Thursday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 4-2 vs. Louisville,
6:35 p.m.		 Long (2-4, 4.61) vs.
Garrett (1-2, 7.62)
Harrisburg Won, 5-3 vs. Portland,
7:00 p.m.		 Voth (1-1, 6.23) vs.
Stankiewicz (3-4, 4.52)
Potomac Won, 6-2 vs. Myrtle Beach,
7:05 p.m.		 Guilbeau (2-2, 4.21) vs.
Rucker (3-2, 1.95)
Hagerstown OFF DAY vs. West Virginia,
7:05 p.m.		 Bourque (4-5, 5.17) vs.
M. Wallace (2-4, 3.36)
Auburn OFF DAY vs. West Virginia,
7:05 p.m.		 B. Hill (0-1, 3.12) vs.
G. Wallace (0-2, 4.66)
GCL Nationals OFF DAY @ GCL Mets,
12:00 p.m.		  

Syracuse 4 Louisville 2
• Cole 6IP, 8H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 6K, HR

Syracuse rallied for four in the bottom of 8th and didn’t blow it in the 9th for a 4-2 win.

Harrisburg 5 Richmond 3
• Estevez 6IP, 7H, 3R, 3R, BB, 4K, HBP
• Lara (W, 1-2) 2IP, 2H, 0R, BB, K
• Hernandez 3-4, R, RBI
• Ward 2-4, R, 2B
• Abreu 2-4, R

Likewise in Richmond as the Sens got four in their final “ups” to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 win. Wirkin “For the Weekend” Estevez turned in a quality start of three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings. The win went to Braulio Lara, who pitched a scoreless 7th and 8th innings. Brady Dragmire worked around a hit in the 9th to get the save, his second. The heart of the order combined to go 7-for-12 with two runs scored and and RBI by Yadiel Hernandez, who led the way with a 3-for-4 afternoon.

Down East 6 Potomac 2
• Williams (L, 1-3) 4⅓ IP, 14H, 6R, 6ER, BB, 2K, 2WP
• Pantoja 3⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K, 2-0 IR-S
• Carey 2-4, R, HR, RBI
• Davidson 1-3, R, BB

First-inning runs continue to dog Potomac as they coughed up five yesterday morning and never recovered for a 6-2 loss to Down East. Austen Williams was charged with all six runs on 14 hits over four and a 1/3rd innings as he lost for the third time in four starts since his demotion. Jorge Pantoja pitched admirably to finish, stranding two in the 5th and keeping the Ducks off the pond save for one hit over the final three and 2/3rds innings. Daley Carey singled and homered while Austin Davidson singled and walked to lead the P-Nats offense.

Hagerstown – OFF DAY
The Suns return home after their monster road trip in second place, though that’s in large part due to the Shorebirds’ eight-game win streak that’s put Delmarva ahead of Hagerstown by a game and a half. Wonder if they’ll meet to decide 1st place in the next few weeks?

Auburn – OFF DAY
Auburn also returns home, but in 5th place and nine games under .500 as they host West Virginia for three before heading back out to Pennsylvania for three against State College.

GCL Nationals – OFF DAY
In the GCL, where the road trips are roughly every other day, the G-Nats return to action on a four-game win streak and a ½ game up on the G-Astros as the sole affiliate in 1st place.

Wednesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 4-3;
Lost, 6-5		 vs. Louisville,
12:00 p.m.		 Cole (4-4, 5.87) vs.
Mahle (2-3, 3.00)
Harrisburg Lost, 6-0 @ Richmond,
12:05 p.m.		 Estevez (3-1, 3.15) vs.
Herb (1-0, 5.29)
Potomac Won, 7-3 @ Down East,
11:00 a.m.		 Williams (1-2, 1.93) vs.
Benjamin (6-6, 4.38)
Hagerstown Won, 6-4 OFF DAY N/A
Auburn Won, 4-1 OFF DAY N/A
GCL Nationals Won, 8-6 OFF DAY  

Louisville 4 Syracuse 3 – GAME ONE

Louisville 6 Syracuse 5 – GAME TWO
• Simms (L, 0-1) 5IP, 7H, 6R, 6ER, 4BB, 3K, 2HR
Correction: SS Bengie Gonzalez was not released. No, I did not receive an email from his mother.

Richmond 6 Harrisburg 0
• Crownover (L, 0-5) 6IP, 6H, 2R, 2R, 3BB, 3K
• Bacus 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Abreu 1-3, 3B, BB
• Gamache 1-3, BB

Richmond shut out Harrisburg on five hits, 6-0. Matthew Crownover continues to pitch well enough to win, registering his fourth quality start over the last five with six innings of two-run ball on six hits and three walks, but lost for the fifth time in ten AA starts. The Senators drew seven walks but were unable to capitalize, going 0-for-6 with RISP and stranding 11 baserunners. Osvaldo Abreu had the Sens’ lone extra-base hit, a triple.

Potomac 7 Down East 3
• Sanburn (W, 4-3) 6IP, 10H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 7K
• Skulina 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Johnson 2-5, R, 2B, PO
• Lora 1-3, 2R, 2B, BB
• Davidson 2-5, 2B, 2RBI

The P-Nats won for the third time in as many games, which sources tell me constitutes a winning streak, as they downed Down East, 7-3. Nolan Sanburn got the win with three Wood Ducks runs allowed on ten hits and no walks over six innings with seven set down on strikes. Tyler Skulina and Mariano Rivera III finished the game with three scoreless innings combined. Bryan Mejia was the beer man in Potomac’s 12-hit assault, in which Daniel Johnson, Austin Davidson, Ian Sagdal, and Rhett Wiseman each had two safeties.

Hagerstown 6 Augusta 4
• Watson (W, 6-4) 6IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 6K; E(5)
• Howard (SV, 3) 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, HBP, 1-0 IR-S
• Banks 2-3, R, 3B, SAC
• Barrera 2-4, R, 2B
• Perkins 2-4, R, BB

Hagerstown closed out its ten-game, three-state road trip at 6-4 with a 6-4 win over Augusta. Tyler Watson earned his sixth win with a quality start of three runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six. Hayden Howard stranded a runner in the 8th and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save. Blake Perkins reached base three times with a pair of singles and a walk while Nick Banks singled, tripled, scored a run, and sacrificed to lead the Suns offense.

Auburn 4 Williamsport 1
• Braymer (W, 2-0) 5IP, 5H, R, ER, BB, 8K
• Johnston (H, 2) 3IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Scudder 2-4, R
• Upshaw 1-2, R, 2B, 2BB
• Boggetto 1-3, R, BB, RBI, SB (11G hit streak)

The Doubledays bounced back from being tripled up on Monday with a solid 4-1 win on Tuesday over the Crosscutters. Ben Braymer won for the second time in six starts with one run let in on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out eight. Kyle Johnston followed with three scoreless for the hold while Gabe Klobosits worked around two walks in the 9th for his first career save. Branden Boggetto extended his hit streak to 11 games as the 23-y.o. delivered an RBI single in the 5th. Armond Upshaw reached base three times with a double and two walks to pace Auburn’s seven-hit, four-walk offense.

GCL Nationals 8 GCL Astros 6
• Crowe 2IP, 1H, R, ER, 0BB, 2K
• N. Ramirez (W, 2-1) 3IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 4K
• Dunlap 3-4, 2R, 2HR, 5RBI, BB, CS
• Antuna 3-5, 2R, 2B
• Ventura 2-4, 2-2B, RBI

Alex Dunlap homered twice, including an Earl Weaver special in the 9th that offset a bullpen meltdown in the G-Nats’ 8-6 win over the G-Astros. Wil Crowe got the start but was dinged for a run over two innings. The win went to Nector Ramirez with three scoreless innings in the 6th, 7th, and 8th. Dunlap drove in five total and also singled and walked while Yasel Antuna went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored to lead the G-Nats’ attack.

Tuesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Postponed vs. Louisville,
1:05 p.m.		 Fedde (1-1, 5.57) and
Turner (0-2, 8.69)
or Simms (AAA debut) vs.
Stephens (6-5, 4.82) and TBD
Harrisburg Lost, 5-4 @ Richmond,
6:35 p.m.		 Crownover (0-4, 4.73) vs.
Slania (1-1, 3.82)
Potomac Won, 11-9
(11 inn.)		 @ Down East,
7:00 p.m.		 Sanburn (3-3, 4.56) vs.
Martin (1-5, 5.40)
Hagerstown Won, 7-6 @ Augusta,
7:05 p.m.		 Watson (5-4, 4.34) vs.
G. Williams (4-2, 2.21) )
Auburn Lost, 12-4 @ Williamsport,
7:05 p.m.		 Braymer (1-0, 2.38)
WIL: Brown, An (2-2, 2.88)
GCL Nationals Won, 2-1 @ GCL Astros,
12:00 p.m.		  

Syracuse vs. Louisville – PPD
Roster moves: RHPs John Simms, Phillips Valdez promoted, OF Zach Collier reassigned from Harrisburg; RHPs Trevor Gott, Sean O’Sullivan placed on the 7-Day DL, retroactive to July 22, 23; SS Bengie Gonzalez released.

Richmond 5 Harrisburg 4
• G. Ross 6IP, 7H, 4R, 4R, BB, 1K, HBP
• Cordero (L, 2-4) 1IP, 1H, R, ER, 2BB, 0K
• Ward 1-2, R, 2BB
• Robles 1-4, R, 3B, 0HBP

Victor Robles tripled in his AA debut but Richmond took the game, 5-4 and 5th place in the E.L. West from Harrisburg. Greg Ross was not the boss with four runs allowed on seven hits and a walk and one whiff over six innings. Jimmy Cordero gave up the go-ahead run in the 7th for the “L,” his fourth. Drew Ward walked twice, singled once, and scored once as the Sens were heldto just six hits total. Roster moves: RHPs Dakota Bacus, Kyle Schepel promoted from Potomac; some other OF guy, too.

Potomac 11 Down East 9 (11 inn.)
• Reyes 5IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 4K, HR
• J. Mills (BS, 1; W, 1-1) 3IP, 0H, 0R, 3K, 2-2 IR-S
• Johnson 3-6, R, HR, 2RBI
• Wiseman 3-5, 3R, 2B, HR, BB, 4RBI
• Lora 2-4, 3RBI

Rhett Wiseman’s bid for Carolina Player of the Week remained on point with seven total bases last night, including a two-run shot in the 11th that gave the P-Nats an 11-9 win. Luis Reyes started and was feathered for five runs on six hits and three walks over five innings by the Wood Ducks. Jordan Mills let in the tying and go-ahead runs in the 8th but drained the pond for three otherwise perfect innings to earn the blown-save-win. R.C. Orlan continued the streak with a 1-2-3 eleventh for the save. Daniel Johnson started in CF and made his Carolina League debut with a leadoff HR and three hits total, leading the 16-hit parade. Roster moves: OF Daniel Johnson promoted, LHP Jordan Mills reassigned from Hagerstown; RHP Tyler Skulina activated from the 7-Day DL.

Hagerstown 7 Augusta 6
• C. Pena 5⅓ IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 6K, HR
• Fuentes (W, 3-3) 2⅓ IP, 3H, R, ER, BB, 4K, WP, 1-0 IR-S
• La Bruna 2-3, 2R, 3B, BB
• Perkins 2-4, 2R, 2B, 3B, 3RBI
• Agustin 2-5, R, 2-3B, RBI

Hagerstown’s four-run 7th was the difference in a 7-6 win over Augusta. Carlos Pena continued the trend of bad starting pitching with five runs let in on eight hits and three walks over five and a 1/3rd innings while fanning six. Steven Fuentes got the win in relief with one run allowed on three hits and a walk over two and a 1/3rd innings. Phil Morse stranded two in the 8th and pitched a scoreless 9th to earn the save. Telmito Agustin tripled twice, while Blake Perkins and Angelo LaBruna tripled once each to pace the Suns’ attack. No corresponding roster moves yet.

Williamsport 12 Auburn 4
• Ramirez (L, 2-2) 5IP, 10H, 6R, 6ER, 0BB, 3K, 2HR
• Barnett (BS, 1; W, 3-2) 2IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 2K
• Pryor 3-4, RBI, SB, OF assist at 1B
• Choruby 1-3, R, 2B, BB

Yonathan Ramirez also threw some in-game BP, but the Doubledays bats couldn’t cover for him as the Crosscutters felled the Doubledays, 12-4. Ramirez gave up six runs on ten hits over five innings for his second NYPL loss. he walked none and struck out three. Jonathan Pryor went 3-for-4 with an RBI and stolen base while Nick Choruby walked and doubled to lead the Auburn offense. No corresponding roster moves yet.

GCL Nationals 2 GCL Cardinals 1
• German 3IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Butler (W, 1-0) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Evangelista 2-4, R, HR, 2RBI
• Ventura 2-3

Juan Evangelista’s two-run shot in the 6th held up as the G-Nats folded the G-Cards, 2-1. Jhonatan German started and went the first three innings with one hit allowed, no walks, and three K’s. Dan Butler’s two scoreless innings earned him the win while Angel Guillen Cordero’d through the 9th with lone run on three hits run for the rulebook save. Evanglista also singled as did Edwin Ventura twice to account for four of the six G-Nat hits.

Monday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 6-4 vs. Louisville,
6:35 p.m.		 Fedde (1-1, 5.57) vs.
Stephens (6-5, 4.82)
Harrisburg Lost, 3-1 @ Richmond,
6:35 p.m.		 G. Ross (2-0, 3.27) vs.
Jor. Johnson (4-6, 4.59)
Potomac Lost, 8-6;
Won, 4-1		 @ Down East,
1:05 p.m.		 Reyes (6-10, 4.61) vs.
Em. Martinez (1-8, 4.23)
Hagerstown Won, 9-1 @ Augusta,
7:05 p.m.		 C. Pena (5-5, 5.30) vs.
Vizcaino (3-3, 5.35)
Auburn Won, 7-4
(10 inn.)		 @ Williamsport,
7:05 p.m.		 Y. Ramirez (2-1, 3.75) vs.
Carrasco (1-0, 1.80)
GCL Nationals Won, 4-0;
Won, 1-0		 vs. GCL Cardinals,
12:00 p.m.		  

Syracuse 6 Columbus 4
Roster moves: OF Andrew Stevenson selected by, recalled to Washington; C Pedro Severino recalled by Washington; C Jhonatan Solano activated from the 7-day DL.

Binghamton 3 Harrisburg 1
• T. Hill (L, 4-2) 7IP, 6H, 3R, 3R, BB, 2K
• Lara 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Hernandez 2-4, R
• S. Perez 2-3

The Rumble Ponies got one in the 4th and two in the 7th as they took the series finale from the Sens, 3-1. Taylor Hill took the loss, his second at AA, as he gave up all three Binghamton runs on six hits and a walk over seven innings. Braulio Lara and Brady Dragmire both turned in a scoreless inning to keep it close, but the offense could only manage to break up the shutout in the 7th and went in order in the 8th and 9th.

Lynchburg 8 Potomac 6 – COMP.
• Guilbeau 4⅔ IP, 7H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 6K, HR
• Schepel (L, 2-4) 2IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 4BB, 1K; 2-0 IR-S
• Sundberg 3-5, 2RBI, SB(15)
• Wiseman 2-4, R, HR, RBI

Turns out the rain only delayed Lynchburg’s comeback bid as they scored all three runs in the completion for an 8-6 win over Potomac. Kyle Schepel, who stranded two while completing the 5th, got lit up for two runs on two hits and four walks to take the loss. Taylor Gushue and Rhett Wiseman both homered while Jack Sundberg singled three times, drove in two, and stole a base to lead the P-Nats attack.

Potomac 4 Lynchburg 1 – GAME TWO
• Silvestre (W, 8-5) 5IP, 3H, 0R, 2BB, 3K
• Bacus 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Wiseman 3-3, R, HR, 2RBI
• Davidson 2-3, R, RBI

It was all Potomac in the late-afternoon contest (rain delayed the completion until nearly 3 p.m.) as they jumped on Lynchburg in each of the first three innings and conceded a run late for a 4-1 win in seven innings. Hector Silvestre tossed five shutout innings with three hits and two walks allowed and three whiffs. Dakota Bacus followed with a scoreless inning while R.C. Orlan gave up a run late. Rhett Wiseman homered again and drove in two while Austin Davidson went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored to power the P-Nats offense.

Hagerstown 9 Augusta 1
• Mills (W, 12-2) 7IP, 5H, R, ER, 0BB, 6K, HBP
• Bogucki 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Noll 2-4, 2R, 2B, HR, 3RBI
• Perkins 2-4, 2R, 2B, 3B, BB, RBI, SB
• Corredor 2-5, 2B, RBI

McKenzie Mills reverted to the mean with seven strong innings of one-run ball as the Suns burned the GreenJackets, 9-1. Mills gave up five hits, no walks, and struck out six while winning his 12th game in 18 starts. A.J. Bogucki followed with two goose eggs. Jake Noll doubled, homered, and drove in three while Blake Perkins doubled, tripled, walked, and stole a base to pace lead the Hagerstown hit parade.

Auburn 7 Williamsport 4
• Raquet 4⅔ IP, 7H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 1K, HR
• Barnett (BS, 1; W, 3-2) 2IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 2K
• Shepard 2-5, 2R, 2B, HR, 2RBI
• Pryor 2-5, R, RBI
• Boggetto 1-4, 2R, 2B, BB, RBI (9G hit streak)

Auburn blew a 4-0 lead but won it in the 10th for a 7-4 win in the series opener against Williamsport. Nick Raquet got the start and was chopped for seven hits and two runs over the first four and 2/3rds innings. He walked two and struck out one. Jake Barnett got the blown-save-win with a run surrendered in the 9th and a scoreless 10th. Chance Shepard doubled, homered, scored twice, and drove in two while Jonathan Pryor went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Doubledays’ offense.

GCL Nationals 4 GCL Marlins 0 – GAME ONE
• Baez (W, 2-0) 6IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 7K
• Jimenez 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 0K
• Antuna 1-3, BB, RBI, SB
• Senior 1-1, R, HR, RBI

Joan Baez and Jose Jimenez combined on a seven-inning no-hitter in the opener, which the G-Nats took, 4-0. Baez walked one and struck out seven over the first six while Jimenez worked around a walk to preserve the shutout (this is still the GCL, kids). Yasel Antuna singled, walked, and drove in a run while Eirc Senior hit an inside-the-park homer (and presumably was injured as he was replaced on defense in the next half-inning) to lead the G-Nat hit parade.

GCL Nationals 1 GCL Marlins 0 – GAME TWO
• Ja. Johnson 4IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Chu (W, 1-1) 3IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 4K
• Cramer 1-2, R, BB
• Evangelista 1-3, 2B, RBI

Jared Johnson and Gilberto Chu turned the no-hit trick in the nightcap (this is still Florida, kids) while the bats generated the bare minimum for a 1-0 win and a doubleheader sweep. Johnson worked the first four and issued a walk while fanning two while Chu worked around Yasel Antuna’s 12th error in three scoreless innings for the “W.” Jackson Cramer singled, walked, and scored ahead of Juan Evangelista’s RBI double in the 4th. Santo Falcon also singled to round out the G-Nats’ hit tally of three.

Sunday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 5-4 @ Columbus,
4:05 p.m.		 Satterwhite (1-3, 4.03) vs.
Plutko (5-9, 6.94)
Harrisburg Won, 7-3 vs. Binghamton,
1:30 p.m.		 T. Hill (4-1, 5.17) vs.
Conlon (6-7, 3.81)
Potomac Winning, 6-5
(Susp., Top 5th)		 vs. Lynchburg,
1:05 p.m.		 TBD and Silvestre (7-5, 4.48) vs.
TBD and Chiang (7-7, 3.85)
Hagerstown Lost, 8-3 @ Augusta,
7:05 p.m.		 M. Mills (11-2, 3.13)
Woods (5-6, 3.48)
Auburn Lost, 5-4 @ Williamsport,
5:05 p.m.		 Raquet (0-0, 2.89) vs.
Garcia (2-2, 3.13)
GCL Nationals Lost, 1-0;
Lost, 4-1		 vs./@ GCL Marlins  

Columbus 5 Syracuse 4
• Stevenson 1-5, R, HR, 2RBI
Roster move: SS Bengie Gonzalez assigned from Washington (released by Rochester on 7/20).

Harrisburg 7 Binghamton 3
• Voth (W, 1-1) 5IP, 4H, 3R, 2R, 2BB, 2K
• Self (H, 3) 2IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Read 3-4, 2R, 2B, HR, 4RBI
• Collier 2-4, 3R
• Gamache 2-4, RBI

Raudy Read’s two-run double highlighted a four-run 5th as Harrisburg took another one from Binghamton, 7-3. Austin Voth was the pitcher of record and got the “W” but was charged with all three runs on four hits and two walks over five innings, which required 80 pitches to complete. Derel Self and Phillips Valdez combined for four scoreless innings to keep the Rumble Ponies in the barn. Read also singled and homered and drove in four total while Zach Collier and Dan Gamache both went 2-for-4 to lead the Senators attack. Roster move: IF Stephen Perez reassigned from Syracuse; OF Alec Keller placed on the 7-Day DL, retroactive to July 18.

Potomac 6 Lynchburg 5 – SUSP.
• Guilbeau 4⅔ IP, 7H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 6K, HR
• Sundberg 3-3, 2RBI

Rain halted play with two outs in the 5th. Whether that denied the P-Nats a chance for a rain-shortened win or the Hillcats a chance to tie it up became a moot discussion about 50 minutes later when the umpires called it a night. They’ll complete it this afternoon along with a seven-inning game for a de facto doubleheader.

Augusta 7 Hagerstown 3
• Sharp (L, 4-8) 3⅓ IP, 9H, 6R, 6ER, BB, K, 0HR, WP, 2HBP
• La Bruna 2-4, SB
• Beckwith 1-3, BB, RBI, SB

Augusta went Sherman on Sharp, marching him to the showers after six runs with one out in the 4th as they cruised to an 8-3 win over Hagerstown. Sharp gave up nine hits, one walk, hit two batters, and struck out one in his eighth loss. Kyle Simonds stranded two in the 4th and finished the game, allowing two more runs on two hits and a walk. Angelo La Bruna led the Suns’ hit column with two of the team’s seven hits. Roster move: RHP Jose Morales released.

Mahoning Valley 5 Auburn 4
• Troop (L, 1-2) 4IP, 6H, 4R, 3ER, 0BB, 2K, HR
• Tetreault 3IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Boggetto 2-5, R, 2RBI, E(5)
• N. Perkins 1-2, R, 2BB

Alex Troop’s lights found the Scrappers’ bats and shined for four runs early, which left few in Falcon park smiling, having fun, or feeling like they were number one in another 5-4 loss by the Doubledays. Troop (@supertrooper_32) lasted four innings and walked none but gave up six hits, including a homer as he lost for the second time. Nick Bogetto singled twice and drove in two while Nic Perkins scored once, singled once and walked twice to lead the Auburn attack.

GCL Mets 1 GCL Nationals 0 – COMP.
• Ja. Johnson (L, 1-1) 1IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K
• Alastre 4IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 2K
• Blash 2-3

They picked up where they left off on Monday, with the G-Mets leading 1-0 and that’s how it finished. Jared Johnson took the loss with the lone run allowed on two hits and no walks with one whiff. Following the Tim Collins rehab innings, Tomas Alastre pitched four scoreless with one and two walks allowed. Jamori Blash singled twice to account for two of the four (4) G-Nats hits.

GCL Mets 4 GCL Nationals 1 – GAME TWO
• Ma. Pena 5IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 4K
• N. Ramirez (BS, 2; L, 1-1) 1IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 0K
• Antuna 1-2, BB, E(11)
• Cramer 0-1, 2BB

The G-Nats extended their losing streak to five with a 4-1 loss to the G-Mets in the second game. Malvin Pena tossed five shutout innings, the bullpen coughed up all four runs in the final two frames, with Nector Ramirez blowing his second save and losing his first game. Yasel Antuna singled once, walked once, and committed his 11th error in 19 games while Jackson Cramer walked twice. The G-Nats managed just three hits total.

DSL Update
The D-Nats split their six games this week but remain in the 2017 default for the Washington affiliates (last place), 14 games behind and a tragic number of 17 with five weeks left in the season. Wilmer Perez (18) leads first-year batters with an OPS of .764 while Niomar Gomez (18) leads first-year pitchers with 31⅓ IP in 7GS and a pitcher’s line of 3.45/2.67/1.15.

Good, Bad, Interesting — Vol. 5

GBI for NPP 2

Our semi-weekly look at the leaders, trailers, and outliers in the Washington Nationals minor leagues.

SYRACUSE CHIEFS 34-63, 6th place I.L. North, 28½ games behind

Good Spencer Kieboom .297/.366/.405 in 21G
Austin Adams 13.02K/9IP
Bad Emmanuel Burriss .488 OPS, 7E in 36G
Austin Adams 7.11 BB/9IP
Interesting Leading after 8 innings, 24-3; Trailing: 1-44


HARRISBURG SENATORS 40-57, 5th place E.L. West, 11½ games behind

Good Corban Joseph .291/.355/.455 in July (15G)
Wirkin Estevez 3-1, 3.15/3.84/1.40 in 6GS
Bad 793 Team Batting K, 2nd most in E.L.
636 Team pitching K, 2nd fewest in E.L.
Interesting Darian Sandford 14SB, 8th most in E.L. despite having played just 29G (H/T Sens PR)



POTOMAC NATIONALS 8-18, 5th place C.L. North, 9 games behind (41-55 overall)

Good Edwin Lora .324 in last 10G
Taylor Guilbeau 2-2, 3.07 ERA, 1.24 WHIP in 7GS
Bad Taylor Gushue .217/.260/.348 in 18G since All-Star Break
Ten team holds – fewest in the Carolina League
Interesting 14-45 record when their opponent scores first;
27-10 when they score first


HAGERSTOWN SUNS 14-12 2nd place Sally North, ½ game behind (52-43 overall)

Good Jake Noll .294/.341/.565, 6HR, 16 RBI
since All-Star break (23G)
Hayden Howard 1-0, 1.37 ERA, 1.06 WHIP in last 10G
Bad Angelo La Bruna .482 OPS
McKenzie Mills 11HBP in 97⅔ IP
Interesting 26CS on defense – fewest in the Sally Lg


AUBURN DOUBLEDAYS 11-20, 6th Place, Pinckney Division, New York-Penn League, 8 games behind

Good Oliver Ortiz .309/.370/.505, 4HR, 17RBI in 23G
Ben Braymer 1-0, 2.38/3.17/1.37, 31K in 22⅔IP (5GS)
Bad Joshual Ramirez 12E in 18G
30 pitchers used so far
Interesting 2nd most errors committed, 2nd most runners CS (53% CS rate)


GCL NATIONALS 12-8, 1st Place, Eastern Division, .009 W% ahead

Good Ricardo Mendez .294/.400/.490, HR, 9RBI in 16G
Tomas Alastre 1-0, 1.29ERA, 0.86 WHIP in 14IP
Bad Edwin Ventura .416 OPS in 14G
Malvin Pena 0-1, 5.73 ERA, 2HR allowed in 11IP
Interesting 17-y.o. Yasel Antuna 10E, .735 OPS in 18G


DSL NATIONALS 16-25, T7th Place, South Division, 14 games behind

Good 18-y.o. Cesar Porte .775 OPS in 23G
18-y.o. Niomar Gomez 0-2, 3.45 ERA, 1.15 WHIP in 31⅓ IP (7GS)
Bad 19-y.o. Bryan Bencosme 14E in 36G
18-y.o. Edwin Michel 2.82 WHIP in 11IP (25H, 6BB)
Interesting 18-y.o. Luis Aquino 19SB in 36G
17-y.o. Alfonso Hernandez 34K in 31⅓ IP

Last Night in Woodbridge

Losing teams like to think that it’s luck that puts them on the wrong side of a one-run loss. Winning teams know it’s that they did more of the little things right.

The P-Nats have been on that wrong side far more often than not, as they lost 3-2 to the Hillcats on Friday night – the 22nd one-run loss this season (vs. ten wins by that margin).

After giving up a run in the 3rd—the second and third with two outs of out eight total by Lynchburg—Potomac demonstrated this “little things” concept three times in the 5th.

A leadoff single could have been erased on a grounder to second, but Bryan Mejia dropped the ball and could only get the one out at first, allowing the lead runner to move into scoring position. That was the first little thing.

The second and third little thing came on the same play, two batters later with two outs. A single to center gave Victor Robles a chance to show off his arm, but he missed both the cutoff man and the plate while catcher Jakson Reetz merely moved to the right and not forward towards the ball, perhaps with the vain hope of being able to get the tag on a runner who was off on contact.

The two things combined enabled another runner to move into scoring position, and you’ve probably already guessed what happened next: another two-out single that led to another run. Combined, the three things led to at least one extra run and possibly two, had the dropped grounder been converted into a double play.

Down 3-0 instead of 2-0 or 1-0, Potomac made it close with two runs in the 6th and threatened again in the 8th after a Robles leadoff double and birthday boy (24) Jack Sundberg’s sacrifice but couldn’t push across the equalizer.

The loss went to Austen Williams, who gave up all three runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings. Ronald Pena, R.C. Orlan, and Dakota Bacus combined on four scoreless innings of relief to keep things close.

Game Three of the four-game series is tonight, with southpaw Taylor Guilbeau (2-2, 3.79) facing off against northpaw Brock Hartson (4-4, 3.23).

Saturday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 9-4 @ Columbus,
7:15 p.m.		 O’Sullivan (1-2, 5.40) vs.
Grube (3-5, 4.70)
Harrisburg Won, 1-0 vs. Binghamton,
7:00 p.m.		 Voth (0-1, 9.82) vs.
Delgado (6-4, 5.27)
Potomac Lost, 3-2 vs. Lynchburg,
6:35 p.m.		 Guilbeau (2-2, 3.79) vs.
Hartson (4-4, 3.23)
Hagerstown Won, 4-2 @ Augusta,
7:05 p.m.		 Sharp (4-7, 3.09) vs.
Mazza (5-8, 3.41)
Auburn Lost, 5-4 vs. Mahoning Valley,
7:05 p.m.		 Troop (1-1, 2.92) vs.
F. Perez(1-2, 3.48)
GCL Nationals OFF DAY vs./@ GCL Mets  

Syracuse 9 Columbus 4
• Stevenson 2-4, 2R, 2B

Congratulations to Chiefs radio man Kevin Brown on moving up to a national broadcast gig.

Harrisburg 6 Binghamton 4
• Estevez (W, 3-1) 8IP, 4H, 0R, 2BB, 1K, WP
• Lara (SV, 1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 0K
• Marmolejos 3-4, R, HR, RBI
• Joseph 1-3, 2B

Wirkin “For the Weekend” Estevez tossed eight shutout innings while Jose “Orange” Marmolejos smacked the solo HR in the 8th to give the Sens a 1-0 win over the Rumble Ponies. Estevez gave up just four hits and two walks while fanning just one, getting a little help from his fielders with a double play and a runner gunned down at second. Barulio Lara also got some help with the leather [S&M joke redacted] as a twin killing erased a leadoff walk and completed the shutout. It was the third win for Estevez and first save for Lara. Marmolejos also singled twice while Corban Joseph doubled to account for four of the seven Harrisburg hits.

Lynchburg 3 Potomac 2
• Williams (L, 1-2) 5IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 3K
• Sanburn (BS, 1; L, 3-3) 2IP, 5H, 6R, 6ER, 3BB, 0K, HR
• Robles 2-4, R, 2B
• Sundberg 1-3, BB, SAC

One team did more of the little things right Last Night in Woodbridge. Roster moves: LHP Grant Borne placed on the 7-Day DL; THP Tommy Peterson reassigned from Hagerstown.

Hagerstown 4 Charleston 2
• Davis (W, 1-3) 6IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 4K, HR
• Howard (SV, 2) 3IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 4K
• B. Perkins 1-1, 3R, 3BB, 3SB
• Johnson 1-2, R, 2BB, 2SB, RBI

The Suns got just three hits and five walks but used six stolen bases to neuter the RiverDogs, 4-2 in the series finale. Weston Davis notched a quality start of two runs on four hits and two walks to get the “W,” his first at Low-A this season. Hayden Howard closed it out with three scoreless to earn his second save. Blake Perkins scored three runs, walked three times, and stole three bases while Daniel Johnson walked twice and stole twice to lead the Hagerstown offense. Roster move: RHP Sam Held activated from the 7-Day DL.

Mahoning Valley 5 Auburn 4
• DeRosier 5⅔ IP, 7H, 4R, 3ER, BB, 7K
• Barnett (L, 2-2) 1IP, 3H, R, ER, BB, 0K
• Guibor 2-3, R, 2BB,
• Esthay 1-2, 2B, BB, RBI

Mahoning Valley got the last laugh again as they pushed across a run in the 9th for a 5-4 win. Matt DeRosier was charged with the first four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven. The loss went to Jake Barnett, who let in the gamewinner on three hits in his lone inning pitched. Austin Guibor walked twice and singled twice while Kameron Esthay walked and double to pace the Auburn offense.

GCL Nationals – OFF DAY
Today they’ll shoot to complete a game with the GCL Mets then play the regularly scheduled game as well.

Friday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 4-3;
Lost, 10-2		 @ Columbus,
7:15 p.m.		 Long (1-4, 5.29) vs.
Banwart (2-4, 6.75)
Harrisburg Won, 6-4 vs. Binghamton,
7:00 p.m.		 Estevez (2-1, 4.10) vs.
Ca. Delgado (6-4, 5.27)
Potomac Lost, 10-4 vs. Lynchburg,
7:05 p.m.		 Williams (1-1, 0.00) vs.
McKenzie (8-4, 2.89)
Hagerstown Lost, 6-1;
Lost, 4-2		 @ Charleston,
7:05 p.m.		 Davis (0-3, 13.50) vs.
Nelson (1-6, 4.87)
Auburn Lost, 3-1 vs. Mahoning Valley,
7:05 p.m.		 DeRosier (1-1, 1.98) vs.
Plesac (0-0, 1.06)
GCL Nationals Lost, 4-2 OFF DAY  

Columbus 4 Syracuse 3 – GAME ONE
• Cole 4⅔ IP, 7H, 3R, 2ER, 2BB, 3K
• Stevenson 0-4, 3K

Columbus 10 Syracuse 2 – GAME TWO
• Stevenson 0-1, 2BB, 1K
• Severino 2-3, HR, 2RBI

Harrisburg 6 Binghamton 4
• Simms (W, 5-6) 6IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 8K, WP
• Robinson (H, 2) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Gamache 2-4, R, HR, 2RBI
• Sandford 2-4, 2R
• Abreu 1-3, R, 2B

The Senators got two homers and six strong innings from their starter as they broke the Rumble Ponies, 6-4. John Simms fanned eight and let in just two runs on four hits and a walk to notch his fifth win. Jimmy Cordero made things close by coughing up a pair of runs in a single inning, but Andrew Robinson and Ryan Brinley each put up a goose egg to earn a hold and a save respectively. Dan Gamache singled, homered, and drove in two while Darian Sandford went 2-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the Harrisburg offense. Roster moves: RHP Greg Ross demoted from Syracuse; RHP Derek Eitel released.

Lynchburg 10 Potomac 4
• Borne 5IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, BB, 4K
• Sanburn (BS, 1; L, 3-3) 2IP, 5H, 6R, 6ER, 3BB, 0K, HR
• Sagdal 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI
• Lora 2-4, RBI
• Davidson 2-5, R, 2B, HR, RBI

Potomac wasted no time in letting Lynchburg get an early lead and were gracious hosts as they let the visitors take a spin round the bases seven times without an answer in a 10-4 loss to Lynchburg. Grant Borne started and was dinged for three runs on six hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out four. Nolan Sanburn was unable to hold a 4-3 lead and was scratched for six runs on five hits and three walks over two innings for the loss. Ian Sagdal and Austin Davidson both homered to pace the nine-hit, three-walk offense.

Charleston 6 Hagerstown 1 – GAME ONE
• Bourque (L, 4-5) 3⅓ IP, 9H, 6R, 6ER, 2BB, 1K, HR, WP
• Fuentes 2⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 5K, 2-1 IR-S
• Noll 1-3
• Agustin 1-3, R

The Suns got torched for two in the 1st and four in the 4th as Riverdogs took the opener, 6-1. James Bourque was bitten for all six runs on nine hits and two walks over just three and a 1/3rd innings for his fifth loss. Telmito Agustin singled and scored on a Daniel Johnson sac fly while Jake Noll collected the other Hagerstown hit.

Charleston 4 Hagerstown 2 – GAME TWO
• Watson 5IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 4K, HR
• J. Mills (L, 4-3) 1IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 1K
• Johnson 1-3, R, HR, 2RBI
• Noll 0-1, 2BB, 2CS

Hagerstown’s pitchers couldn’t work with just a two-run HR as the Suns were doubled up in the nightcap, 4-2 to complete the doubleheader sweep. Tyler Watson gave up the first two Riverdog runs on five hits and a walk over the first five while fanning four. Jordan Mills let in the last two on three hits in just a single inning pitched for the loss. Angelo LaBruna singled and scored ahead of Johnson’s longball while Telmito Agustin singled to account for the three (3) Hagerstown hits. Jake Noll drew two walks and was caught stealing twice, including at home on a failed double steal with Agustin.

Mahoning Valley 3 Auburn 1
• B. Hill (L, 0-1) 4IP, 4H, 3R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K
• Rishwain 3IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Upshaw 1-2, BB, SAC
• Jo. Ramirez 1-3, BB, 3E (11)

Auburn’s pitchers couldn’t overcome Joshual Ramirez’s three errors as Mahoning Valley took the series opener, 3-1. Brigham Hill suffered the loss with all three unearned runs given up on four hits and no walks over four innings. Michael Rishwain followed with three scoreless innings and Jake Cousins two to keep things within reach. The Doubledays hitters were just 1-for-12 with RISP and left on 10 baserunners with Ramirez and Armond Upshaw the only two batters to reach base twice. Roster moves: LF Austin Guibor reassigned from the GCL.

GCL Astros 4 GCL Nationals 2
• Galindez 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 3BB, 3K
• Darly Infante (BS, 1; L, 0-1) ⅔ IP, 2H, 3R, 2ER, BB, K
• Evangelista 1-3, R, BB
• Pascal 0-2, RBI, 2BB

The G-Nats followed the season-long, organization-wide script for bullpen meltdowns as they gave up four runs late in a 4-2 loss to the G-Astros. Nelson Galindez started and walked three over an inning and 2/3rds but also struck out three; it was not a GCL record. The loss went to Darly Infante with three runs allowed on two hits and a walk over 2/3rds of an inning. Juan Evangelista singled, walked, and scored a run while Juan Pascal walked twice and drove in a run to pace the G-Nats attack. Roster moves: LHP Seth Romero assigned from Washington.

Thursday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 9-5 @ Louisville,
7:05 p.m.		 Cole (4-4, 6.00) and
Turner (0-1, 6.50) vs.
Merryweather (3-1, 4.17) and
Narveson (3-5, 3.14)
Harrisburg Lost, 3-2 vs. Binghamton,
7:00 p.m.		 Simms (4-6, 3.57) vs.
Jannis (6-4, 4.02)
Potomac OFF DAY vs. Lynchburg,
7:05 p.m.		 Borne (4-4, 2.42) vs.
Civale (5-2, 2.63)
Hagerstown Postponed @ Charleston,
7:05 p.m.		 Bourque (4-4, 4.72) and
Watson (5-4, 4.39) vs.
Green (5-6, 4.06) and
F. Perez (6-3, 2.83)
Auburn Won, 5-4
(13 inn.)		 vs. Mahoning Valley,
7:05 p.m.		 B. Hill (0-0, 5.79) vs.
G. Vasquez
GCL Nationals Lost, 4-2 vs. GCL Astros,
7:00 p.m.		  

Louisville 9 Syracuse 5
• Fedde 5IP, 7H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 3K, HR
• Stevenson 1-4
• Severino 0-4
Roster moves: RHP Jacob Turner outrighted from Washington.

Altoona 3 Harrisburg 2
• Crownover 6IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, BB, K, HR, HBP; 1-2, BB
• Self (L, 1-2) 1IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K
• Marmolejos 2-4, 2B, RBI
• Ward 1-3, BB

Altoona posted a picket fence in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings to edge Harrisburg, 3-2 in the series finale. Matt Crownover turned in a quality start of two runs on six hits and a walk over six innings. The loss went to Derek Self, who gave up a run on two hits in a single inning. Jose “Orange” Marmolejos singled, doubled, and drove in a run while Drew Ward singled and walked to lead the Sens’ offense.

Potomac – OFF DAY
The P-Nats return home after a 2-5 road trip against the C.L. North’s 1st and 3rd place teams. It doesn’t get any easier as they host the 2nd place Hillcats for four games starting tonight.

Hagerstown vs. Charleston – PPD
Hagerstown got an extra day off but it comes at the cost of yet another doubleheader tonight.

Auburn 5 West Virginia 4 (13 inn.)
• Braymer 4IP, 2H, 0R, 4BB, 5K, 2WP
• Engelbrekt (W, 2-1) 4IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• N. Perkins 2-5, R, 2B, 2RBI
• Ortiz 1-5, R, 2B, RBI, SAC
• Boggetto 1-5, RBI, SAC

The Doubledays rallied again in the 9th force extras, but this time they won it, 5-4 in 13 innings. Ben Braymer got the start and threw four scoreless innings, though he walked four and gave up two hits while fanning five. The win went to Max Engelbrekt, who also put up four goose eggs, but just one hit and walk while setting down two on strikes. Nic Perkins was the sole Auburn batter to notch multiple hits, going 2-for-t with a double and two RBI. Roster moves: C Anthony Peroni reassigned from the GCL.

GCL Cardinals 4 GCL Nationals 2
• Crowe 1⅔ IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, 0K
• J. Morales (L, 0-1) 2IP, 2H, 2R, 0ER, 2BB, 2K
• Connell 1-2, 2BB
• Evangelista 1-3, R, BB

The G-Nats were doubled up by the G-Cards, 4-2 as they lost for the third time in four games. Second-round pick Wil Crowe came out of hiding to make his pro debut, giving up a run on two hits and a walk over an inning and 2/3rds. The loss went to Jose Morales with two unearned runs allowed on two hits and two walks. He struck out… wait for it… two. Nick Connell singled and walked twice as the G-Nats managed just six hits and four walks.