NationalsProspects.com

Wednesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitcher
Syracuse Won, 17-2 OFF DAY N/A
Harrisburg Lost, 8-4 @ Reading,
7:05 p.m.		 Erik Arnesen (6-3, 2.63) vs.
Austin Hyatt (10-5, 3.88)
Potomac Lost, 3-0 @ Salem,
7:05 p.m.		 Paul Demny (7-9, 4.86) vs.
Ryan Pressly (6-9, 4.28)
Hagerstown Won, 3-2 @ Hickory,
7:05 p.m.		 Ryan Demmin (1-1, 2.87) vs.
Joe Van Meter (5-3, 2.98)
Auburn Won, 13-3 vs. Connecticut,
7:05 p.m.		 Wirkin Estevez (3-2, 3.79) vs.
Brennan Smith (1-3, 2.11)
GCL Nationals Lost, 5-3
@ GCL Cardinals		 vs. GCL Astros,
12:00 p.m.		 Pedro Encarnacion (0-2, 6.23)
vs. Francis Ramirez (0-2, 7.11)
DSL Nationals Lost, 8-0
@ DSL Phillies		 @ DSL Rangers,
10:30 a.m.		 Ivan Pineyro (3-4, 2.01) vs.
Pedro Tirado (4-2, 3.56)

Syracuse 17 Toledo 2
• Peacock 4IP, 1H, 0R, 5BB, 4K
• Tatusko (W, 3-1) 3⅔ IP, 2H, 0R, 2BB, 2K
• Brown 4-5, 2R, 2B, 2HR, 4RBI
• Antonelli 3-5, 2R, 2B, HR, BB, 4RBI
• Marrero 3-5, 2R, 2B, HR, BB, 2RBI

The circle clout accounted for six of the 20 Syracuse hits in a 17-2 roast of the Toledo Mud Hens. Just three batters failed to collect two hits, and only four failed to hit for extra bases, with Corey Brown leading the charge with a 4-for-5 game including a double and two HRs. Brad Peacock struggled with his control, allowing just one hit but five walks and was lifted after four innings and 91 pitches. Ryan Tatusko and long relief have become a good match as the 26-year-old went three and 2/3rds scoreless innings for the the win, the second three-plus inning, no-run outing in his last five appearances. The win improves the Chiefs to 49-60, 12½ behind first-place Lehigh Valley in the I.L. North.

Reading 8 Harrisburg 4
• O Perez (ND) 5IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 5K, HR
• C Martinez(BS, 1; L, 2-4) ⅔ IP, 5H, 6R, 6ER, BB, K, HR (GS)
• T Moore 3-4, R, HR, RBI
• Komatsu 2-4, SB
• O Perez 1-2, SB

Carlos Martinez got hammered on a Tuesday night. To make matters worse, it was before a crowd of 8,217 as the 27-year-old reliever surrendered six runs in the 6th as the Reading Phillies went on to beat the Senators 8-4. The big inning, which featured a grand slam, spoiled a decent outing by starter Oliver Perez, who gave up a run (also on a homer) over five innings and singled and stole a base in two at-bats. Erik Komatsu had a strong debut going 2-for-4 while stalwart Tyler Moore smacked his league-leading 25th home run. The loss dropped the Senators into second place, a ½ game behind Bowie in the E.L. West.

Salem 3 Potomac 0
• Solis (L, 4-2) 7IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 5K, 2HR
• Frias 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Walters 1-3, K
• Perez 1-4, OF Assist

Chris Hernandez became the Carolina League’s fourth 10-game winner with seven scoreless innings, as the Salem Red Sox shut out the Potomac Nationals, 3-0. Hernandez and relievers Mitch Herold and Will Latimer combined on a two-hit shutout while Sammy Solis dropped his second straight decision, giving up all three Sox runs on eight hits (two solo HRs) and a walk over seven innings. Zach Walters singled in the 2nd inning of his Potomac debut, while Eury Perez singled in the 9th for the two P-Nats hits. The loss drops Potomac to 21-16, four games behind Frederick in the Carolina League North. J.P. Ramirez and Brian Peacock were both activated off the 7-Day DL, with Sean Nicol returning to Hagerstown, joining Adrian Nieto, which we hope concludes this flurry of transactions.

Hagerstown 3 Hickory 2
• Cole (W, 3-6) 5IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 2K
• Applebee (S, 1) 4IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Nicol 3-4, R, 2B, 3B, 2RBI
• Curran 0-2, SH, SF, RBI

In a battle of the bullpens, Paul Applebee’s four scoreless innings sealed the deal as Hagerstown edged Hickory, 3-2. Neither team scored after the 4th, with Sean Nicol’s RBI triple and Chris Curran’s sac fly giving the Suns their second and third runs respectively. A.J. Cole got the win with five innings pitched, two runs allowed on five hits and three walks and two strikeouts. Applebee got the save with just one hit allowed and one strikeout. Nicol went 3-for-4 to lead the offense, which was held to seven hits. The win puts the Suns back over .500 at 19-18, cutting the Crawdads’ leave to 3½ games in the Sally North.

Auburn 13 Connecticut 3
• Hill 4IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 3K, HR
• Jenkins (W, 2-0) 4IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 6K
• Mayo 4-4, 3R, 2B, 2HR, 4RBI
• Skole 2-5, R, HR, 2RBI
• Montilla 1-3, R, HR, 3RBI

The Auburn Doubledays went deep four times in a 13-3 rout of the Connecticut Tigers. Jeremy Mayo was a perfect 4-for-4 with 4RBI, singling, doubling, and homering twice to lead the 15-hit attack. Matt Skole (2-for-5) and Angel Montilla (1-for-3) accounted for the other two home runs and combined for five RBI. David Hill allowed a run over the first four innings in his first start, while Chad Jenkins went the next four, giving up two runs, to get the win. The victory puts Auburn into a tie with Mahoning Valley at 26-19, one game ahead of both Jamestown and Williamsport in the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League.

GCL Cardinals 5 GCL Nationals 3
• Baez (ND) 5IP, 6H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 2K
• Hatcher 2-3, CS
• Difo 2-4, R, 2B, SB
• Schill 2-5, RBI

With a three-run homer in the bottom of the 6th, the G-Cards overcame a 2-1 deficit to send the G-Nats a sixth straight loss by a 5-3 count. Gregory Baez left with the lead after giving up a run on three walks and six hits over the first five innings. Ken Ferrer served up the tater into get the blown save and the loss. Rashad Hatcher, Wilmer Difo and Wes Schill each had two hits, as the offense colleted nine hits and stranded eight baserunners. With a 12-24 mark, the G-Nats’ elimination number is down to six, 15 games behind the division-leading G-Marlins and just a game out of the cellar, currently inhabited by today’s opponent, the G-Astros.

DSL Phillies 8 DSL Nationals 0
• Moscat (L, 3-5) 7IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 6K, 2HR
• Mercedes 1-4

Yermin Mercedes singled with two outs in the top of the 9th to break up a combined no-hit bid by the D-Phillies, who shut out the D-Nats by an 8-0 count. Felix Moscat fell victim to the longball, accounting for four of the five runs he surrendered over seven innings pitched. He gave up eight hits and walked one while striking out six. The loss drops the D-Nats to 28-27, five games off the pace in the B.C. South.

18 Commments

    1. Where do you put him? With Morse hitting the way he is?

      Would Davey change things up and put him back in left field in those games?

    1. Yes, he has. Hopefully with his 11th homer out of the way (I think he’s tied with Corey Brown for that the SYR lead) the power stroke will continue on the upswing.

      Don’t know where they would put him. He can only play first base.

  3. The one oddity of the Syracuse game was there were no subs at any point of the game. I’m not sure if this is bad managing or what, the game was over by the 1st inning and at no point was there anybody brought off the bench for anything.

    1. More likely due to the fact that SYR currently has a 3-man bench – In a DH game, that leaves Knoor with one bench player & a catcher.

  4. Looking at his career stats, I was impressed how the numbers are getting progressively better at every level, and he’s only just turned 23. Here’s hoping he can keep goosing his OPS closer to .900 as Sept. approaches.

  5. I suspect Marerro’s future will depend largely on whether the Nats actually go after Prince Fielder in the offseason and if so, manage to sign him. If they do, Marerro is trade bait (and so of course is Adam LaRoche who they still will have under contact for next year). If not, Marerro may get a good long look as th possible first baseman of the future (all this assuming of course that Mike Morse’s future is in the outfield.)

    1. Where do you put Bryce Harper if he is ready next year? He definitely can’t play CF … yet.

      I doubt they go after Fielder. Top of the rotation starter and CF. Looks to me like first base is covered? Don’t you think?

      Morse .317 18 homers
      LaRoche .260 25 homers
      Marrero .300+ 11 homers
      Moore .280 25 homers and counting

    2. I would hope that between LaRoche being under contract through 2012, the emergence of Morse, and the continuing development of Marrero & Moore that the Nationals’ braintrust stays out of the Fielder sweepstakes this off-season. The team would be better served imo by acquiring a youngish CF, a solid SP & an extension for RZim.

  6. Wow, yesterday was a weird day in this organization. Rick Ankiel hit a grand slam, Corey Brown hit TWO HRs AND a double, Oliver Perez pitched well and Brad Peacock struggled with his control. It’s like it was opposite day or something …

  7. Yesterday was apparently Nats Pitching Prospects Day. All the top ones but Ray. I must have missed the announcement.

    Can anyone offer commentary on how Solis and Peacock look at their respective new levels (beyond what the stats offer)? I am not sure what to make of Peacock’s high pitch counts – is he lacking confidence in his stuff up at AAA? Solis also hasn’t looked like a world beater, but maybe I am misjudging the numbers. Law was very positive on Cole; has anyone seen him live?

    1. I’ve seen Solis at both Hagerstown and… wait for it… Potomac. Solis suffered through a similar problem with jump in that the umpires gave him rookie treatment (squeeze) until he proved himself, and I believe that’s what’s happening now. Solis has a habit of leaving his pitches up and hitters at both high- and low-A will jump on those mistakes.

      Our Hagerstown guy reviewed Cole in his take on the Suns’ pitchers through the first half.

      Finally, we try valiantly to list the probable pitchers in our daily recaps; today’s is called “Wednesday’s News & Notes.” I’ve thought about renaming that feature, but haven’t come up with anything that I like better. Obviously, “Across The Affiliates” is no-go…

      1. Agreed on Solis (in Potomac at least); He needs to be more consistent in keeping his pitches flirting with the bottom end of the strike zone, because he’s not yet phyisically ready to blow hitters away higher in the zone. I think he’s shown a deep enough repetoire to maintain a mid-rotation MLB projection for the time being. Check back a year from now to see if my opinion holds.

        So far as the affiliate recaps go, I think you’ll come up with something clever for a title, but it’s not a critical issue. What’s important is the content, and you’re still bringing the goods there.

  8. Thanks Sue, I appreciate the viewpoint and the link to the halfway review, I missed that one. Sounds like you are upbeat on Solis, which is great. I hadn’t heard all that much on him lately. Peacock, Ray and Cole have been grabbing most of the headlines that I have seen.

    And I know you put probable pitchers out there each day, which is very valuable. I was just making a joke about missing the announcement ’cause so many touted pitching prospects were going on the same day. Sorry if it didn’t come through that way.

  9. By the way, is there something similar to the halfway review for hitters? I am curious about views on Michael taylor, who has been getting some press lately.

Comments are closed.