The 20-y.o. righthander was brilliant, pitching into the 9th with just five hits allowed. Unfortunately, his name was Zach Jemioloa, not Reynaldo Lopez, as the Asheville Tourists took Game Three of the South Atlantic League Championship Series, 4-1.
Lopez, who has become the hottest Nationals prospect not named Lucas Giolito, was instead human last night. After turning in two scoreless inning to begin the game, he gave up back-to-back-to-back singles to open up a 1-0 deficit in the 3rd, then fell behind 3-1 on a two-run home run after issuing a leadoff walk in the 4th.
The Dominican righty wobbled through the 5th a pair of walks and was saved from further damage when Corelle “Optimus” Prime’s single struck David Dahl between second and third to for the third out and quash a possible fourth run allowed. Manager Patrick Anderson pulled the plug after two outs in the 6th and inserted Nick Lee.
Lopez’s final was 5⅔ IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K, HR, WP, 2PO (both at 1B).
The Tourists got their fourth and final run in the 7th on a two-out triple by Dahl off Lee, who finished the game for Hagerstown with the one run allowed on four hits, no walks, and six strikeouts.
Offensively, the Suns were held to just six hits, though four of them were doubles. The lone run came in the bottom of the 3rd as David Masters doubled to lead off the inning, took third on grounder to third, and scored on Rafael Bautista’s single (literally) off Jemiola.
The Suns threatened in the 9th as Wilmer Difo led off with a double and Austin Chubb walked with one out to bring the tying run to the plate in the person of Drew Ward, who popped up to short for the second out. Carlos Lopez, who had doubled twice earlier in the game, grounded out to the mound to end it.
The Suns will give the ball to a well-rested (last pitched on August 28) Travis Ott (0-2, 7.59) in Game Four, opposed by Antonio Senzatela (15-2, 3.11) who last pitched on August 30th.