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Wednesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse ALL-STAR BREAK ALL-STAR BREAK N/A
Harrisburg ALL-STAR BREAK ALL-STAR BREAK N/A
Potomac OFF DAY @ Wilmington,
7:05 p.m.		 Olbrychowski (4-6, 5.43) vs.
Pounders (1-2, 6.08)
Hagerstown Won, 9-7 @ Greensboro,
7:05 p.m.		 Turnbull (4-4, 4.85) vs.
Lowell (3-4, 4.31)
Auburn OFF DAY @ Aberdeen,
7:05 p.m.		 Encarnacion (2-0, 0.55)
Guzman (0-0, 1.17)
GCL Nationals Won, 3-1 vs. GCL Marlins,
12:00 p.m.		 Schwartz (0-2, 6.75) vs.
Fox (0-1, 8.53)
DSL Nationals Lost, 2-1
(11 inn.)		 @ DSL Giants,
10:30 a.m.		 Valerio (0-4, 5.47) vs.
Guzman (1-2, 3.41)

SYRACUSE — ALL STAR BREAK
The Triple-A All Star game is tonight in Buffalo, NY with Corey Brown, Zach Duke, Jim Negrych, and Carlos Rivero representing Syracuse.

HARRISBURG — ALL STAR BREAK
The Double-A All Star game is tonight in Reading, PA with Jeff Kobernus, Hector Nelo, Eury Perez, Kevin Pucetas, Chris Rahl, Danny Rosenbaum representing Harrisburg.

POTOMAC — OFF DAY
After the first off day of the second half, Potomac takes to the road for a four-game set against the Wilmington Blue Rocks.

Hagerstown 9 Greensboro 7
• McKenzie 4⅔ IP, 2H, R, ER, 5BB, K
• Meza (W, 5-1) 1⅓ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, K, 3-0 IR-S
• Barrett (SV, 15) ⅓ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 3-3 IR-S
• Goodwin 3-5, 2R, 2-2B, BB
• Miller 2-4, 2R, 2B, HR, BB, 3RBI
• Dykstra 2-3, 2R, 2B, 3BB, 2RBI, SB(25)

The disturbing pattern of the bats building a big lead and bullpen giving it away continues for the Hagerstown Suns in a 9-7 escape from Greensboro. The Suns led this one 9-1 after 6½ innings before allowing three runs to the Grasshoppers in both the 8th and 9th innings. Christian Meza got the win with four outs in the middle innings, stranding the bases loaded in the 5th. Hagerstown pounded out 12 hits, led by Justin Miller’s 2-for-4 night with a double, walk, two runs scored, and three RBI. Starter Chris McKenzie went the first four and 2/3rds, giving up two hits and a run, but walking five while striking out one. Roster moves: 3B/DH Carlos Alvarez transferred from Auburn, 3B Matt Skole placed on the 7-Day DL.

AUBURN — OFF DAY
It’s first of three against the Aberdeen Ironbirds, the furthest point south on the New York-Penn League circuit. Roster moves: UT Mike McQuillan promoted from GCL Nationals, IF Carlos Lopez activated from DL, LHP Jack McGeary assigned from GCL

GCL Nationals 3 GCL Cardinals 1
• Mieses (W, 1-2) 5IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Dicharry (SV, 2) ⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 2-0 IR-S
• Nieto 1-3, R, BB, HR, RBI
• Piwnica-Worms 0-1, 3BB

With five scoreless frames from the start, strong relief, and a balanced offense, the G-Nats defeated the G-Cards, 3-1. Adalberto Miese allowed just three hits and struck out three, with no walks and no runs allowed to get the win. Eight of nine batters reached base safely, totaling seven hits and four walks, with Adrian Nieto connecting on a solo HR. Kevin DiCharry came on in the 9th to strand the tying runs and earn his second save.

DSL Giants 2 DSL Nationals 1 (11 inn.)
• J. Rodriguez 4⅔ IP, 3H, 1R, 0ER, 2BB, 7K, HBP
• Benitez 3⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 3BB, 4K
• K. Rodriguez (L, 2-2) 3IP, 3H, R, ER, 3BB, 4K
• A. Martinez 1-4, R, HR, BB, RBI, 3K
• Bautista 1-2, 2BB, SB

The tailspin continues for the DSL Nationals as they fell 2-1 in 10 innings for their eighth straight loss. The three D-Nats pitchers combined for eight walks and 15 strikeouts, with Jefry Rodriguez giving up the first run on three hits and two walks over four and 2/3rds and Kelvin Rodriguez giving up the second on three hits and three walks over the final three frames. Andres Martinez’s solo HR in the bottom of the 6th accounted for the D-Nats scoring, as they left on seven and went 0-for-8 with RISP.

20 Commments

  1. Been anxiously awaiting that McGeary move.
    Sorry to have to ask, is that HWSRN that was promoted to Hagerstown?
    Pretty impressive representation from Harrisburg to the All Star Game. Tells a lot.

    1. Yes, that is Bowden’s Folly. Not to take away from any of the All-Stars, but in a ten-team league and three-player minimum rule, some of that honor is a little inflated. I’d personally prefer to see the E.L., S.L., and T.L. play each other on a rotating basis

      1. So that means BF goes from being the oldest player in the NY Penn League to the oldest player in the Sally League.
        2 more levels and he’ll get to be a good old fashioned OG. 🙂

  2. Goodwin now sports a great slash of .324/.444/.516 for a stellar .960 OPS. I’m impressed with the power. 16 doubles, and 6 dingers. And amazingly, unlike other CF “prospects” our venerable organization has had in the past he actually can take a walk. More impressively he has 40 BB to 38 Ks. He also has 14 SB to 3 CS (82% success rate). He had a bad May (.240/.371/.360) but bounced back with impressive numbres in June and great numbers in July to date.

  3. Robert Daski of insidenova.com is reporting that Trevor Holder has been promoted to Harrisburg. Could this mean the arrival of Alex Meyer to the Potomac rotation?

    1. I’d like to say yes, but more likely is Swynenberg returning to the rotation and a reliever from Hagerstown being promoted.

  4. Chris Rahl won the hitting challenge/home run derby on Tuesday at the Eastern League Allstars.

      1. I’m not following you. Why would they put Skole on the DL unless he as injured? It makes no sense to to me to stash a regular player, who may be the 2nd best on the team. What am I missing?

        1. Happens all the time. I don’t know that he’s not hurt, but when neither the box score nor the beat writer references an injury, I’m suspicious.

        1. I don’t know, but it seems a little too coincidental with the Alavarez move as well as Potomac returning home when he’s eligible to play again.

  6. CONFUSED! At 27 years old Alvarez/”Smiley” should started the season in Hagerstown or Potomac or we should have “cut our ties”. McQuillan at 22/23 years old should have started the season in Auburn NOT in the “kiddie league” Rookie ball GCL.

    1. Until last month, I was sure he was going to be buried in a list of about two dozen releases right after the draft.

      1. Do they still have financial obligations tied to Alvarez? That’s the only reason I can think of why they keep him around.

  7. The Suns offense has been absolutely raking all season long. Their average triple slash is a ridiculous .276/.370/.436. They have far more HR, SB, and BBs than any other team.

    Do you attribute that to their advanced age (team avg is 22.8 compared to 21.7 league average)? Or is it just that the team has more talent? Nevermind the real prospects like Skole and Goodwin. But even guys like Burns, Souza, Dykstra, and Ramsey are looking like legit prospects. I wish the Nats were more aggressive with their player development, and has promoted some of these guys a while ago to see what they can do at a higher level, especially considering the pretty poor offensive state at Potomac.

  8. I don’t attribute age as a factor as much with Low A baseball versus GCL Rookie ball. Their is a BIG difference between an 18 year old and a 23 year old. Maturity, man-strength, experience and other intangable attributes. Research shows (on the average) that 18, 19 years old WILL struggle in the GCL………..aka Correa (Astros), Bruxton(Twins). Not such a BIG difference between a 21 years old and a 24 and older player……. why? …….Maturity, man-strength and etc……….

    South Atlantic League power numbers can be a little misleading……aka…… Hagerstown. Most players power number increase in the SAL because the ball parks are a little smaller the average “ball yard”. Research will show this as well.

    I agree with you 100% that Skole and Goodwin shouls have been promoted to better gauge their potential at a higher level. I contend that the GCL Nationals are too old to get a true read on how good the players really are. I contend that the GCL should be for players 17 – 20 years of age.

    Before someone says, what about guys like Harper and Trout and other teen agers who are performing at HIGHER levels? Always will have exceptions to the rule and some guys reach “physical maturity” years before others……..aka….. Bryce Harper……a 19 year old with a full beard. The ability to grow facial hair is always a sign of maturity. (smile)… That is something an “old” scout told me 40 years ago that I have found to be true! HEY I JUST SAYING…………….. I love this blog site!

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