Joe-B Gem

Perhaps starting pitching is contagious.  Joe-B turned in a gem in his first start last night.  Elbow problems plagued him most of last season.  He doesn’t have the glitter of Doc, Cliff and Cole but his career is a winning one.

He’s now 27-17 since coming to the Phils for three prospects, none of whom are with the A’s any longer.  At Citizens Bank Park, he’s 13-3 in his last 16 starts. 

Starters so far have a 1.60 ERA for six games, pretty stingy.

Phillies are now 1-1 in series wins.  A year ago, they won 34 of 53.  Winning series is key.

Weekend
Mets in town for three games.  Charlie’s being honored pre-game Saturday for his historic 646th win last season, which set a record for a Phillies manager.  The Phillies have a surprise gift for him.

After Sunday’s game, the Phillies take a Delta charter flight across the country to San Francisco.  10 games in 10 days against the Giants, Padres and Diamondbacks, not an easy journey.

Then back home for one four-game series against the Cubs, starting April 27.

Down On The Farm
**Lehigh Valley won 4th in last 5, 5-4, vs. Syracuse.  C Tuffy Gosewisch hit a grand slam.  RHR Phillippe Aumont, 3rd save, 2 strikeouts, 1 inning.

**Reading improved to 7-1 with a 4-1 win in Harrisburg.  RF Jiawan James had his 2nd triple and threw out a runner at first base.  RHS Trevor May (2-0), 1 run, 7 innings and an RBI double; RHR B.J. Rosenberg, 2nd save.

**Clearwater went extra innings for the second straight game, this one a 6-5 win over Lakeland.  1B Jim Murphy, 3 hits, 1st homer, 3 RBI.  CF Peter Lavin, 3 hits, 2nd steal. RHR Jordan Whatcott (1-0), 0 runs, 2 strikeouts, 2 innings.

**Lakewood won home opener, 8-1, over Hagerstown.  CF Gauntlett Eldemire, 1-3, 3 runs, 6th steal.  RHS Michael Nesseth (1-1), 0 runs, 5 innings; RHR Kenny Giles, 1st save.

Phlashback
April 13, 1983—Trailing, 9-5, C Bo Diaz hits game-winning grand slam with two out in the last of the ninth off RHP Neil Allen to defeat the Mets, 10-9.

April 13, 2003—Phillies score club-record 13 runs in one inning (4th) en route to a 13-1 romp in Cincinnati.

April 14, 1960—34-year-old Gene Mauch replaces manager Eddie Sawyer, who resigned after 9-4 opening day loss in Cincinnati two days earlier.

April 15, 1985—Mike Schmidt plays in his 1,795th game to break the club record held by Richie Ashburn.

April 15, 2004—Four-run eighth inning lifts the Phillies to a 6-4 win over the Reds, their first victory in Citizens Bank Park.  LHP Rheal Cormier is the winner; save for Billy Wagner.  Homers by 3B David Bell and C Mike Lieberthal.

More Phlashback moments can be found on www.phillies.com/alumni.