Lehigh Valley closed out week six of their season having gone 1-6 on the week, and now at 5-30 on the year, 20 games out of first place in the Northern Division of the IL.  The misery clearly continues with no real end or even break in sight.  Andy Tracy moved into 6th place in the IL in homers (6) and that wraps it up as far as Lehigh Valley hitting leaders.  As far as pitching goes JA Happ is 9th in innings pitched (39.1) and 2nd in strikeouts (42). Brian Mazone is 4th in WIns (4), 2nd in innings (45.2), and third in homers allowed (6).  JD Durbin is 2nd in homers allowed (7) in only 24 innings.

Week in Review–Lehigh Valley retuned to their losing ways last Friday evening with a 4-3 loss to Columbus. Ron Chiavacci (1-3) looked a bit stronger than he had in his previous two outings, however gave up 4 runs on 5 hits over 5 innings.  He walked 3 and struck out 7. The ‘Pigs jumped out early to a 2 run lead in the 2nd inning on a 2 run double by TJ Bohn, but the CLippers chipped away, scoring 3 runs in the 4th inning, two on a double by Elijah Dukes. The ‘Pigs offense added a run in the 6th to make it 4-3 but couldnt get any closer.

The ‘Pigs left the bases loaded in the 9th last Saturday on their way to another 3-2 loss to Columbus.  Newly acquired Les Walrond (0-1)got the spot start for Lehigh Valley and went 2.1 innings giving up 1 run (none earned) on 2 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 3. The Cippers got a run in the 3rd on a error by Mike Cervenek, followed by 2 wild pitches by Walrond, and added another in the 4th and 7th to take the insurmountable 3-0 lead.  Rich THompson made it close with a 2 run inside the park homer in the 7th but that was all the ‘Pigs could muster. Jon Knott, playing his second game for Lehigh Valley had 3 hits.

A myriad of errors and the fact that STeve Kline could not get anyone out was the ‘Pigs undoing on Sunday as they lost 8-1, dropping them to 4-27.  JA Happ (0-4) was strong once again, allowing only 1 unearned run over six innings. He walked 2 and struck out five, and had good control throwing 65 of his 97 pitches for strikes. Happ left with the score 2-0 at the end of 6, but the bullpen, specifically Kline couldnt get anyone out as the Clippers put up a 5 spot in the 8th, to conclude the blowout. Brandon Watson was the only notable offensively going 2-4 with a run scored.  The ‘Pigs three errors are also worth noticing (Robles, Happ, Watson).

On Monday, the ‘Pigs were down 7-0 before they could look up, behind the horrendous pitching of Kevin Beirne (0-2) and JD Durbin, on the way to an 11-7 loss in the series opener against Toledo.  Lehigh Valley pitchers allowed 16 hits on the night.  The ‘Pigs made it somewhat respectable by putting decent offensive numbers on the board including 13 hits. Offensive notables were Rich Thomspon (3-5, 2 doubles, 2 runs, 2 RBI’s), Jason Jaramillo (2-5, double, run, 2 RBI’s), and Brennan King (2-4).  Matt Childers was also rocked in relief, giving up three runs on five hits over one inning.

Clearly when Brian Mazone takes the mound, Lehigh Valley has a shot to win, as Mazone notched his 4th victory (accounting for 80% of the ‘Pigs wins) in another fine outing Tuesday night in Toledo,  Mazone went 7.2 innings and gave up a lone run on 5 hits.  He walked 2 and struck out 4, and lowered his ERA on the season to 2.96.   Toledo had a 1-0 lead until a big 4 run 5th inning by Lehigh Valley put the ‘Pigs ahead for good.  Andy Tracy’s 6th homer, a three sun shot, was the crucial blow. TJ Bohn added a solo homer for Lehigh Valley, while both Mike Cervenek and Jon Knott collected two hits apiece.

On Wednesday, the ‘Pigs blew leads of 4-0, and 6-4 on their way to a 7-6 extra inning loss.  Ron Chiavacci started and went 5.1 innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 2.  He left with the bases loaded in the 6th and newcomer RJ Swindle promptly gave up a bases clearing triple cutting the ‘Pigs lead to 4-3.  Reliever Gary Knotts also struggled, failing to hold the 6-4 lead.  Brandon Watson, Rich Thompson, Mike Cerevenek, Andy Tracy and Jon Knott all had multi hit games for the ‘Pigs who had a franchise record 15 hits.  Knott (2) and Casey SMith (2) homered for the Pigs who fell to 5-29.

The ‘Pigs concluded their series against Toledo having lost 3 out of 4, the final game on Thursday a  7-3 loss.  Les Walrond (0-1)started and basically gave Lehigh Valley what they were looking for out of him, going 5 innings, and giving up 2 runs on 2 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 4.  JD Durbin came in and continued his run of consistently horrible performances, effectively putting the game out of reach by giving up 5 runs over 2 innings. Brandon Watson was 2-4 with 2 runs scored for the ‘Pigs. Mike Cervenek added 2 RBI’s.

Transactions– On Tuesday, pitcher Jason Anderson was returned once again to Reading.  Anderson was 0-0 with a 3.35 ERA in 5 appearances with the ‘Pigs. Opponents were hitting .333 against him.   Anderson was sent down not necessarily because of his performance, which has been better than most ‘Pigs pitchers, but the fact that Reading had 3 left handed relievers(Outman, Castro, Swindle) that needed work.  Therefore, RJ Swindle was promoted to Lehigh Valley.  The promotion of Swindle, 24, was well deserved based on the year he has had thus far in Reading.  He is 1-0 with a 0.54 ERA in 11 appearances.  he has pitched 16.2 innings, given up only 8 hits, and incredibly has walked only one and struck out 16.  Opponents are hitting .143 against him and his WHIP is 0.55.  Swindle, has the stuff to be a lefty specialist out of the ‘pen, and throws a wicked curveball, sometimes as slowly as the high 50’s.

The acquisition of lefthander reliever Stephen Randolph out of the Astros organization for a player to be named later is worth noting in that Randolph may end up with the Phillies or with the ‘Pigs so the Phils can evaluate what they received, Randolph, 34, is a 6’3 situational lefty that pitched this year for AAA Round Rock in the Astros organization and is 0-1 with a 1.23 ERA in 11 appearances having given up only 8 hits in 14.2 innings.  He walked 11 and struck out 21 and the opposition is hitting only .160 against him.  His issue is and always has been his control.  He did make 14 appearances that were largely ineffective last year for the Astros.  The acquisition makes you ask exactly what the Phillies are thinking with the lefthanded relievers in the organization and where they fit it to the plans of the Phillies if at all (Kline, Swindle, Castro, Outman).

Pork– Oscar Robles has pretty much left off exactly where Chris Woodward was. Robles was hitting .191 with 2 errors in his first week plus with the ‘Pigs.  Familiar numbers.

–Andy Tracy has a 11 game hitting streak.

–The ‘Pigs are 0-8 in one run games.

–There has not been a Quality Start by a right handed starter since April 14th.

—Jason Jaramillo is now at 19% of runners caught stealing (7/37).

–One has to believe that the run JD Durbin has had in the Phillies organization may shortly reach its conclusion.

–In the passed five games, the ‘Pigs bullpen is 0-2, with a blown save and a 13.80 ERA.

–The Phillies minor league system continues to have the worst won/loss percentage in Major League Baseball at 49-83.

–Lehigh Valley has scored just 92 runs in 35 games, last in the IL.  The next lowest total is 129 by Rochester.