Lehigh Valley (23-18) Postponed, rain.  The game against the Toledo Mud Hens will be made up Sunday as part of a double header starting at 1:35 PM.  Mark Appel (3-2, 3.58) is schedued to start Game One, James Russell (1-0, 0.96) in Game Two.

Reading (27-14) Postponed, rain.  The game against the Trenton Thunder will be made up Sunday as part of a double header starting at 2:05 PM.  Ben Lively (6-0, 1.53) is scheduled to start Game One, TBD in Game Two.

Clearwater (26-15) Lost to Palm Beach, 9-6.  The weak-hitting Cardinals pounded out 15 hits.  They scored 3 runs off Tyler Viza in the first inning, and 6 by the end of the third.  The light-hitting Cardinals padded their run total with 2 home runs off the Threshers’ bullpen.  Meanwhile, the Threshers’ offense struggled to get base runners again against the Cardinals’ starting pitcher.  They finally broke through with 4 runs in the seventh when they got 5 of their seven hits, but by then it was too late.  The Threshers struck out 12 times, two times each for the batters in the 2 thru 6 holes – Sandberg, Tocci, Pullin, Walding, and Martin.  Andrew Pullin hit his third home run in 11 games.

Will Morris was the first man out of the bullpen.  Guess that means he’s the odd man out in the rotation with Shane Watson’s arrival.  We’re still waiting for the companion transaction after his addition to the roster.   Watson was in uniform and in the dugout Friday night. Heard talk on the press level that Cody Asche has already left Clearwater.  Expect he’ll be continuing his rehab in either Reading or Lehigh.

• Viza – 2.0 +4 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP.
• Morris – 4.0, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR.
• Hockenberry – 2.0, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.
• Kingery (.263) went 3-5 with 2 doubles and an RBI.
• Sandberg (.265) went 1-5 with an RBI.
• Tocci (.258) went 2-5 with an RBI.
• Pullin (.250) went 1-5 with a HR (3) and RBI (10).
• Green (.273) DNP.
• Walding (.267) went 1-4.
• Martin (.245) went 0-3.
• 3B Campbell (.275) went 2-3 with a double, BB, and 2 RBI.
• Campbell (1) and Kingery (5) committed errors.
• Numata threw out a base runner on a steal attempt.

The Threshers’ in game announcers, Kirsten Karbach (middle) and Josh Appel (left) present “Threshers on Deck”.  In this episode they interview Temple’s Matt Hockenberry, learn the double play from Scott Kingery and Drew Stankiewicz, and provide a wrap up of the Threshers’ first month.

Kirsten was heard on the air during a Phillies’ spring training game when she sat in for Scott Franzkee and worked with LA. Josh just graduated USF and recently received the Jim Nantz Award from STAA as the nation’s most outstanding collegiate sports broadcaster for 2016.

And here’s a pregame interview with Threshers’ pitching coach, Aaron Fultz (on 5/16). He discusses Ulises Joaquin, Elniery Garcia, Ranfi Casimiro, and Tyler Viza.

Lakewood (15-25) Lost to Delmarva, 2-1.  Franklyn Kilome gave up one run in six innings.  Kenny Koplove took the loss when Zach Morris allowed one of two inherited runners to score.  Lakewood managed 8 hits, but five came from the bottom of the order – Brendon Hayden had two, Grenny Cumana had three.  Jose Pujols continued his slide from his season high of .284.  he is now oh-for his last 4 games.

• Kilome – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 WP.
• Marrero (.303) DNP.
• Tobias (.292) went 1-3 with a BB.
• Pujols (.256) went 0-4 with.
• Grullon (.233) went 1-4.
• Hernandez (.256) went 0-3 with a BB, and 3 K.
• Hayden (.290) went 2-4 with an RBI.
• Cumana (.267) went 3-4.
• Grullon (4) and Hernandez (4) committed errors.
• Pujols had an outfield assist.
• Tromp and Duran successfully stole bases.

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

Extra Innings –

• 5/21 – LHV activated Frank Herrmann fro the 7-day DL
• The Rosters are up to date here.