Clearwater Picks Up Only Minors Opening Day WIn

Threshers Defeat the Bluejays 5-2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Bluejays 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0
Threshers 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 5 10 0

The Clearwater Threshers looked sharp in their 2009 season opener against the Dunedin Bluejays. Kyle Drabek got the opening night nod to take the hill, and looked good except for one rough inning in the fourth. Through the first three innings he had held the Bluejays hitless with his only blemish as a hit batsman in the first.



In the fourth inning he walked the first two batters he faced and then balked the runners to second and third. Two hits later the Bluejays had picked up two runs to narrow their gap to 5-2, but that was all they would get on the night.

Meanwhile the Threshers offense came out on fire giving the squad all the cushion they would need to secure a victory. The team scored three in the first and picked up a two-run blast from Freddy Galvis in the second to take an early 5-0 lead.

All-in-all it was a terrific team effort, and a great start to the Threshers season. Freddy Galvis had two hits and 2 RBIs, and Fidel Hernandez had two hits including a double. Matt Rizotti lead all batters with 3 hits going 3-4 at the plate including a double and an RBI. Dominic Brown chimed in with a double and an RBI.

Great job fellas! We’ll see you tomorrow night in Dunedin!

Freddy Galvis picks up the first SCHMIDT LIST player of the game award for crushing the first Threshers’ HR of the year. He went 2-4 with a HR, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.

PLAYER Pos. H/AB Details

Javis Diaz
CF 1-3 Run

Freddy Galvis
SS 2-4 HR, 2 Runs, 2 RBIs,

Dominic Brown
RF 1-4 Double, RBI, Run

Michael Durant
1B 0-4

Matt Rizotti
DH 3-4 Double, RBI

Cody Overbeck
3B 1-3

Yonderman Rodriguez
3B 0-0

Joel Naughton
C 0-2 2 BB

Derrick Mitchell
LF 0-3 BB

Fidel Hernandez
SS 2-4 Double, Run

PITCHER IP R H K BB

Kyle Drabek
5.0 2 2 7 3

Chris Kissock
2.0 0 0 1 0

Michael Schwimer
1.0 0 0 1 0

Jared Simon
1.0 0 0 0 1




About Jeff Crupper

It depends on which blog you are reading, but now now you have either discovered that I am a huge baseball fan, or that I have a twisted sense of humor and like to rant about just about anything. Whichever it is I hope you enjoy your stay and spread the word.
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38 Responses to Clearwater Picks Up Only Minors Opening Day WIn

  1. RodeoJones says:

    I love Drabek’s line. It’s nice to not start out worrying about him right away.

  2. mjoephilly says:

    Was at the game tonight, Drabek showed his potential. He had guys flailing at his curve, (which at times looked like a Lidge slider the way it was diving), or he threw the ball by some guys. Also that rough inning he looked like he tired out, but impressed me by getting the third out by reaching back and throwing a fastball right by a hitter to end the inning. Galvis looked good at the plate and sharp in the field. Brown had a nice first inning double.

  3. NEPP says:

    Any word on his velocity in the start?

  4. Mo says:

    For his first start that looks pretty good to me. I read in the other post that he had 6 SOs in the first 3 innings. Started out hot!

  5. mjoephilly says:

    yeah mo he struck out the side in the first in between hitting one batter. As far as velocity I sat behind home plate and there were a couple scouts with guns, but I forgot to ask. I’d say he got it up there in the low 90′s which I’m ok with in April.

  6. B says:

    For the people that were there, how did Schwimer look? And what was his velocity? He’s another guy I want to keep my eye on. He was dominating in short season A ball last year.

  7. gkit says:

    Schwimmer had a good inning except the 3rd out was a well hit line drive at the 2B. Who really impressed me was Kissock, he seemed to be throwing pretty hard and dominated for 2 innings.

  8. Anonymous says:

    for those who went to the game does drabek throw anything else besides the fastball and curve

  9. Bellman says:

    Here’s something you won’t hear very often… Freddy Galvis is leading the Phillies Minor League system in HRs.

  10. Marfis says:

    Checked out the boxscore on http://www.milb.com
    See that Michael Durant had 3 strikeouts to go with his 0-4.
    Could be a sign of trouble if that comes about too frequently. By the way, not to be a stickler or anything, but it should read Fidel Hernandez, 2B.

  11. PP Fan says:

    the thing that i liked reading about the most is that he got into trouble in the fourth and then settled down to control the damage. but 7 ks in 5 innings and a 1.0 whip ain’t bad either. nice work Kyle.

  12. Skunky says:

    All you suckers who voted Carrasco as our #1 prospect will be eating your words by july!

  13. The Savior says:

    Freddy Galvis getting off to a good start would be great news going forward. His 2nd half stats, iirc, were very impressive showcasing his ability to hit. We all know about the glove; if he can develop an ability to get on-base and gosh forbid some power, watch out.

    A lot of stuff to be happy about last night at CLW. Heck, good starts from a lot of guys across the system last night.

  14. nowheels please says:

    the mystery continues
    Escalona, S (BS, 1)
    am i missing something about this guy????

  15. Jeff O says:

    Yeah, both Collier and Brown had doubles, and Gose went 1-3 with a walk and some nice baserunning.

    And my guy Overbeck got plunked. It’s a skill, you know.

    - Jeff

  16. NewHorizons says:

    mjoephilly – any comment on Drabek’s height. I think I read a few weeks ago in Pilly.com that he had a growth spurt and has grown to 6’2″. This only makes things better.

  17. Rickey Branch says:

    Chuck LaMar said on his Friday Phils pregame radio appearance that last night Drabek was throwing 94-95 with a “major league” curve and change. He expects him to be in Reading sometime later this year.

  18. Pat Burrell says:

    Very impressive outing last night. Galvis has seemed to be crushing the ball all spring, if he consistently handles the bat like that, how high is his ceiling? He’s still only 19 or 20 right?

  19. Drew Naylor gets the start for the Threshers tonight, and then Julian Sampson on Saturday night.

  20. Rickey Branch says:

    Thought Galvis had a little more power from the right side but last night he went deep off a RHP. As a lefty hitter saw him bouce a double off the right field fence in an intrasquad game at Ashburn and in batting pactice from the right side clear the fence in left at Carlton. He has thick enough wrists so as he matures he should continue to generate more power. Glad they did not have him repeat Lakewood as was rumored early in spring training.

  21. Anonymous says:

    I’m worried about Naylor tonight…he can’t be happy repeating.

  22. NEPP says:

    94-95 is right where he was pre-surgery, correct? Or was he a tad slower. You’d think if he has a fully healthy arm and he’s matured his velocity should be a tad higher than in HS. Drabek will be our #1 prospect by the end of the year.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Little help! Can I listen to the Thresher games on the net?

  24. Jeff O says:

    Lots of low scoring games so far tonight – Knapp has six Ks in three innings at Lakewood.

  25. NEPP says:

    Knapp Update: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 R, 3 BB, 10 K, 1.59 ERA

    Not too shabby.

  26. NEPP says:

    Savery Update: 5 IP, 1 ER, 1 R, 2 H, 6 K, 1 BB

    Carrasco Update: 6 IP, 0 ER, 0 R, 4 H, 4 K, 0 BB

  27. reddeath says:

    yeah, so far good pitching at every level tonight.

  28. nowheels please says:

    I thought it was funny Marson wasnt catching . Now with Ruiz hurt I guess he get his chance.
    Why do baseball people say things like “its a 162 game season” then act counter to what they say. Hamels shudda
    stayed In Florida for 10 days or so Feliz too. They had subs now they PAY

  29. NEPP says:

    They put Marson on a plane to Denver according to Scott Lauber. There’s a good chance Ruiz will be on the DL as of tomorrow.

    I can’t say I’m upset…though I get the feeling Coste will get most of the starts as UC hates playing rookies.

  30. Philo says:

    Joel with the Grand Salami !!!
    Mum and Dad will be proud… I hope to see them today.

  31. the pitching has been terrible which im sure is no great revelation all of last years starters have no fastball, i hope its only a matter of being behind a week or two. when did ruiz get hurt i missed that. i hope marson gets some pt. on a semi-serious note maybe well see happ,carrasco and park in the rotation unless some arms come to life. finally thank God this celabration will end tuesday if obama can make time. its 2009 not 2008

  32. NEPP says:

    Happ looked very good today…good life on his fastball and great location on both that and his slider.

  33. nowheels please says:

    UC better get used to rookies we all knew the injury bird would land but not this quickly or this hard. I was praying they would respect Hamels but went they left him in the cold exhibition game I knew he was screwed. This Ruben’s fault
    he shudda taken charge and left Hamels in Florida out of harms way
    Dubee i an idiot in a great spot A penny for Moyer’s thoughts

  34. Pat Burrell says:

    What’s that have to do with the minors or Clearwater? Don’t disrespect Threshers Nation’s hard work.

  35. lets hope that marson destroys the ball so they cant send him down. nw i bet moyer is thinking what the hell happened can myers throw a fastball can hamels be healthy can blanton find location and am i too old. i usually dont agree with conlin,although he a wonderful poet,but yesterdays column was right.move on too 2009. just maybe carrasco should be here now and from what nepp wrote maybe they should fasttrack these guys alittle more. btw is donald playing 3rd.

  36. nw and nepp i believe happ belongs in this rotation and if they dont wake up bring up carrasco. myers cant throw a fastball,blanton cant find his spots,although i believe he is the 2nd best pitcher in the rotation, moyer may in fact be too old and hamels may be sore god i hope not.lets hope marson destroys the ball.

  37. nowheels please says:

    I cant remember Blanton from last year but he doesnt seem to be finishing his pitches and following through. I was never aboard the Myers thing . In relief he just came out and threw as hard as he could for 60 pitches. Now he tries to pace himself and HORRORS he thinks
    Note Bastardo a success in relief
    so we have John, Nepp and Lou voting for Happ should be enough

  38. nowheels please says:

    Pat Burrell Says:

    What’s that have to do with the minors or Clearwater? Don’t disrespect Threshers Nation’s hard work.

    ?????? what disrespect Just meant there will be movement in the minor this year and should of been already. btw what does your comment add

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