News and Notes on the Nationals Minors from the perspective of the fan, sportswriter, and amateur scout
Tres Barrera (pictured above from Tuesday night) was the sole Nationals prospect to appear in yesterday’s gam in the AFL, which saw the Salt River lose 1-0 to Glendale. Barrera went 0-for-3 with a strikeout but threw out the only runner who attempted to steal. The Rafters finish up the week with another afternoon game …
It was a Star Trek convention in regulation and a disaster in extras, but the Rafters didn’t lose, 2-1 in 10 innings against the Desert Dogs. The two teams each collected three hits through the first nine innings. Glendale’s fourth, a double with one out, plated the free runner in the top of the 10th …
The good news: Three Nationals farmhands appeared in the starting lineup. Carter Kieboom started at 2B and batted second; Daniel Johnson was in RF and hit 6th; Jake Noll manned 3B and was 7th in the batting order.
The bad news: they combined to go 0-for-11 with a walk (Kieboom) and three strikeouts (one apiece). Kieboom had one putout (tag on a 2-4 CS) and two assists. Johnson caught one flyball and fielded one single. Noll threw away the only ball hit to him for an error.
The win evened up the AFL East at 4-3 for all three teams. Tonight, the Rafters host the winless Desert Dogs.
Two singles and an error plated the decisive run in the 9th as the Rafters edged the Solar Sox, 2-1 last night in Arizona.
Luis Reyes, looking like a somewhat svelte Livan Hernandez, tossed five scoreless innings for a no-decision. He gave up two hits and two walks, hit a batter, and struck out three while needing just 65 pitches (39 for strikes) to retire 15 of 19 batters faced.
Tres Barrera was the sole Washington position player to appear in the game. He started at catcher and went 2-for-4 with one whiff while throwing out the only runner who attempted to steal against him (Reyes was pitching).
With the win, Salt River returns to .500 at 3-3. The two teams switch venues and play tonight in Salt River.
The Rafters drop their first day game of the 2018 slate.
Salt River never led in this one as Scottsdale tripled them up 6-2 last night. Jake Noll (pictured) was taken out of storage and inserted into the lineup at 3B for his first AFL appearance. He went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. On defense he had one assist. Taylor Guilbeau made his second appearance and Shawn …
Another day, another slugfest as the Rafters rallied late and took this one from the Scorpions, 7-6 in 11 innings.
Just two Nationals appeared in the game, but both started.
• Daniel Johnson led off and played centerfield again, this time without an error. At the plate he was 1-for-5 with a walk and a steal.
• Carter Kieboom batted second and played second base. He singled and tripled in six at-bats and scored a run.
Salt River and Scotssdale switch venues and play again tonight, which closes out the short week.
Tomorrow night, the league fellat…er, salutes its sponsors and holds its sixth annual Bowman Hitting Challenge. No official word on which National hitter will be participating.
Luis Reyes was misinformed as to when BP ended and the game began as he was lit up for seven runs in an 11-9 Salt River loss to Saguaro last night. Reyes walked two and struck out two but gave up seven hits to 14 batters faced over an inning and 2/3rds as he was …
The Salt River Rafters put up five in the 4th and held serve against the Surprise Saguaros as the Nats’ entry in the Arizona Fall League won its 2018 opener on the road, 10-8. Carter Kieboom got the start ahead of Jazz Chisholm and Bryson Brigham at shortstop and went 0-for-3 with a walk and …
I know it’s been quiet ’round here, but the lights are still on. We’re just waiting for something to happen. AFL TO BEGIN ON TUESDAY After announcing the roster with all the fanfare of free shuttle, the Nats octet of minor-leaguers begin their six-week sojourn in the Phoenix suburbs with an afternoon game in Surprise. …