Sunday’s News & Notes
Five wins out of eight played on a busy Saturday
The Quick Rundown…
| Team | Yesterday’s Result | Today’s Game | Pitching Matchup |
| Syracuse Chiefs | Lost, 7-6 (11 inn.) | @ Charlotte, 2:15 p.m. | Yunesky Maya (1-4, 3.79) vs. Matt Zaleski (1-3, 6.75) |
| Harrisburg Senators | Won, 6-3; Won, 4-3 | @ Altoona, 6:05 p.m. | Garrett Mock (0-1, 13.50) vs. Bryan Morris (1-3, 5.05) |
| Potomac Nationals | Lost, 5-2; Won, 2-0 | Chris Hernandez (5-4, 2.95) CANCELED |
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| Hagerstown Suns | Won, 7-3 | vs. Delmarva, 1:05 p.m. | Sammy Solis (1-0, 3.47) vs. Scott Copeland (4-4, 4.78) |
| Auburn Doubledays | Lost, 9-6 | vs. Batavia, 1:05 p.m. | Pedro Encarnacion (0-0, -.–) vs. Andrew Benes (0-0, -.–) |
| DSL Nationals | Won, 4-1 vs. DSL Yankees1 |
OFF DAY | N/A |
Charlotte 7 Syracuse 6 (11 inn.)
• Stammen 3IP 6H, 5ER, BB, 2K, 2HR
• Wilkie 2IP 0H, 0ER, 0BB, 3K
• J Flores 3-5, 2R, 2B, RBI
• Frazier 2-4, R, 2R HR, 4RBI
Why? Why? Why did they pitch to Damon Viciedo, the 21-year-old phenom (.912 OPS) for the White Sox, after coming back from five runs down to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the 11th inning? With two outs, a man on second, and an 0-2 count, Viciedo rapped a game tying single that was part of the two-run Charlotte walkoff eleventh. Outstanding bullpen work by JD Martin, Jeff Mandel, Atahulapa Severino, and even eventual loser Hassan Pena held down the knights for 7 scoreless innings to give Syracuse a chance for what might have been. In the fifth, Jeff Frazier started the comeback with a two run homer. In the sixth inning Jesus Flores had an RBI double (his 11th two-bagger), and Jeff Frazier stepped up with a 2RBI single to plate Flores and Tug Hulett. All in all, this is the kind of loss that Syracuse will look back upon if they manage to run off a miraculous win streak to get back into the IL playoff picture from their current 27-39 record.
Harrisburg 6 Altoona 3 — GAME ONE
• Brad Peacock (W, 8-2) 7IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 7K, HR, CG
• Moore 2-4, 2 2B, 2RBI
• Rahl 2-4, 2R, 2B, RBI
Brad Peacock proved to the Altoona Curve that he is one of the better pitching prospects in the Nationals system. Last night, he gave up a first-inning home run. He gave up a double and a triple in the 6th as part of a two-run rally for the Curve, but in-between he must have been filthy, striking out seven and walking only one in a seven-inning complete game. Harrisburg did most of its damage in the third inning, keyed by doubles from Chris Rahl and Tyler Moore and helped by a Curve fielding error. Archie Gilbert had a strong game as well. He helped engineer a run in the second with some get ’em on (walk), get ’em over (stolen base), get ’em over once more (balk), and get ’em in on a Jonathan Tucker groundout. He later led off the sixth inning with a home run.
Harrisburg 4 Altoona 3 — GAME TWO
• C. Martinez 4IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, K, HR
• Martin 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Zinicola (S, 4) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 3K
• A. Valdez 1-2, R, HR, BB
• Tucker 2-3 2R, 3B, RBI
This game got off to an inauspicious start when Carlos Martinez gave up a first-inning, three-run shot to Jordy Mercer. The back end of the bullpen and the back end of the lineup sealed the deal on the doubleheader sweep for Harrisburg against former Harrisburg pitcher Aaron Thompson. Batters six through eight scored all four runs. In the second, Alex Valdez homered and Jonathan Tucker scored on a two out wild pitch from Thompson. In the fourth, an RBI Tucker triple was the big blow in a two-run frame. Rafael Martin pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win. Protecting a one-run lead, Zech Zinicola struck out the side in the 9th.
Salem 5 Potomac 2 — GAME ONE
• Holder (L, 3-8) 6⅓ IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 3K, HR (three-run)
• Nelo ⅔ IP, 2H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 2K
• Bloxom 2-4, R
• Ramirez 0-1, 3BB
Sue may have picked the wrong game to skip, but here’s what “she” saw in the first game Last Night In Woodbridge.
Potomac 2 Salem 0 — GAME TWO
• Demny (W, 4-6) 5IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 5K
• Testa (S, 1) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K, 2-0 IR-S
• Perez 2-3, 2RBI
• Kobernus 2-3
Paul Demny carried a no-hitter into the fifth, giving up a one-out double with a runner on but getting two key outs to escape the jam. Josh Smoker would pitch to two batters in the sixth, hitting one and walking the other before Joe Testa was brought on to kill the rally. Testa got the last six outs to earn his first save of 2011. Eury Perez’s two-run single in the second against the #39 pick in the 2010 Draft, Tony Ranaudo, stood up as the game-winner. Perez and Jeff Kobernus both went 2-for-3 to pace the Potomac offense. Sue skipped this one in part because of fatigute, but also to make time to write a Father’s Day essay.
Hagerstown 7 Delmarva 3
• Jordan (W, 7-3) 6IP, 8H, 3R, 2ER, BB, 2K
• Eusebio (S, 3) 3IP, 2H, 0ER, 3BB, 3K
• Keyes 3-4, 2R, 2B, 2HR, 4RBI
• Martinson 1-2, 2R, HR, RBI, 2BB
Hagerstown battled back from a 3-0 fourth inning deficit. Taylor Jordan was hit hard in the second and gave up a double and two singles as part of an early two-run rally. In the fourth inning, two singles and a Michael Mooney error led to an eventual Tyler Kelly sacrifice fly. Kevin Keyes answered back with a three-run homer that scored David Freitas, who had doubled, and Jason Martinson. Hagerstown went on score in three consecutive innings with back-to-back homers by Martinson and Keyes to put the game out of reach. Wilson Eusebio pitched three shutout innings to close the door and earn his third save.
Batavia 9 Auburn 6
• Esteves (L, 0-1) 3⅔ IP, 9H, 6R, 6ER, BB, 6K
• Jenkins 1⅔ IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 2BB, 2K
• Ortega 2-2, 2R
• Norfork 3-5, 2B, 4RBI
A five-run fourth chased DSL grad Wirkin Estevez, who gave up six runs on nine hits and a walk, as the Auburn Doubledays lost their home opener, 9-6 to Batavia. Middle infielders Bryce Ortega and Khayyan Norfork combined to go 5-for-7 with two runs and four RBIs to lead the Doubleday offense, which scored five of their six runs in the last three innings.
DSL Nationals 4 DSL Yankees1
• Martinez, A 4IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 3K
• Vasquez (W, 1-0) 2⅔ IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, BB, 3K
• Difo 2-2, 2R, 2BB
• Tllero 1-3
Their fourth error of the day prevented the shutout, but not before the D-Nats snapped their three-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the DSL Yankees1 squad. Venezuelan Anderson Martinez made his first start, going four scoreless innings and allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three. Daury Vasquez was awarded the win as the most effective reliever to follow, pitching two and 2/3rds innings and charged with the lone run on one it and a walk. Wilmer Difo reached base four times with two hits and two walks to lead the D-Nat offense.
How does mock still get starts?
$$$$, a 40-man slot, and he has the pictures on Mike “The People’s RZA” Rizzo. The Kung-fu must be strong with Mock.
Apparently the Senators would like to give the Altoona Curve a wonderful Father’s Day gift: a start by Garrett Mock. [facepalm]
Sue, it had to be another commitment because I doubt that given a choice you’d pick the Holder start.
I wonder if Shannon Wilkerson is related to Brad Wilkerson. I noted that he is going to Harrisburg to do a former Senator gig. But he typically refuses interviews with the press about the Nationals/Expos recent past.
I suspect Mock is far worse than Holder. At least Holder is still in there putting forth effort.
It’s good news to see Josh Wilkie still doing great; maybe someday he’ll actually get a chance.
Glad to see Rafael ‘beer league’ Martin back to his old self.
I love Wilkie, but I honestly feel he’s topped out where he is now. Last year he had an outside chance at a callup, but he had some bad outings lately and guys like Balester have passed him. He’s had some opportunities to close and he hasn’t been dominant.
Learn a knuckleball, Josh! It will be the capstone of all that junk you throw and get you to bigs!
Wilkie is a good pitcher, but does get by more on his smarts than his stuff. His fate may have been sealed by a less than impressive performance in the AFL back in ’09. Rizzo has definitely gone in the other direction with his bullpen since then, collecting more hard throwers than ‘crafty’ arms for the ‘pen. I’d like to believe he could still be a MR for someone, but probably not in DC.
Don’t know if it’s a schedule change, but Harrisburg isn’t scheduled to play until 6:00. Potomac has already been rained out.
It’s an id-10-t on Harrisburg, a.k.a. PEBCAK in the IT world, and I’ll update Potomac w/o comment.
Rained out? There was no rain, at least not today. It’s because for the second time in less than a week the idiots failed to put the tarp on the field. How nice to once again drive to Art’s Dump to find there was no game.
Uggh! Mock? When is Rizzo going to learn? I’m not even going to be able to follow this game; its just too painful!
I also wish they would give Wilkie a chance. I know he doesn’t have a “Rizzo type” arm, but you never know. Again, it comes back to rewarding success, and not rewarding projections and ceilings. I want results, and lets face it, we’re not getting postive results in AA tonight with Mock pitching!
Weekly audio from Syracuse manager Randy Knorr.
http://www.mypodcast.com/fsaudio/syracusechiefsinsidepitch_20110619_1309-741246.mp3
What do the Nats see in Knorr? Foli and Jewett were good managers, Knorr seems out of place or way over his head. The bonehead move last night after getting the first 2 outs in the 11th, sends Booker out to talk to Pena (another idiot heard from) and he never gets another out. Why? This is the worst Nats/Chiefs team yet and it stems from Knorr. He needs to go back to being a bullpen coach or wherever he started. We got rid of Toronto in Syracuse, I don’t want anything to do with them because it all sucks.
They see a manager that has won a league championship with 70 different players in ’08, narrowly missed the playoffs in ’09, and made the AA playoffs in ’10. They also see a guy that’s extremely even-tempered, doesn’t play favorites, and will adjust his managing to the players he has to work with. If you watch more carefully over a longer period of time, and talk to the folks that deal with him behind closed doors, then you’ll understand why he’s likely to succeed Riggleman if/when the time comes.
I’m no baseball executive (and I don’t play one on TV), but Knorr’s been very highly rated for quite awhile now. I’ve also heard talk that he’s destined to become Riggleman’s successor.
The Harrisburg website lists Arnesen as the starter, not Mock. If its Arnesen starting I’ll pay attention. If its Mock I already know the outcome; lets just say 4 1/3IP, 7ER, 8H, 6BB, and I’ll give him 3K’s with the loss. Ughh!!!
Its Arnesen today, maybe Mock has been moved to the pen?
It was Mock when this went to virtual press his morning. You’ll also note that the Altoona’s pitcher has changed, too.
Maybe Rizzo said to not start Mock, or the Harrisburg manger decided again it. ethier may its muy interesante
Could someone please explain to me how you can have 10 rainouts in half of a season when you have just put in a brand new drainage system.
Here’s what the field looked like at 1:00pm: Pic1 | Pic2
Maybe there’s “standing water” in the OF somewhere, but that IF dirt looks awfully dry for having allegedly had rain fall it overnight.
Wow, Sue, Wow! They say a picture tells a 1,000 words, in this case, those two speak volumes.
Somebody in authority please investigate these people!
This is unbeleivable. I’ve played softball on better fields than this.
I see an idiot who is tied with Norfolk and Houston (mlb) for worst team in AAA/MLB. He has no clue how to manage, come on up here and watch this yutz sometime. I have tried for 3 years to give the Nats the benefit of the doubt, but hearing things like believing a total baboons ass like Knorr is in line for a big league job, well, it proves my initial thoughts about the Nationals before they came to Syracuse right, horrible operation run by jackasses. Hopefully John Simone will tell these idiots to take a walk after next season. Anything, including Toronto has to be better than this shit.
Stay classy, Don.
Ever think that the manger has nothing to do with the fact that there are only two actual hitting porspect on the entire roster. Chris Marrero and Corey Brown, thats hit. How can you expect a team with such a little amount of hitting porspects to be good. What your seing is the last of Jim Bowden’s Nationals that have yet to be replace by actualy prospects. I would bet that next year Syracuse will start to be competative. Its like building a MLB franchise, it takes time to build a team at AAA.
Very much this. Also remember that Espinosa disappointed the good people of Syracuse by having a year that was so good that he basically skipped AAA. Subtract him from the Nats and put him on Syracuse and you may be getting some different results.
Bowdens Nats had us within 3 games of the playoffs the last 2 years. You don’t see this team constantly, I do. This team has good players, with a lousy hitting coach and even worse manager. Excuse me for giving a damn about my team. Jesus, look at Frazier, guy was an all-star power hitter last year, this year? .176 with 6 HR’s after hitting .275 and 25HR’s 1 year ago in Toledo. I do agree with one thing, Knorr does adapt to his teams skills, the crappier they play, the crappier he manages. Sure he is a nice guy, I remember him playing here with Toronto years ago, but you know what they say about nice guys? Give me a Billy Martin, or even Foli and Jewett any day.
But the thing is, Rizzo could care less what Syracuse’ record is, he only cares about player devlopement. Im not blamming you for caring about your team, in fact I like it, but you cant be posting stuff like that. I have a feeling Syracuse will be very good next year, so you just have to wait out the bad. Guys can have bad years, and guys can have fluke good years. It looks like Syracuse got caught with some of there hitters having bad years, or getting old. If the same guys cant do anything when they get actual prospects than I feel that is enough proof, but guys are AAAA guys for a reason, Look at the colapses of Chris Duncan and other AAAA guys.
Good, Then tell Rizzo he can pay for my season tickets. Sorry, but that is a sorry, weak assed excuse bro. Winning environments foster winning. By not giving a damn about success here, it tells you why the Nats are the laughing stock of pro ball and will continue to be so. Winning breeds winning and suck breeds suck. When I buy tickets, and merchandise and invest myself in a team that I have supported for a lot longer than the Nationals have been stinking up the Nations capital, I get excited when the playoffs are within reach, only to have a team that was promised to contend wind up sucking because the manager is an emotionless, talentless joke, I get a little pissed off. I am all about winning, that is why coming so close the last 2 years, only to watch Las Vegas being 40-31 while the Chiefs are in a 3 way tie for worst team in AAA/MLB is a joke. You don’t “build” by f***ing up what you had going in the right direction the last 2 years. Say what you want, there are good players here, that will be good players elsewhere when they escape the dynamic duo of Knorr and Browne. What do Foli and Jewett do these days anyway? Only the Nats organization and the “fans” they have would think that by destroying a winning environment is a good idea.
Wow you sure do take your AAA affiliate like a major league team, in all honesty, you will be out of your misery in a couple weeks-months with some fresh talent, Peacock will be up soon enough, Lombardozzi will be up hopefully soon (not like any great infielder is blocking) , and if Moore can start hitting again (we will see after break, Im sure he can) he will be up (knocking Marrero to LF? hmmm interesting thought) I mean dude enjoy the ride the minor leagues give you, plenty of us have suffered through bad seasons, not to mention you better hope Nats keep Syracuse as a affiliate, you will miss out on Harper, Rendon, Purke (if signed), Strasburg rehab, Solis, Ray, Cole, Meyers, The Nationals have some of the best prospects in baseball, all will be fertilizing the loins of your team in the coming years, patience is a virtue, wisdom from Konnor
@Don – Knorr is anything but an emotionless, talented joke. He is one of the best managers you will ever see. He controls his emotions and uses that control of himself to teach and motivate his players. He takes a bunch of guys and molds them into a team. Knorr knows when and where to let those emotions show. You have absolutely no idea what goes on in the clubhouse. Try talking to your beloved team and hear what they have to say about Knorr – think you might learn something.
Don; the Nats probably couldn’t care less about winning AAA titles. Lets be truthful here: AAA teams are mostly populated with the following classification of players:
– starters who couldn’t make the MLB rotation
– 40-man relievers who are waiting to be called up b/c of injury
– spare part infielders, outfielders and catchers to be used as needed.
So, yes, if you have a poor mlb team, odds are you’re going to also have a poor AAA team.
So, why is the Nats AAA team so bad? Look back at drafts from 3-4 years ago, since those are the players who should now be matriculated through the system and be sitting at AAA. Well, our drafts from 2006-2008 were pretty crummy. Who is to blame for that? One name: Jim Bowden. His 06 draft was indicative of how bad a GM he was. When Cole Kimball got promoted, it marked the first player from that draft class to make the majors for us.
Meanwhile, our high-A teams have won the championship 2 of the last 3 years. So good players are coming and should be on the way. Building teams takes time. Right now our low-A team is a playoff-calibre team, and those guys will make their way through and bring success as they go. That is attributable to Rizzo, and his dedication to building from within.
Who won the AAA league last year? Who cares. Who won the World Series? yeah, everybody knows that.
@Don
First, the NATS are not the laughing stock of baseball. The Giants, Cardinals and Orioles are not laughing. Second, do you think we NATS fans “care” about Syracuse. Some of us, feel Marraro, one your best hitters, should be up here, but hey you can have Stairs. Minor league ball is about the players, not the team. Uh but do not worry, the AAA team if all goes well will so be in Richmond and you will be out of your misery that I do not share and do not care about. You are the only one who liked likes Bowden who set back the NATS by 3 years. Rizzo is a good GM.