Ryan Howard is back with the BlueClaws tonight to continue a minor league rehab assignment. Howard went 2-4 with three RBIs in a BlueClaws comeback win on Thursday. Howard and Chris Duffy, who homered, had the game winning two-run single in the 9th,

and drove in four, combined to bring in all seven Lakewood runs.

Click here for today’s game notes.

10 Years Ago Today…Ryan Howard homered for the BlueClaws at FirstEnergy Park against Hagerstown, the same opponent he’ll face tonight.

(Un)-Retired Numbers…Howard’s #29 was retired by the team in 2010, but it will be unretired tonight for Howard…The other BlueClaws retired numbers are #42, retired across all of baseball in honor of Jackie Robinson, and #50, retired by the South Atlantic League in 2008 in honor of the 50 years of service given to the league by former league president John Henry Moss.

Comeback Kids…The BlueClaws erased a 6-0 deficit on Thursday night to beat West Virginia 7-6…Lakewood had been 0-42 when trailing after eight innings before the comeback win, and the six-run deficit they erased was their largest of the season (previous high was four).

31 and 14…Chris Duffy has reached base by either hit or walk in all 31 games he has played with the BlueClaws this year and has a 14-game hitting streak…He is 42-104 with 14 walks and has walked in the four games that he has not hit safely…The on-base streak spans two stints with Lakewood – seven games from Opening Day through April 17^th and 24 games since returning to the BlueClaws on May 29^th…He’s hit three home this season, including two during the current homestand.

BlueClaws Transactions…C John Hill was transferred to Clearwater and SS Stephen Malcolm was transferred to Williamsport before Friday’s game…The BlueClaws added two new players to the roster…SS Tim Carver was activated after signing his contract with the Phillies…He was a 19^th round pick in the 2012 draft out of the University of Arkansas…LHP Hoby Milner also joins the BlueClaws after allowing one run in 5.1 innings with Williamsport…Milner was a 7^th round pick this year out of the University of Texas.

Another New BlueClaw…LHP Blake Mascarello has been added to the BlueClaws roster…Mascarello was signed as a non-drafted free agent this year out of Purdue University, where he was a second-team all Big-Ten relief pitcher this season…Mascarello went 8-1, 1.86 with the Boilermakers, helping them to their first conference title since 1907…He had thrown 2.1 scoreless innings with the GCL Phillies before his promotion to Lakewood.

Ryan Howard went 2-4 with 3 RBIs on Thursday night as the BlueClaws came from behind to beat West Virginia 7-6 wi

th three runs in the 9th inning.

Howard’s SAC fly made it 6-5, and then Chris Duffy, who homered in the 8th inning to extend his hitting streak to 14, line a two-run single to center to give Lakewood the win.

Here are a few quotes from Howard’s post-game press conference:

“I’m not worried about my Achillies – it’s just a matter of getting back into game shape physically.”

“It’s not hard to not rush [back to Philadelphia] – I’ve been patient for 8 or 9 months now. Another week or two weeks isn’t going to kill me. You want to be back up there as soon as you can but you have to make sure you take the proper precautions. I’m not going to rush myself just to get back there. I have to make sure I’m good and ready to go.”

On the overshift he faced – “In the big leagues, the shortstop is playing behind second base. This guy was out there hi-fiving the centerfielder. My approach was the same though – wanted to stay up the middle. The first ball I got around on it a bit but the approach was right what I wanted to do.”

“It was good because with this being my first real actual game where it counts for something, being able to get in these situations are being, being able to work in these situations. Get back into a game on the line type situation.”

ALSO: We can report that Howard WILL continue his rehab assignment with Lakewood on Friday and he will play first base rather than DH, which he did on Thursday.

The BlueClaws will temporarily unretire his #29 for him to wear.

Below, find some Ryan Howard related notes as he gets set to begin a rehab assignment with the BlueClaws.

The

BlueClaws are 21-11 when a Phillies player rehabs, and they are 1-2 when Ryan Howard rehabs. The BlueClaws are 21-10 in rehab assignment games in Lakewood, with an additional loss last year when Joe Blanton threw a scoreless inning with the BlueClaws in Hagerstown.

The 2002 Season

Howard was drafted by the Phillies in the 5^th round of the 2001 draft from Missouri State University, and after one year with Batavia, he joined the BlueClaws in 2002. He spent the whole season in Lakewood, managed by current White Sox hitting coach Jeff Manto.

With the BlueClaws that year, he hit .280 with 19 home runs and 87 RBIs. The 19 home runs are the third highest single-season total in franchise history (Juan Richardson in 2001 and Jim Murphy in 2011 each hit 22). His 87 RBIs are the 3^rd highest single-season total as well (in 2004, Randy Ruiz had 91 and Jake Blalock had 90)

2007 Rehab Appearance

Howard rehabbed in Lakewood on May 23^rd and 24^th in 2007, going 2-6 with a home run and four RBIs. The BlueClaws welcomed crowds of 8,063 and 8,168 for those two games.

2010 Rehab Appearance

Howard was back in Lakewood on August 20^th, 2010 for another rehab assignment, and he went 1-2 with an RBI double.

Before the game that night, the BlueClaws retired the #29 worn by Howard when he was with the BlueClaws in 2002. The team was scheduled to retire his number on September 2^nd of that season, but a Phillies snow-out in Colorado forced a make-up game on that day. The BlueClaws then retired his number in a pre-game ceremony when he rehabbed in 2010. The attendance that night was 10,032, the second largest crowd in team history.

—

Here are today’s Lakewood game notes.

30 and 13…Chris Duffy has reached base by either hit or walk in all 30 games he has played with the BlueClaws this year and has a 13-game hitting streak…He is 40-100 with 14 walks and has walked in the four games that he has not hit safely…The on-base streak spans two stints with Lakewood – seven games from Opening Day through April 17^th and 23 games since returning to the BlueClaws on May 29^th…He’s hit two home runs with Lakewood and two with Clearwater this year.

About the Hitting Streak… Duffy is 23-47 over the current 13-game hitting streak…Duffy’s 13-game hitting streak includes one game in which he delivered a pinch-hit single in his lone at bat…The hitting streak includes seven two-hit games and two three-hit games (nine multi-hit games of 13)…It’s the longest by a BlueClaw this season…Last year, Jim Murphy had a 16-game hitting streak…The franchise record is 24, set by Jiwan James in 2010.

BlueClaws Transactions…RHP Mike Nesseth (5-1, 3.06) has been promoted from Lakewood to Clearwater…Nesseth had allowed just three earned runs in his last 29 innings pitched and got his third save of the season on Monday night…In addition, LHP Ervis Manzanillo (1-5, 5.37) has been transferred to the seven-day disabled list (left elbow strain).

The Newest BlueClaw…LHP Blake Mascarello has been added to the BlueClaws roster…Mascarello was signed as a non-drafted free agent this year out of Purdue University, where he was a second-team all Big-Ten relief pitcher this season…Mascarello went 8-1, 1.86 with the Boilermakers, helping them to their first conference title since 1907…He had thrown 2.1 scoreless innings with the GCL Phillies before his promotion to Lakewood.

After West Virginia topped the BlueClaws last night 9-5, the teams continue their series tonight, on a day that feels like a classic “Calm Before the Storm” couple of hours with the possibility of a Ryan Howard rehab assignment in Lakewood beginning

Thursday night. More on that below.

Here are today’s game notes.

29 and 12…Chris Duffy has reached base by either hit or walk in all 29 games he has played with the BlueClaws this year and has a 12-game hitting streak…He is 39-97 with 14 walks and has walked in the four games that he has not hit safely…The on-base streak spans two stints with Lakewood – seven games from Opening Day through April 17^th and 22 games since returning to the BlueClaws on May 29^th…He’s hit two home runs with Lakewood and two with Clearwater this year.

About the Hitting Streak… Duffy is 21-43 over the current 12-game hitting streak…Duffy’s 12-game hitting streak includes one game in which he delivered a pinch-hit single in his lone at bat…The hitting streak includes six two-hit games and two three-hit games (eight multi-hit games of 12)…It’s the longest by a BlueClaw this season…Last year, Jim Murphy had a 16-game hitting streak…The franchise record is 24, set by Jiwan James in 2010.

First Pro Hit…BlueClaws C Josh Ludy, drafted in the 8^th round of the 2012 draft from Baylor, got his first pro hit on Tuesday night, a three-run double to centerfield in the 8^th inning…Ludy hit .376 with 16 home runs with Baylor this year and is originally from Portland, Indiana.

—

As you may have heard, Ryan Howard could well begin a rehab assignment with the BlueClaws tomorrow night.

Howard will return to Philadelphia on Wednesday for “functional testing on his left Achilles.” If Howard passes those tests, he will begin a rehab assignment with the BlueClaws Thursday night.

We should have the official word later today – which we’ll pass along.

In the meantime, here is the promo rundown for the weekend.

Wing Fling, presented by 105.7 The Hawk, where we find out who has the best chicken wings at the Jersey Shore, returns

Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Park.

Wings will be sold for 50-cents apiece, with restaurants being judged on Best Overall, Hottest, Most Unique, and Fan Favorite. Judges will come from 105.7 The Hawk and you, the fans!

There will also be a wing-eating contest, at which Joel “The Cannon” Podelsky (pictured) is the 5-time defending champion.

Participating Restaurants: Ivy League Bar & Grill, T.G.I. Friday’s, Parker House, Buffalo Wild Wings, The Shore House Bar & Grill, Idle Hour, Tommy’s Coal Fired Pizza, Mad Hatter, Jack & Mike’s Brickhouse

For information about participating in the wing-eating contest or other Wing Fling events, call Kevin at 732-901-7000 extension 115 or email kfenstermacher@blueclaws.com.

Chris Duffy, 19-40 over a current 11-game hitting streak, and the BlueClaws take on West Virginia tonight at FirstEnergy Park in the second game of a four-game series. LHP Ervis Manzanillo, who got his first win of the year on Thursday at Hagerstown,

takes the mound for the BlueClaws.

Click here for today’s game notes.

Home Cooking…Lakewood is now 1-0 in a stretch where they will play 17 of 22 games at FirstEnergy Park, with the only road games coming from July 4-8 in West Virginia…It’s the longest such stretch of the season, and will be followed by 16 of 19 games on the road between July 19 and August 6…The BlueClaws are 19-18 at home this year with a 3.64 ERA compared to 10-27 on the road with a 5.58 ERA.

28 and 11…Chris Duffy has reached base by either hit or walk in all 28 games he has played with the BlueClaws this year and has a 11-game hitting streak…He is 36-94 with 13 walks and has walked in the four games that he has not hit safely…The on-base streak spans two stints with Lakewood – seven games from Opening Day through April 17^th and 21 games since returning to the BlueClaws on May 29^th…He hit his first home run with Lakewood (he hit two with Clearwater) on June 11th.

About the Hitting Streak… Duffy is 19-40 over the current 11-game hitting streak…Duffy’s 11-game hitting streak includes one game in which he delivered a pinch-hit single in his lone at bat…The hitting streak includes five two-hit games and two three-hit games (seven multi-hit games of 11)…It’s the longest by a BlueClaw this season…Last year, Jim Murphy had a 16-game hitting streak…The franchise record is 24, set by Jiwan James in 2010.

BlueClaws and On-Base Streaks…Chris Duffy has a current 28-game on-base streak for the BlueClaws, the longest such streak by a BlueClaw this season…Following are the longest on-base streaks for the BlueClaws in the last several seasons…2011 – Zach Collier, 26…2010 – Leandro Castro, 30…2009 – Jeremy Hamilton, 32.

Nine in Four…Aaron Altherr has nine hits over the last four days, going 2-4, 3-5, 2-3, and 2-4 (9-16) raising his average from .231 to .251…Altherr has 16 multi-hit games to tie Maikel Franco for the team lead…His home run on Sunday was his fifth of the season…All of his home runs have come on the road.

Three reads for you courtesy of MiLB.com from yesterday.

First, this on 2009 BlueClaws RHP Tyler Cloyd, now with

Lehigh Valley:

“I was pitching pretty well in Double-A, so all I tried to do when I came up here was to keep that going,” Cloyd said. “Up here, you face more veteran hitters who are going to pick out your mistakes. For me, it’s all about limiting the mistakes I make.”

Cloyd ranks second in the league in ERA. What’s more, he has allowed only 67 baserunners (via hits, walks or hit batters) over 70 2/3 innings, giving him a IL-best ratio of 8.53 baserunners per nine innings.

“He’s shown a lot of composure for a guy who hasn’t pitched at this level before this year,” Lehigh Valley manager Ryne Sandberg said. “He’s very competitive out there with the way he attacks hitters. And when his control is really on, he can make it tough on hitters with his sinking fastball and his cut fastball.”

This, on 2010 BlueClaws RHP Jarred Cosart, now with Corpus Christi in the Astros system (AA):

The 22-year-old right-hander felt like he had to return to the form — both mentally and physically — that prompted MLB.com to rank him among baseball’s Top 100 Prospects.

“I’ve been doing tremendously better,” he said. “I put a little pressure on myself and got away from what’s made me successful. But recently I’m getting back to that, definitely. I feel like A-ball, big leagues, the mound is still 60 feet, 6 inches away from the plate.”

And finally, MiLB.com talked to BlueClaws LHP Ethan Stewart after his outing yesterday:

Lakewood lefty Ethan Stewart wasn’t hyperventilating Sunday afternoon in the dugout. That was just Stewart resting his hands on his thighs and breathing deeply five or six times.

“I’m in a euphoria-zone kind of thing,” Stewart said. “It’s great.”

Enjoy.

The BlueClaws are back tonight at FirstEnergy Park to start a nine-game homestand – four games against West Virginia and then five against Hagerstown.

Cl

ick here for today’s game notes.

- Lino Martinez, who has not pitched since June 7th, has been activated and will start tonight.

Welcome Home…The BlueClaws return home for a season-long nine-game homestand that starts tonight with a four-game series against West Virginia…Hagerstown comes in for a five-game series that begins Friday…The BlueClaws are 18-18 at home this year with a 3.63 ERA compared to 10-27 on the road with a 5.58 ERA.

The West Virginia Series…The BlueClaws are 0-3 against West Virginia this year, getting swept in Charleston from May 28-30…The teams will play 19 games this year, including 16 in the second half (seven in Lakewood).

27 and 10…Chris Duffy has reached base by either hit or walk in all 27 games he has played with the BlueClaws this year and has a 10-game hitting streak…He is 34-90 with 13 walks and has walked in the four games that he has not hit safely…The on-base streak spans two stints with Lakewood – seven games from Opening Day through April 17^th and 20 games since returning to the BlueClaws on May 29^th…He hit his first home run with Lakewood (he hit two with Clearwater) on June 11th.

About the Hitting Streak… Duffy is 17-36 over the current 10-game hitting streak…Duffy’s 10-game hitting streak includes one game in which he delivered a pinch-hit single in his lone at bat…The hitting streak includes four two-hit games and two three-hit games (six multi-hit games of nine)…It’s the longest by a BlueClaw this season…Last year, Jim Murphy had a 16-game hitting streak…The franchise record is 24, set by Jiwan James in 2010.

Seven in Three…Aaron Altherr has seven hits over the last three days, going 2-4, 3-5, and 2-3, raising his average from .231 to .247 in the last three days…Altherr has 15 multi-hit games to tie Maikel Franco for the team lead…His home run on Sunday was his fifth of the season…All of his home runs have come on the road.

Ethan Stewart tries to snap Lakewood’s two-game win streak and run his personal win streak to four this afternoon in Hagerstown.

Click he

re for the game notes.

About Stewart: LHP Ethan Stewart (3-6, 3.76) makes his 15^th appearance (14^th start) for Lakewood on Sunday afternoon…After going 0-6 over his first 10 starts, Stewart has won his last three, allowing five ER in 18 IP in wins over Lexington, Delmarva, and Hickory…He gave up one run in six innings on Sunday against Hickory in his last start…He is one of two BlueClaws pitchers (Kleven) from Canada and was ranked 16^th in the GCL last year by Baseball America.

Opposing Starter, RHP Alex Meyer…RHP Alex Meyer, 22, makes his 15^th start of the year and second against Lakewood…He gave up six runs in 2/3 of an inning against the BlueClaws on April 12^th, Lakewood’s home opener…Meyer has allowed just six ER over his last six starts, covering 32 innings pitched (4-0, having allowed 19 hits, 33 strikeouts)…Last time, out, he gave up two ER in five innings at West Virginia on Sunday…He was selected to the Futures Game earlier this week and was a SAL All-Star…Meyer was a first round pick last year (22^nd overall) out of the University of Kentucky…He was taken in the 20^th round out of high school by the Red Sox.

26 and 9…Chris Duffy has reached base by either hit or walk in all 26 games he has played with the BlueClaws this year and has a nine-game hitting streak…He is 33-87 with 12 walks and has walked in the four games that he has not hit safely…The on-base streak spans two stints with Lakewood – seven games from Opening Day through April 17^th and 19 games since returning to the BlueClaws on May 29^th…He hit his first home run with Lakewood (he hit two with Clearwater) on June 11th.

About the Hitting Streak… Duffy is 16-33 over the current nine-game hitting streak…Duffy’s nine-game hitting streak includes one game in which he delivered a pinch-hit single in his lone at bat…The hitting streak includes four two-hit games and two three-hit games (six multi-hit games of nine).

Colin Kleven, who was the winning pitcher in the Sally League All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Charleston, SC, makes his first start of the second half tonight in Hagerstown.

viagra online canadian pharmacy