Sunday’s News and Notes
The Sens sweep into playoff position to highlight Sunday's action in the Nats' minors
The Quick Rundown…
| Team | Yesterday’s Result | Today’s Game | Pitching Matchup |
| Syracuse Chiefs | Cancelled | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Harrisburg Senators | Won 6-1; Won 2-1 | vs. Portland, 7:00 p.m. | Aaron Thompson (4-12, 5.74) vs. Blake Maxwell (4-0, 1.69) |
| Potomac Nationals | Lost, 9-8 | vs. Wilmington, 7:03 p.m. | Danny Rosenbaum (2-2, 2.63) vs. Aaron Crow (1-2, 5.74) |
| Hagerstown Suns | Won, 9-7 | vs. Lakewood, 7:05 p.m. | Graham Hicks (1-5, 5.79) vs. Brody Colvin (6-7, 3.19) |
| Vermont Lake Monsters | Postponed | @ Lowell, 7:05 p.m. | Taylor Jordan (2-2, 5.84) vs. Hunter Cervenka (0-4, 4.02) |
| GCL Nationals | Won, 10-9 vs. GCL Astros |
@ GCL Marlins, 12:00 p.m. | TBD vs. TBD |
Syracuse Chiefs vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — CANCELED
Notes: The series finale between these two teams was canceled due to rain and will not be made up. The news, however, was not entirely dismal as the Washington Nationals announced they will be extending their PDC with Syracuse through the 2012 season.
Harrisburg W, 6-1 @ Akron (Game 1)
Starting Pitcher: Roark (ND) 5⅔ IP 4H 1R 1ER 1BB 4K
Pitching Star: Hernandez, O (W, 1-1) 2⅓ IP 0H 0R 0BB 4K
Hitting Star #1: Baez 3-3, R, BB, 3SB
Hitting Star #2: Lombardozzi 2-5, R, 3B, 2RBI
Notes: Jhonatan Solano’s RBI single in the top of the 8th broke open a 1-1 tie, while Steve Lombardozzi’s two-run triple opened the floodgates as the Harrisburg Senators would rally for five runs to ground the Akron Aerons with a 6-1 win. Starter Tanner Roark got the no-decision with
5⅔ innings pitched, allowing the lone run on four hits and one walk while the 40-something Orlando Hernandez came on in relief and finished the game with 2⅓ perfect innings for the win.
Harrisburg W, 2-1 @ Akron (Game 2)
Starting Pitcher: Spradlin 3⅔ IP 3H 0R 1BB 8K
Pitching Star: Kimball (S, 7) 1⅓ IP 0H 0R 1BB 3K
Hitting Star #1: Ivany 1-3, 2RBI
Hitting Star #2: Marrero 2-3, R
Notes: Devin Ivany drove in both runs as the Harrisburg bullpen combined for seven strong innings as the Harrisburg Senators prevailed 2-1 to sweep the doubleheader and the series. Jack Spradlin struck out eight in 3⅔ scoreless innings as the spot starter, allowing three hits and one walk. Rafael Martin got the win in relief while Cole Kimball closed out the game for his seventh save. Chris Marrero led the eight-hit offense with two singles and a run scored.
With the sweep, combined with weekend losses by Bowie, Harrisburg is now in position to earn the Western Division wild card, leading the Baysox by one game and the Aeros by three.
Potomac Nationals L, 9-8 vs. Winston-Salem
Starting Pitcher: Maya (L, 0-1) 4+ IP 7H 6R 6ER 3BB 4K 1HR
Pitching Star: Phillabaum 1IP 0H 0R 1BB 2K
Hitting Star #1: Walton 3-5, R, 3RBI
Hitting Star #2: Rooney 3-5, R, 2B
Notes: If you haven’t already, see how things shook out on Sunday Afternoon In Woodbridge
Hagerstown Suns W, 9-7 vs. Lakewood
Starting Pitcher: Bronson (ND) 5IP 10H 6R 5ER 0BB 2K
Pitching Star: Smoker (SV, 2) 1IP 2H 0R 0BB 1K
Hitting Star #1: Ramirez 2-5, 2R, HR, 2RBI
Hitting Star #2: Cuevas 3-4, R, 2B, SB
Hitting Star #3: Hood 3-5, 2B
Notes: J.P. Ramirez’s two-run home run in the bottom of the 8th capped a four-run rally as the Hagerstown Suns cracked the Lakewood Blue Claws by a 9-7 tally. The Suns banged out 15 hits, with five batters collecting multiple hits, while Stephen King and Rick Hague also homered. Starter Evan Bronson went the first five innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits, while Luis Garcia got the win in relief. Josh Smoker allowed the tying runs to reach base but got the three outs he needed for his second save.
Vermont vs. Brooklyn — PPD
The completion and regularly scheduled game were both rained out on Sunday. The games will be made up next week when the Lake Monsters visit Brooklyn on August 31 to September 2.
GCL Nationals W, 10-9 vs. GCL Astros
Starting Pitcher: Pedro Encarnacion 4IP 4H 3R 2ER 2BB 2HR
Pitching Star: None
Hitting Star #1: Randolph Oduber 5-5, 3R, 2B, SB, RBI
Hitting Star #2: Jeremy Mayo 3-5, 2-2B, 2RBI
Hitting Star #3: Angel Montilla 3-5, 2R, 2B, RBI
Notes: After coughing up five runs in the top of the 9th to fall behind 9-5, the GCL Nationals got them back in the bottom half of the inning for a 10-9 victory. Pitching and defense took the day off, as the two teams combined for 19 runs, 27 hits and eight errors. Starting pitcher Pedro Encarnacion went four innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks, as every no G-Nat pitcher was unscathed. Randolph Oduber led the 14-hit attack with a 5-for-5 effort, including a double and a stolen base.
I know the season’s almost over, but it’s silly that Oduber is still at the GCL level. Man among boys.
Sue, I agree that the biggest jump in the minors is from High A to AA, it’s good to see Lombardozzi having a smooth transition. Between him and Sanchez at Hagerstown, middle infield looks a whole lot more stocked than it did last year.
Sue, I’d like to hear your take on NJ’s article on tyler Moore. Must read stuff, with good interview with Matt Nokes.
Solid reporting, the kind of stuff I wish I could be paid to do (again). Snagging Kilgore from the Globe was a great move on WaPo’s part.
The light-switch metaphor may seem far-fetched but I’ve heard it before in regards to players suddenly seeming to “just get it.” I think he’s underselling the “no signs of power” a bit – I do a stat sheet for most home games and even when Moore was on the interstate, he was still leading the team in doubles.
If Sue Dinem stays for all of Monday night’s Potomac game, he deserves a medal. FAIL, rain, and endless baseball.