CLEARWATER, Fla. - More than a few heads surely turned here at 1:29 p.m. Sunday when the seven-hole hitter for the Boston Red Sox stepped into the batter's box for the first time. <\/p>\n
Blake Swihart is the touted catching prospect the Phillies are said to covet in a potential trade involving ace Cole Hamels. The 22-year-old's name constantly surfaces in trade speculation, and will likely continue to do so until the July 31 trade deadline passes. <\/p>\n
But while it was a bit curious that Swihart was the catcher sent on the more than two-hour trip to start against the Phillies at Bright House Field, there was nothing to it, according to the Red Sox. <\/p>\n
\"So, Blake's here because of the rotation that we've been looking for with position players the last four to five days,\" Boston manager John Farrell said before the game. \"Get them a couple of games back-to-back, and his second day falls on today. <\/p>\n
Even so, baseball's top catching prospect offered a nice showing at the plate. Swihart, who is expected to start the season in triple A, singled twice in three at-bats and drove in a run. The switch-hitter has seven hits and four RBI in just 13 Grapefruit League at-bats. <\/p>\n
\"I think people are looking into it too much,\" Swihart said before the game. \"This was just my turn to catch.\" <\/p>\n
Ryan Howard homered, doubled and drove in two runs in the Phillies' 11-4 split-squad win against the Red Sox. Odubel Herrera tallied three of the team's spring-high 15 hits. <\/p>\n
Chase Utley, playing again as the designated hitter, singled twice in three at-bats. Nonroster invitee Cord Phelps hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning off Justin Masterson. <\/p>\n
In the other split-squad game, the Phillies lost to the Yankees, 3-2, in Tampa. A Chase Headley homer highlighted a decisive two-run seventh inning for the Yankees against nonroster invitee Kevin Slowey. <\/p>\n
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Phillies Notes: Why Phillies' fans eyes were on the Red Sox catcher<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CLEARWATER, Fla. - More than a few heads surely turned here at 1:29 p.m. Continue reading