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Ramon Oviedo making himself at home in Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Ramon Oviedo enjoyed a strong debut for Lakewood on Tuesday, and the Phillies brass got a firsthand look at the 6-foot-6, 175-pound righthander from the Dominican Republic.

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Ramon Oviedo enjoyed a strong debut for Lakewood on Tuesday, and the Phillies brass got a firsthand look at the 6-foot-6, 175-pound righthander from the Dominican Republic.

Joe Jordan, the Phillies' director of player development, attended the game, a 3-1 win by the BlueClaws over the visiting Delmarva Shorebirds, the low single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.

Oviedo, who turns 22 in July, earned the win, pitching six innings while allowing five hits. He struck out three and walked four.

"I thought he did well and he's a player we are excited about," Jordan said. "His breaking ball is improving and he still has to continue that."

Oviedo had been pitching in extended spring training.

"He could have come up when camp broke, but I wanted to keep him where it was warm and have him get regular work," Jordan said.

Signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent April 19, 2010, Oviedo was pleased with his opening performance.

"I was a little nervous at first, but after that I loosened up and felt confident," Oviedo said through infielder Harold Martinez, who served as his interpreter.

Oviedo said he learned things right away by pitching in his new environment.

"This league is more difficult," he said. "You have got to keep the ball down here."

Inconsistent prospect

Lakewood third baseman Maikel Franco is listed as the Phillies' No. 10 prospect in the Inquirer/Daily News rankings and he has struggled to be consistent on offense.

Then again, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Franco won't turn 20 until Aug. 26, and even for the South Atlantic League, that is considered young.

Entering the weekend, he was hitting .230 with four home runs and 20 RBIs and a .674 OPS.

He spent most of last season with short-season Williamsport but appeared in 17 games for Lakewood, hitting .123 in 65 at-bats.

"Defensively he's good and has good footwork over there," Lakewood manager Mickey Morandini said. "He's got a cannon for an arm."

Morandini said Franco has good offensive potential and started out well, but has tapered off.

"He has been putting the ball in play, and what has impressed me most is that he has started to lay off the breaking stuff," Morandini said.

Jordan said that Franco has been trying to do too much, a trap that ensnares many young players.

"He's really played a good defensive game and the bat and power are there," Jordan said. "I look for June, July, and August for progress from him."

Bush in a groove

Former Milwaukee Brewer righthander Dave Bush is hitting his stride for triple-A Lehigh Valley. Bush has pitched 16 consecutive scoreless innings following Tuesday's 2-0 win over Louisville.

He became just the second pitcher in IronPigs history to throw a nine-inning shutout. The other nine-inning shutout was by Les Walrond on July 6, 2008, against that same Louisville team.

Bush is 4-3 with a 2.73 ERA and has an early June opt-out clause in his contract.

"His stuff is not what it once was, but he really knows how to pitch and pitches against the count," Jordan said. "He will pitch backward, throwing breaking balls in fastball counts and vice versa, but he has been really impressive, especially his last few starts."

Clout in Clearwater

He may be a little old for high single-A, but Clearwater centerfielder Peter Lavin is enjoying a strong season. A graduate of the University of San Francisco and a 20th-round pick in the 2011 draft, Lavin turns 25 in December.

Lavin entered the weekend hitting .297 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 155 at-bats. He has been used as the Threshers' leadoff hitter.

"He is a lefthanded hitter who can run, play center field, and has a real feel for hitting," Jordan said. "I watched him for four weeks in spring training and he was laying out line drives, and he has a chance and can really hit."