With a pair of three-run rallies in the 4th and 5th innings, Salt River cruised past Peoria 6-4 to clinch a spot in the Arizona Fall League Championship Game on Saturday.
Three Nationals saw game action:
- Matt Skole batted third but went 0-for-3 with a walk. He handled all five defensive chances at first base without an error.
- Jason Martinson finished the AFL season with a six-game hit streak, as the taxi-squad third baseman notched an assist and was 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Aaron Barrett gave up a run on two hits and a walk but was credited with a hold while pitching the 8th inning.
Salt River’s opponent for the title game remains to be seen, as second-place Surprise lost to second-place Scottsdale yesterday to keep Peoria in first place by a ½ game. The Rafters visit the Sagauros this afternoon and can eliminate Peoria with a win while the Javelinas host the Desert Dogs and can earn a rematch against Salt River with a win or a Surprise loss.
Boy, even Martinson is joining the hit parade.
Luke, you saw him (don’t know how much) this year, what are your thoughts on him. Playing in the AFL has to help a lot.
Regarding those free agent signing, you have to figure adding a catcher smells an awful lot like a trade is coming. The logical matchup for the Nats is Tampa Bay, which is starving for catching & the Nats have a big time surplus.
Give Rizzo props on this; about 23-25 farm systems don’t have enough catching & the Nats have some studs coming fast with plenty to spare.
I wouldn’t say “big time surplus” — the Nats burned through Norris and Freitas (and got good returns for both) but aside from Leon, you’re looking at journeymen in AA and AAA, and then a group of 22-24 year-olds that have yet to master High-A. If Ramos comes back healthy, then perhaps Flores is fungible, but he’s certainly not a much of commodity except in conjunction with a group of players.
I’d say you forgot Solano, but you’ve always rated him lower than deserved.
He’s already good enough for a major league backup job.
Maybe he gets traded to Miami as a brother tandem.
Perhaps, and he certainly fits the Marlins budget!
Re: Martinson – He’s an intriguing mix of power and speed, but he can be had with offspeed pitches and strikes out a TON. He’s not as flashy as some of the other SS’s in the system, but has plenty of arm – enough to play 3B, though he’s that rare bird that’s better at short than a third. It’d be nice to think he’ll be challenged with Harrisburg to start 2013, but history suggests he’ll start back at Potomac and get bumped a few weeks later (e.g. Zach Walters).
woo hoo! more air time for Nats prospects. mlb network has the game listed at 3:00 Saturday.