Updates on Frederick's Brandon Erbe and Tyler Townsend

WILMINGTON, Del. - There is some good news to report on Frederick pitcher Brandon Erbe. He said he hopes to come off the disabled list soon after experiencing a setback early this month. Erbe had labrum surgery in August 2010 and has been working his way back since. He said earlier this year his shoulder felt great and his velocity had returned to pre-surgery levels. But then he faced five batters and walked all five in a Keys game on July 2, and he went on the DL the next day. He said he felt some tightness and soreness and now is about at the end of a 20-day run of treatment and a throwing program. "I'm pretty close, a couple of days away (to being activated)," Erbe said this afternoon in Wilmington. "I threw a long bullpen the other day and I have a simulated game tomorrow when we get back home to Frederick - throw 25 or 30 pitches to hitters and see how my stuff plays. "I feel good. Just needed a little time off I guess. Just a little setback, but now I feel back to where I was when I first got here. I never expected to have a setback but I think it was a minor deal." Erbe is 2-3 with a 7.94 ERA in 11 games with the Keys. Over 17 innings, he has walked 18 and fanned 18. Meanwhile, first baseman Tyler Townsend is here back with Frederick also. He began the year with Double-A Bowie and hit .247 in 21 games with six homers, 13 RBIs and a .858 OPS. But the hamstring issues that have dogged him for a few seasons returned and sent him once again to the disabled list. He spent some time in the Gulf Coast League and with short-season Single-A Aberdeen, and now is continuing to work his way back with Frederick. "It's tough missing that much time and moving all around to different teams and leagues. Just trying to get comfortable again at the plate and finish up strong," Townsend said. "It's been three years of this now (the hamstring injuries). We've done everything we can between me and the trainers. I feel like I've done everything possible I could and there is no blame on anyone. "It's good right now. I had some tightness early in the year and then ended up pulling it and that set me back a few more weeks. But right now, so far, so good." Now he wants to get his bat going again. He is batting .161 with five RBIs, but no extra-base hits in eight Frederick games. Here is tonight's Frederick lineup: CF - Trent Mummey 3B - Michael Mosby 1B - Tyler Townsend LF - Jeremy Nowak DH - Michael Flacco 2B - Travis Adair C - Joe Oliveira RF - Roderick Bernadina SS - Micheal Rooney P - Dylan Bundy Bundy, who is 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA, is facing a Wilmington team tonight that ranks last in the Carolina League in team batting at .242 and is tied for last in runs scored. He faced the Blue Rocks in his second Keys start on June 2 and gave up just one run and three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Bundy allows a batting average of .313 against left-handed hitters for Frederick and .224 vs. right-handed batters. Wilmington has eight right-handed hitters in its lineup here tonight. Steve Bumbry was in the original Keys starting lineup in right field but was a late scratch and Roderick Bernadina is now in right. Not sure yet of the reason for the change.