News and Notes on the Nationals Minors from the perspective of the fan, sportswriter, and amateur scout
Carter Kieboom’s fourth single of the afternoon yesterday put Salt River on top, 4-3 and on the verge of snapping a three-game slide. Instead, the Rafters channeled the 2018 Washington bullpen for the third time in four games and coughed up the game-winning runs for a 5-4 loss to the Javelinas to extending their losing …
Salt River’s losing streak extended to three as they dropped a second straight game to second-place Mesa, 7-2.
Four Nationals got into the game – two starters and two relievers:
The gap between the Rafters and the Solar Sox is down to 1½ with four games left to play. The two teams do not play each other this week.
Back-to-back two-out singles in the top of the 9th enabled the first-place Rafters to draw even with the second-place Solar Sox to tie the game at 4-4. But the spectre of a bad bullpen that haunted the Nationals in 2018 regular season somehow made its way to Arizona again as Mesa got a run in …
No game last night, but an observation from Lee: “Carter reminds me of when Bryce was here, always around the manager or coaches listening and learning.” TRANSACTION/FREE AGENCY UPDATE Before I list out the free agents, courtesy of Baseball America, there were two re-signs – RHP Aaron Barrett and SS Bengie Gonzalez. Otherwise, you’ll see …
Peoria got two in the 8th to tie and pushed across the winning run in the 9th for an 8-7 win over Salt River.
Just two Nationals appeared in the game.
• Jake Noll reached base four times with three singles and a walk, scored a run, and drove in a run. He also stole a base and turned a 5C-3 double play (pictured above).
• Like Taylor Guilbeau on Tuesday (sorry) Ben Braymer (pictured yesterday) was the first man out of the ‘pen and was Shawn Kelley’d by the first batter he faced for a solo HR. He recovered to strike out the side – all caught looking.
The loss dropped the Rafters’ lead over the Solar Sox to 3½ games going into today’s off day.
With single runs in the 1st, 6th, and the 8th innings, Salt River overcame an early 2-1 deficit to edge the Scorpions, 3-2 for their fourth straight win. Carter Kieboom and Daniel Johnson both got the start—at shortstop and centefield, respectively—but both were 0-for-3 with a walk. Johnson dis steal his 5th base of the …
Daniel Johnson (pictured) got the Vlad Guerrero Sr. treatment in the 10th as he held the free runner at third base in the top of the 10th to hold the score at 3-3 and set up the Rafters’ 4-3 win over the Sagauros in the bottom of the 10th. Not coincidentally, Johnson threw a runner …
Both Washington representatives made it into the AFL Fall Stars, which the West won over the East, 7-6.
Carter Kieboom (pictured) batted sixth and was the starting shortstop, where he made three assists in four defensive innings. At the plate, he was 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Ben Braymer came on with two outs in the 4th and issued back-to-back walks before getting a strikeout to end the inning and strand a runner. He threw 17 pitches, seven for strikes.
The Rafters have an easy schedule this week, with four of their five games at home and no day games after a night game. Barring a collapse—they lead the AFL East by 3½ with nine games left—Salt River will face AFL West-leading Peoria in Scottsdale on the 17th.
The Saguaro pitchers weren’t a surprise to the Rafters, who paddled them for eight hits over seven innings in an 8-3 win. Tres Barrera, Jake Noll (pictured), and Daniel Johnson were in the starting lineup at C, 1B, and CF respectively. • Barrera went 0-for-3 with a run scored and sac-fly RBI. He committed an …
No Luis Reyes—maybe today, AFL’s not so good about probables—but two Nationals appeared in the Rafters’ 14-3 demolition of the Desert Dogs.
• Daniel Johnson (pictured) reached base four times and scored four times as he went 3-for-4 with three singles while playing left field. He also stole two bases and had two putouts.
• Carter Kieboom came back to earth with an 0-for-4 afternoon but played error-free at second base and turned a double play for the assist among his three putouts.
Salt River visits Surprise this afternoon to close out Week 4 of the AFL. Tomorrow is the Fall Stars Game, which will be televised. If you enjoy broadcasters reading off their media notes, it’ll be televised on the MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com.