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Tuesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 9-3 vs. Louisville,
7:00 p.m.		 Laffey (11-4, 3.20) vs.
E. Johnson (5-6, 6.29)
Harrisburg OFF DAY vs. Reading,
7:00 p.m.		 Kroenke (2-5, 6.56) vs.
Nola (1-0, 1.80)
Potomac OFF DAY vs. Salem,
5:00 p.m.		 TBD and TBD vs.
TBD and TBD
Hagerstown Won, 13-7 @ Delmarva,
7:05 p.m.		 Swynenberg (1st Low-A start of ’14)
vs. Horacek (5-10, 3.98)
Auburn Lost, 6-2 @ Jamestown,
7:05 p.m.		 Bourque (1-4, 3.81) vs.
Duncan (2-2, 3.45)
GCL Nationals Won, 3-0 (6 inn.) @ GCL Mets,
12:00 p.m.		 TBD vs. TBD
DSL Nationals Won, 3-1 @ DSL Rockies,
10:30 a.m.		 Acevedo (3-3, 3.91) vs.
Oviedo (3-2, 2.54)


Charlotte 9 Syracuse 3
• Hill (L, 10-6) 4+ IP, 8H, 7R, 7ER, 2BB, K, 3HBP
• Stange 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 3-3 IR-S
• Rhymes 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 3RBI
• Moore 2-4, R

The Knights scored three times in the 5th to break open a 4-3 game and made single-run crusades in the 7th and 9th to complete a 9-3 conquest of the Chiefs. Taylor Hill put on 13 baserunners in the space of 25 batters faced over four-plus innings. Seven of them crossed home plate, including the three he left to Daniel Stange, who was greeted with a two-run single by the “other” Michael Taylor before inducing a double play, which scored the third inherited run. All three Syracuse runs came in the 3rd as Will “Don’t Call Me Buster” Rhymes smacked his fifth home run. Rhymes and Tyler “Boz Thinks I’m Boggs” Moore both went 2-for-4 with a run scored as the Chiefs managed eight hits and three walks total.

Harrisburg — OFF DAY
The elimination number for the Western Division race is down to five for Harrisburg, which hosts Eastern Division cellar-dweller Reading for the next three at City Island. The Fightins now lead the Senators by four and 1/2 games to avoid the tag of the worst record in the Eastern League. Roster move: LHP Felipe Rivero reassigned from Hagerstown.

Potomac — OFF DAY
The rain that washed out this past weekend’s slate between Salem and Potomac has followed them to Woodbridge as thunderstorms are forecast for today. For Potomac, one or more cancellations could actually be to their benefit as it will make it harder for second-place Lynchburg to catch them as well as make it possible to win by less than a game or by percentage points.

Hagerstown 13 Delmarva 7
• Giolito (W, 9-2) 5IP, 2H, 0R, 2BB, 6K, HBP
• Difo 5-6, 2R, 2RBI
• Bautista 3-5, 2R, BB, RBI
• W. Rodriguez 3-5, R, HR, 3RBI
• Lopez 3-6, 2R, HR, 4RBI

Hagerstown got a touchdown on their opening drive, featuring deep completions beyond the secondary by Rafael Bautista and Wilman Rodriguez, and added a pair of field goals for a 13-7 win over Delmarva. Lucas Giolito won his 9th game with five shutout innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six. Wilmer Difo went 5-for-6 to lead the 19-hit parade while Bautista, Rodriguez, and Carlos Lopez, who had a two-run homer in the 6th, had three hits apiece. It’s not all roses as reliever Andrew Cooper was hammered for six runs on seven hits and a walk over an inning and 2/3rds — the third time in a week that the Suns ‘pen was charged with three or more runs. Roster move: RHP Matt Swynenberg reassigned from Auburn.

Vermont 6 Auburn 2
• Ott 5IP, 4H, R, ER, BB, 5K, HR, WP
• Ramos (BS, 2; L, 1-2) 2IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, K
• Williamson 2-3, RBI
• Marmolejos-Diaz 2-4, R, 2B, 3B

The Lake Monsters scored five unanswered runs to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 6-2 win over the Doubledays. Travis Ott gave up a solo shot with two out in the 1st but finished with the one run allowed on four hits. He walked one and struck out five. David Ramos blew yet another save as he was knocked for two runs in the 6th and was charged with the loss. Clay Williamson singled twice while “Orange” Marmolejos-Diaz doubled and tripled to lead the Auburn offense. Roster move: RHP John Feliz reassigned from the GCL Nationals.

GCL Nationals 3 GCL Mets 0 (6 inn.)
• K. Simmons 2IP, 2H, 0R, 2BB, 2K
• Vasquez (W, 1-2) 3IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, HBP, WP
• Valerio (S, 2) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Ortiz 1-2, R, HR, 3RBI
• Lora 1-2, BB

Oliver Ortiz’s three-run homer in the last of the 5th was the difference in a 3-0 G-Nats win over the G-Mets in six innings (rain). Kyle Simmons got the start and went two scoreless innings with two hits and two walks with… wait for it… two strikeouts. Daury Vasquez got the win with three shutout frames while Maximo Valerio was awarded the save for recording a goose egg in the 6th. The G-Nats totaled just four hits and one walk with Edwin Lora the sole batter to record one of each.

DSL Nationals 3 DSL Rockies 1
• M. Pena (W, 1-1) 5IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 3K
• Morel (H, 3) 2IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Mota 2-4, 2B
• A. Martinez 2-4, R, 3B

The D-Nats stopped a two-game slide with a 3-1 win over the D-Rockies. Malvin Pena, who took Joan Baez’s place in the rotation, earned his first “W” with five frames of one-run ball, giving up three hits, no walks, and setting down three on strikes. Angher Cespedes completed four innings of shutdown relief that earned holds for Melvin Morel (#3) and Miguel Vargas (#1) as he set ’em down in order in the 9th for the save (#8). The trio of Israel Mota, Anderson Franco, and Andres Martinez combined to go 5-for-12 with double (Mota), triple (Martinez) and home run (Franco) as the D-Nats registered eight hits for the game.

17 Commments

  1. In fairness to Boswell, he compared Moore’s situation to that of Wade Boggs, not their games. One could think of two players that are more different, but it would take some doing. The only similar aspect to their games that I could think of is that both are footspeed challenged 🙂

    1. It’s a weak comparison — Zimmerman may be Lansford but LaRoche is not Scott/Perez/Yastrzemski (talking offense here) and Moore was a non-entity until he was 23.5 — Boggs was MLB-ready in his age-22 season and ripped up the Carolina League in his age-19 season.

  2. Will Wilmer Difo see Potomac before the end of the season? Looks to be having quite the season in low-A….

    1. Yeah, he’s been one of the least talked about players in our system. Does anyone have intel on his defense? Will he stick at SS? Also, is this power for real? He’s been all over the place offensively in the minors, so it’s hard to get an idea of his skill set. Can he continued to swipe 40+ bases per year? Is 10+ HR sustainable?

      1. Difo played 2B last night, and he has split his time between SS and 2B all year. Not sure if the Nats see him as having the ability to play everyday SS at the MLB level.

        Currently, I think that he is perceived as a utility IF type

  3. It’s a bit odd that the Nats haven’t promoted Giolito to Potomac yet. After a “rocky” April, sporting a 2.95 ERA and 11 BB in 21 IP, he’s been lights out: 2.01 ERA, 81K:17BB in 71 IP.

    What more does he have to prove?

    2. 2BBs and 1HBP are outcomes they don’t like to see. As other commenters have pointed out, they may just want to skip some of the nonsense that could occur if they pitch him in Potomac. Until Potomac gets their stadium situated fixed and as long as they play in the 8 team Carolina League, I don’t think Rizzo’s going to be but so passionate about having the elite projects stay there but so long. How many elite prospects have skipped Potomac or stayed there just a hot minute? I’m intrigued by Luke’s earlier comment that a strong spring could have a less inning cap inhibited Giolito start at AA next year. Couldn’t he hack it at AA and show the organization that he’s an emergency option for the rotation in 2015 and ready to fulfill the Jose Fernandez comps that he’s received from national writers. “Twinkletoes” me be dancing his away around the Carolina League. His “Twinkletoes” dancing will continue to be the background for my twitter account if he keeps having merely good outings like this. Remember that part of the reason they’re keeping him in the South Atlantic League is that they want him to work on tertiary pitches against competition that won’t blast them out of the ballpark.

      1. Fair point on the anti-Potomac attitudes, but I have to question yours and Pilchard’s points on Gio’s command.

        Your own comp to Fernandez might be instructive. Fernandez sported a 2.54 BB/9 through basically one minor league season. Gio’s post-April is 2.15 (2.71 including April), which is pretty good.

        If he’s still struggling with his secondary pitches, that is cause for concern, but he’s still been dominant in spite of this. Perhaps challenging Gio with some better hitters, as opposed to the seeming hyper-cautious approach that Nats management has been taking so far, would work out.

  4. Pls clarify what you meant when you wrote “they may just want to skip some of the nonsense that could occur if they pitch him at Potomac”

  5. Cool to see Rivero back in city isle
    In the vaccum of DLd lefties this summer.
    Especially since Robbie Ray was big advancement
    Last summer dumped for Fister
    Neat story with Matt Swynenburg.
    Quietly Travis Ott is pitching @ auburn
    Like a kid Hagerstown will enjoy next
    Season .
    DHs Potomac. Go slay Salem!

  6. I went to the Delmarva game last night, and Giolito over-matched the Delmarva’s hitters. Not sure why the Nats have not promoted him. I know he is on a pretty severe innings limit, and think that he is close to being maxed out. One other thing, it seemed to me like the Hagerstown group is really close, and there is a lot more camaraderie than you would expect on a minor league team where people come and go so frequently. Maybe the Nats think that team is a good spot for Giolito right now.

  7. Like a good pot of chili. Let it simmer on low
    Same thing with G force
    Kudos to the chiefs for having been stocked
    With a bench that has filled in for injuries and promotions
    Would love to see Goodwin and Hood get back put there
    Shoeing their tools in playoffs. Conceivable
    Luke?
    WeArher all over NY state and virginia.
    Borque tomorrow night. Humm baby !!

  8. For those keeping score Michael BATMAN Taylor went 2-4 with a 2-run HR that put the Metsies out of their misery. Michael Taylor is a SUPERHERO who FIGHTS EVIL and helps the Nationals WIN GAMES!

  9. Soul drummer. I am lol thinking of super hero comment
    With visions of Damon Wayens from in living color
    Skit transformed from handicapped hero to
    Red rights and a logo with MT
    Tyler Moore? Comparison. ? We know that buffalo
    Ramos reminds me of Andres Galaragga
    Baby buff brother. Moore.
    Enough of the Boston comparisons .red sox never
    Had rivalry with yanx until the two gothom
    City teams headed west.
    Nice piece by espn yesterday on 20 years
    Anniversary of Selig and cronies shutting down
    Curtain on expos.
    So now Selig allows press to talk about 1994.
    Fact. Expos would have whooped yanx and then
    Been housed in cute park near molsin
    Hab centre . No nats.
    Tyler Moore and Brandon Laird now cogs
    For chiefs

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