Guerrero cycles past Philly

You've probably already noticed that Vlad Guerrero hit for the cycle in Blue Ridge's 8-1 victory over Philly yesterday. Guerrero got the hardest one out of the way immediately, with a triple in the first inning that gave the Bombers a 1-0 lead. Guerrero led off the 4th with a double, scoring when the next batter, Prince Fielder, drove him in. Things looked bad when Guerrero grounded out in the 6th, but bounced back big time in the 8th with a two-run homer. With the hardest ones out of the way, Guerrero hoped for one more chance in the ninth. Thanks to the Bombers offense coming alive, Vlad got his at bat in the ninth and lined the needed single to right field. Guerrero is the first player to hit for the cycle since Philly's Albert Pujols and Vancouver's Eric Chavez achieved the feat in back to back days in 2006.

Roy Oswalt and Justin Verlander dueled it out to a double-complete game 1-0 final. The score was 0-0 right up til the 9th inning when Brad Hawpe led off the bottom half of the inning with a fly ball that just cleared the fence. Verlander gave up only three hits and three walks in his nine, while striking out 6. Verlander, who got an awful start to the season, has been excellent lately, giving up one run or less in four of his last five starts. Oswalt was also very effective, giving up one run on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 9.

Arkansas and D.C. slugged it out for 13 innings yesterday, with the Falcons emerging on top of an 8-7 decision. After D.C. established a 7-4 lead, the Falcons had to rally in the 6th and 7th to tie up the game. It would remain tied for another five innings until Brandon Phillips hit a nubbler to the left side of the infield that Jose Reyes was unable to get to in time. David Wright, breaking with the pitch, scored easily from third.

John Smoltz, who was demoted for three days to AAA Dublin, came back in full force by shutting out the Straphangers 4-0. Smoltz held the Hangmen to only five hits and struck out 12. B.J. Upton and Kurt Suzuki had four of the five hits. The Sugar Bears were held to only 6 hits in the game, but Phil Hughes and the Sardine City pen gave up 8 walks.

The first deal during the 2008 regular season was just completed today. The Philadelphia Endzone Animals exchanged farmhand pitchers with division rival Vancouver. Vancouver re-acquired lefty Scott Olsen, who had struggled with the club last season. Philadelphia received Kyle Kendrick in return. Kendrick was drafted to give the Fist some rotation depth, but with the strength of the rotation and Rich Hill available to spot start, Kendrick was expendable. Philly will send Kendrick to AAA Trenton for the time being, but he may be called up if Yovani Gallardo or Jason Bergmann continue to struggle.