Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitcher |
| Syracuse | Won, 3-1 | @ Buffalo, 6:05 p.m. |
Yunesky Maya (3-9, 5.09) vs. Dylan Owen (6-6, 4.18) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 2-1 | vs. Portland, 7:00 p.m. |
Stephen Strasburg (rehab) vs. Michael Lee (1-6, 5.12) |
| Potomac | Won, 6-3 | @ Lynchburg, 7:05 p.m. |
Paul Demny (9-10, 4.54) vs. Matt Crim (2-7, 5.81) |
| Hagerstown | OFF DAY | vs. Lakewood, 7:05 p.m. |
Chris McKenzie (4-6, 6.80) vs. Garett Claypool (4-7, 3.63) |
| Auburn | Lost, 3-2 | vs. Jamestown, 7:05 p.m. |
Taylor Hill (0-2, 3.25) vs. Jose Urena (4-7, 4.39) |
Syracuse 3 Buffalo 1
• Meyers (W, 6-4) 5⅓ IP, 7H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 5K, HR
• Wilkie (S, 15) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Valdez 2-4, RBI
• Antonelli 0-2, 2RBI, BB, SF
Syracuse took advantage of Buffalo miscues to take their fourth straight game, 3-1. Brad Meyers got his sixth win by scattering seven hits — OK, six; one was a home run — over five and a 1/3rd innings with no walks and five strikeouts. Jesus Valdez was the sole Chief to get multiple hits, driving in the second Syracuse run in the 3rd with an RBI single as part of a 2-for-4 night. Josh Wilkie was the last of five relievers to follow Meyers, pitching a scoreless ninth for his 15th save.
Harrisburg 2 Portland 1
• Arnesen 7IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 9K
• VanAllen (W, 5-3) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Martin (S, 13) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• T Moore 2-4, RBI
• Pahuta 2-3, R, HR, RBI
Tyler Moore’s 8th-inning RBI single put the Sens in the playoffs with a 2-1 win over Portland. Moore’s hit gave Cory VanAllen the win for pitching a scoreless 8th. Erik Arnesen got the start and allowed just an unearned run on four hits and no walks over the first seven innings while setting down nine on strikes. Tim Pahuta homered in the 5th to tie the game at 1-1, and went 2-for-3 for the game to lead the offense. Rafael Martin pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for save #13. Harrisburg can clinch the Eastern League West division with a win or a Richmond loss tonight.
Potomac 6 Lynchburg 3
• Olbrychowski (W, 5-7) 7⅓ IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, BB, 6K, HR
• Selik ⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Walters 2-4, R, 2B, RBI, BB
• Bloxom 2-5, R
• Kobernus 2-5, 2RBI, SB
Likewise, Potomac clinched a playoff berth with a win over Lynchburg by a 6-3 count. Adam Olbrychowski pitched a masterful seven and a 1/3rd innings, allowing just two hits, though one was a home run. He walked one and struck out six. Potomac made him a winner by taking advantage of a Hillcats error in the 8th to pile on for four unearned runs. Jeff Kobernus, Justin Bloxom, and Zach Walters each had two hits as the P-Nats collected 11 total. Combined with another Frederick loss, the P-Nats are just 1½ games behind the Keys, the tragic number frozen at five.
Hagerstown — OFF DAY
The Suns finish out 2011 with a five-game set against the Lakewood BlueClaws. They’ll need to win three to avoid a losing second-half record.
Jamestown 3 Auburn 2
• Karns (ND) 5IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 4K
• Kreis (H, 1) 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Skole 2-5, 2-2B, RBI
• Ramsey 2-5, 2R
Auburn may have the best winning percentage of any Nats affiliate, but a 3-2 loss to Jamestown has tightened up the race for a playoff spot. Colin Bates was touched for two runs in the top of the 8th to burn a 2-1 lead, handing starter Nathan Karns a no-decision for his five innings of one-run ball. Matt Skole and Caleb Ramsey both went 2-for-5 to lead the Doubledays offense, which struggled in the clutch with a 2-for-9 mark with RISP and 10 men left on base. The loss slices Auburn’s lead over Williamsport to just one game in the Pinckney Division, which is also the same margin they have over the Brooklyn Cyclones in the wild-card chase.
Hopefully, Auburn doesn’t pull a Hagerstown and blow their playoff position.
Harrisburg has had a terrific year and I’m happy for them. But the team is made up (mostly) of players who are not likely to be a part of the future. Other than Norris, a disabled Harper, and maybe Moore, the rest are unlikely to make the Show.
That being said, Martis and Arnesen are certainly looking great–and Martis is still young.
Whoops, I forgot Rosenbaum.
…and Lombardozzi and Peacock. They may not be there now, but they were a part of the team for significant parts of the season. All but Harper were key cogs on the 2010 Carolina League championship team, too, and that’s something to consider. Winning is secondary to development, but it’ll be nice to have prospects coming to DC expecting to win, not hoping.
It was said a long time ago by someone a lot smarter than me that if you want a quick snapshot of a teams farm system, just look at their AA team.
Every team has OG’s, but Harrisburg has a lot of people doing great.
And don’t forget ‘Beer League Martin’, who’s going to the AFL.
One bright spot in Auburn’s loss, another good outing by Kreis who has allowed zero runs in 5 of his last 6 relief appearances.
Did you also notice that 1B Justin Miller got plunked three times last night, by three different Jamestown pitchers? That’s gonna leave a couple of marks; Ouch.
Is Harper done for Harrisburg even if they make an extended playoff run?
Also, wonder if any of the recently signed picks (most likely Rendon, who was considered as an advanced a hitter as there was in the draft), could appear in the playoffs for one of the Nats’ affliates?
I can’t remember an instance of a late-sign pick appearing in the playoffs, which would be patently unfair to the guys that won the right to be there. I took great exception last year to the Yankees and Red Sox for using the playoffs for rehab outings, which I thought was not only unfair but classless.
I seem to recall Harper wanting to make a go of it when the docs deem him ready, but I personally would rather see him sit, even if it may turn out that Harrisburg could be short another OF in the second round.
Yeah, not the smartest move from Archie last night deciding to drive home after the playoff celebration. On top of the fine/bail $, he’ll likely earn a fine & suspension from the team as well.
With a special shout-out to TBRFan and the other HAG fans who have chipped in this season. I’m sorry for you that the team went ‘belly-up’ when it counted in both halves of this season. Any team that comes close but falls just short can frustrate the fanbase.
I hope you all have enough love of the game to come back next year as well, as your voices are welcomed here anytime.