Flashback: May in the Florida State League
May 2 -- Justin Verlander of the Lakeland Tigers was named Pitcher of the Week after striking out 12 over seven shutout innings in his lone start. He gave up two hits and walked two in his second straight double-digit strikeout effort.
May 2 -- Cody Haerther of the Palm Beach Cardinals was Offensive Player of the Week after collecting 14 hits in seven games to raise his batting average to .349. The California native homered in three consecutive games and had nine RBIs to move into the top 10 in both categories.
May 7 -- Brevard County's Ty Taubenheim tossed a one-hitter as the Manatees eked out a 1-0 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays. The only hit he allowed was a second-inning single by Robinson Diaz. Taubenheim retired 17 straight Blue Jays and faced just two over the minimum.
May 7 -- Palm Beach's Chris Lambert raised his record to 5-0 with 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory over the Fort Myers Miracle. He allowed five hits and two walks while lowering his ERA to 1.87.
May 8 -- Omar Bramasco and Josh Carter each drove in two runs during a five-run fourth inning that carried the Clearwater Threshers to an 8-6 victory over the Vero Beach Dodgers. The win snapped a seven-game slide.
May 8 -- In a matchup of two pitchers destined for the Major Leagues, Justin Verlander outdueled Philip Humber to lead Lakeland to a 6-2 victory over the St. Lucie Mets. Verlander gave up one run on four hits in six innings, striking out seven but walking six. Humber surrendered four runs - three earned - on seven hits over six innings.
May 8 -- Sarasota and Jupiter combined for 31 hits and seven home runs as the Reds held on for a 15-13 victory over the Hammerheads. Junior Ruiz and Mark Schramek each belted two home runs for Sarasota.
May 9 -- The Tigers scored single runs in five consecutive innings from the on their way to a 5-3 victory over the Mets that extended their winning streak to nine games. It was the first of two nine-game streaks Lakeland had in a spectacular season.
May 12 -- Anthony Raglani led off the 10th inning with a walk-off home run to give the Dodgers a 3-2 victory over the Reds.
May 13 -- New York Mets left-hander Kaz Ishii tossed four no-hit innings in his first rehab start for St. Lucie. He struck out three and walked one but did not figure in the Mets' 10-6 triumph over the Miracle.
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May 16 -- Vero Beach's Justin Orenduff was named Pitcher of the Week after going 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two starts. A second-round pick by Los Angeles in the 2004 First-Year Player draft, he allowed one run on seven hits over 12 innings, striking out 16 and walking only two.
May 16 -- Hammerheads outfielder Reggie Abercrombie was named Offensive Player of the Week. He showed off his power and speed, hitting three home runs and stealing four bases in six games. Abercrombie went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, two runs scored and three stolen bases in a game against Sarasota.
May 16 -- Tim Spooneybarger made his first appearance on the mound in two years and pitched a scoreless inning for the Hammerheads in a 5-1 loss to Dunedin. Acquired by the Marlins in 2003, he had been sidelined following reconstructive elbow surgery.
May 17 -- The Miracle defeated the Cubs, 9-2, for their first win at Daytona's Jackie Robinson Stadium since the 2003 season.
May 20 -- The Manatees presented TOON Takeover at Space Coast Stadium before their game against Sarasota. Cartoon Network stars Scooby Doo and Johnny Bravo were in attendance and available for photos and autographs.
May 21 -- Jason Vargas threw six shutout innings and picked up his first FSL win as Jupiter defeated Fort Myers, 4-1. The win was the third en route to a four-game sweep.
May 23 -- Vero Beach's Matt Kemp was named Offensive Player of the Week. He broke out of an 0-for-17 slump with seven hits in 12 at-bats, including five home runs in a span of nine plate appearances. Kemp also stole four bases.
May 24 -- Andy LaRoche homered in his fifth straight game, but the Dodgers were beaten by the Miracle, 15-3. He led off the seventh inning with a home run, putting Vero Beach on the board.
May 25 -- The Hammerheads staged "Guaranteed Win Night" against Clearwater. If the Hammerheads lost, all fans in attendance would have received a free ticket to an upcoming game. The Threshers came to Roger Dean Stadium with an 11-33 record, but the contest was rained out.
May 29 -- Kelly Hunt homered twice in a nine-run fifth inning to help the Tigers to a 12-3 victory over the Hammerheads. He hit a solo shot with one out, then clubbed a three-run dinger blast.
May 30 -- Lakeland's Kelly Hunt was named Offensive Player of the Week after batting .345 (10-for-29) with three homers and 10 RBIs.
May 30 -- Fort Myers' Adam Harben was named Pitcher of the Week. He had a no-hit bid broken up with one out in the eighth inning of a 1-0 victory over Brevard County. Harben struck out a season-high 12 in that game and went 2-0 in two starts with a 1.29 ERA.