BY SCOTT LAUBERWASHINGTON -- So, after a 90-minute rain delay resulted in a game called after only five innings, here was Drew Carpenter's self-assessment of his rather unusual first major-league start.
"Could've been better, could've been worse," he said.
File this under the "could've been better" heading: After the game, Carpenter was optioned to Class AAA Lehigh Valley. The Phillies have recalled lefty reliever Sergio Escalona (pictured) from Class AA Reading.
Why Escalona?
Hard to say. The Phillies have veteran right-handers Mike Koplove (1-2, 0.52 ERA), Tyler Walker (1-0, 0.00 in 11 innings) and Gary Majewski (0-2, 3.72) pitching well at Lehigh Valley, and they already have three lefties (Scott Eyre, Jack Taschner, J.A. Happ) in the bullpen. But Escalona (2.08 ERA in 14 appearances) has done well at Reading. Assistant GM Scott Proefrock is with the team in DC, so I'll make sure to get an explanation for the decision in the morning. Please make sure to check back for that.
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More on Carpenter: He escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the first inning, a two-on, two-out jam in the third and allowed one run in the fourth inning and three in the fifth before being knocked out of the game two outs shy of qualifying for his first major-league win. Overall, he allowed five runs on eight hits, walked three and struck out four in 4-1/3 innings.
"Good first outing, I guess," he said. "Couple pitches could've went either way. I was getting behind early. I had to get ahead. That's how rookies are, I guess. You kind of get squeezed. Next time I just got to get ahead early in the count, and good things will happen after that.
"I'll be back, so no big deal. It'll be all right."
That's it from here after a LONG day at Nationals Park. Be back in the morning as the Phillies shoot for a rare four-game sweep.
