Impressive Myers expected to join Phillies

POSTED: September 3, 2009

By JEFF MOELLER

For the Daily News

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Yong Kim/Staff Photographer
Brett Myers looks up after catching a line drive hit by Florida's John Baker in the second inning. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
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ALLENTOWN - Brett Myers took another major step toward his return to the Phillies with an impressive outing as the Triple A Lehigh Valley IronPigs fell to the Syracuse Chiefs last night, 2-1.

Myers pitched a hitless eighth inning in his sixth minor league rehab start, his second in as many nights with the IronPigs. He made previous starts with Class A Lakewood and Clearwater as well as two stints with Double A Reading.

Myers left the ballpark immediately after his outing and was unavailable for comment. IronPigs officials confirmed he left the game early.

Earlier yesterday, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Myers would "probably" join the team this weekend in Houston, a contention that general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. confirmed later.

Manuel acknowledged the potential that Myers' return would add to the Phillies' bullpen. But he said he wanted to see Myers pitch before penciling him into a specific role.

"We know what he can do,'' Manuel said.

With the IronPigs trailing 2-1 in the top of the eighth, Myers took the mound to face Syracuse's fourth, fifth and sixth hitters. He retired the side in order on eight pitches, mixing his fastball, curve and cutter.

Myers got cleanup hitter Kory Castro to ground to second baseman David Newhan on a 2-2 pitch, then forced Matt Whitney to ground to third baseman Mike Cervenak on the first pitch.

The recently turned 29-year-old righthander, with his flamboyant red glove, ended the inning when he struck out Leonard Davis on three pitches to end the inning, fanning him with his splitter. Myers threw eight pitchers and consistently reached 91 and 92 mph on his pitches.

On Tuesday night, Myers worked a scoreless ninth inning and notched the first minor league save of his career in preserving the IronPigs' 3-2 victory over Pawtucket in a 19-pitch effort.

Myers was placed on the disabled list on May 30 with a torn labrum in his right hip and had surgery on June 4.

 

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