LP: Happ 0-1, 6.75)
In their first ever official game, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs were almost on
the bad end of a perfect game. Scranton starter Kei Igawa (1-0) threw six
perfect innings before handing over the game to the Yankees bullpen, who
promptly lost the perfect game bid when Brandon Watson singled to lead off the
seventh inning. Watson's hit would be the only one of the game for the 'Pigs.
J.A. Happ worked four innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out
four hitters and suffered the loss. He allowed a solo home run to Jason Lane in
the second inning as the Yankees took a 2-0 lead.
Reading 8, Altoona 3 (WP: Carpenter 1-0, 3.60)
Drew Carpenter allowed two earned runs over five innings and got a lot of
offensive support as Reading opened the year with a win on the road. Carpenter
allowed eight hits and didn't issue a walk in the outing. Will Savage came on
with no outs and runners on first and second in the sixth and worked out of the
jam before throwing another shutout inning.
Both teams banged out 12 hits in the game, with Reading led by Jeremy Slayden,
who collected two singles and a triple. Jason Donald, Juan Tejeda and Lou Marson
each had two hits, with Tejeda launching his first home run of the season.
Dunedin 2, Clearwater 1 (LP: Cruse 0-1, 6.75)
Phillies closer Brad Lidge, who is on a rehab assignment, started the game
for Clearwater and gave up two hits, including a solo home run in his first
outing against hitters this spring. The Phillies have talked about activating
Lidge in time for Saturday's game against Cincinnati. Last year's first round
pick Joe Savery followed Lidge to the mound and threw five strong innings
allowing three hits and striking out seven. The down side to his performance
were the five walks that he issued in the game. Andrew Cruse came on to start
the seventh and gave up one run in 1.1 innings of work to suffer the loss.
Adrian Cardenas had two doubles and a single for Clearwater. The Threshers
got their only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth when Matt Spencer and
Gus Milner singled to open the inning and each moved up a base on a wild pitch.
With one out Welinson Baez lifted a sacrifice fly to score Spencer and tie the
game at one.
Lake County 4, Lakewood 0 (LP: Naylor 0-1, 5.40)
Lakewood picked up eight hits, but couldn't push any runs across the plate in
losing their opener to Lake County. All eight of the 'Claws hits were singles,
with Dominic Brown the only multi-hit BlueClaw of the night, picking up two hits
in the losing effort. In all, the BlueClaws stranded eight runners in the game.
Drew Naylor lasted five innings, but allowed three earned runs on five hits
and a walk. He also struck out six hitters.