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Thursday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 11-7 @ Columbus,
7:05 p.m.		 Espino (1-0, 1.74) vs.
Anderson, Co (1-0, 1.29)
Harrisburg Won, 9-6 @ New Britain,
10:35 a.m.		 Spann (1-0, 0.64) vs.
Carpenter (4-5, 3.84)
Potomac Lost, 11-3 @ Carolina,
7:00 p.m.		 Pivetta (4-4, 2.39) vs.
Webster (2-1, 1.71)
Hagerstown Lost, 6-1 @ Delmarva,
7:05 p.m.		 Williams (6-1, 1.65) vs.
Gonzalez (3-4, 5.20)


Toledo 11 Syracuse 7
• Jordan (L, 1-3) 1⅔ IP, 6H, 8R, 8ER, BB, 3K, 2HBP, HR
• Lively 3IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Mastroianni 3-6, R, HR, 3RBI
• Minicozzi 1-2, R, 2BB

Syracuse scored seven times in the first four innings, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Toledo’s eight-run outburst in the 2nd in an eventual 11-7 loss. Taylor Jordan was dismantled for all eight runs in the 2nd on six hits, a walk, and two hit batsmen over just an inning and a 1/3rd for his third loss. Darin Mastroianni smacked a three-run HR that briefly gave the Chiefs a 3-0 lead and was 3-for-6 overall. Syracuse drew nine walks, which helped them to score seven times on just eight hits but also contributed to 12 men left on base.

New Britain 9 Harrisburg 6
• Voth 6IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 8K, 2HR
• Solis 3BF, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 0K
• Skole 3-5, R, 2B, HR, 4RBI, 2K
• Goodwin 2-4, 2R, 2B, BB, 2RBI
• Difo 3-5, 2R

Harrisburg struck for three runs in the 1st and 3rd innings and ended a seven-game slide with a 9-6 win over New Britain. Austin Voth turned in a quality start of three runs on four hits over six innings, though he did give up two home runs. Matt Skole was a triple shy of the cycle with a 3-for-5 night, connecting for a three-run blast in the 3rd that gave the Sens a 6-0 lead. Wilmer Difo was also 3-for-5 as the Sens racked up 14 hits total.

Carolina 11 Potomac 3
• Lopez (L, 3-3) 2+ IP, 8H, 7R, 6ER, 2BB, 3K
• Thomas 3IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Martinez 3-4
• Ballou 2-4, RBI

It was 9-0 before Potomac finally got on the board in an 11-2 loss to Carolina. Reynaldo Lopez was eviscerated for seven runs on eight hits and two walks over two-plus innings as he lost for the third time in four starts. The P-Nats offense generated 12 hits, but only one came in ten chances with a runner on second or third as they stranded 14 on the night. Estarlin Martinez led the hit column with a 3-for-4 night, while John Wooten, Brandon Miller, and Isaac Ballou each singled twice.

Delmarva 6 Hagerstown 1
• Reyes (L, 2-4) 5IP, 7H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 5K, 2HBP, WP
• Cooper 2IP, 0H, 0R, 3BB, 2K
• Keller 1-4, R, 3B
• DeBruin 1-3

A leadoff triple in the 1st and an RBI groundout plated the lone Hagerstown run, preventing a shutout as Delmarva scored six unanswered runs for a 6-1 win. Starter and loser Luis Reyes put 12 runners on base over five innings with seven hits, three walks, and two hit batsman and five of them came around to score. Grant DeBruin singled in the 8th for the only other hit by the Suns.

Trea Turner Update
Turner singled twice in five trips to the plate to push his latest hit streak to seven games in a 5-3 Missions loss.

23 Commments

  1. One of the things I was most excited about was the duo of Lopez and Giolito at Potomac. Not quite as excited anymore. Lopez must be injured. Otherwise, I can’t imagine a player regressing this much.
    I’ve always liked Taylor Jordan and think he must be dealing with health issues as well.

    1. I don’t think Lopez is injured. He hit 101 twice last according to a couple of tweets I saw.

      I think it’s simply a matter of level adjustment for a guy who is 21 with 7 games of experience at the high A level.

      1. Exactly. Lopez wasn’t locating his secondary pitches when I last saw him, so batters were able to sit on his fastball. Even at High-A, they can hit high-90s heat **when they know it’s coming.**

  2. I was really looking forward to good news this morning, only to find that Jordan, Lopez, and Solis all got clobbered. Ugh. Signs of life from Skole and Goodwin are good to see, though, plus a good night from Difo, and of course two more hits from Turner.

  3. Jeeves. Maybe Jordan is feeling woozy and seeing
    Butterflies still in Cuse after getting tattooed in big leagues ???
    No irony in seeing Nats draft bring in stellar NCAA
    Proven relievers after some blown saves on farm
    Especially the PotomAc implosion the other night .
    Justin Maxwell sure has found a new home
    In the city by the bay.

  4. Gil Grissom , let’s revisit your promotion
    Idea: you place Turner and Renda @ Cuse to
    Give syracuse fans something to cheer about
    In an unsavory summer. You place Difo with Bostick
    @ harrisburg. PotomAc is left with Stephen Perez
    And Khayan Norfolk plus maybe pushing O Abreau
    From Hagerstown who do not have reinforcements
    On auburn roster. Yet… Melvin Rodrieguez and Ian
    Sagdal look good from recent draft to help out
    Next summer. There is always the late summer UFA
    Additions .

  5. Jeff – The Nats have revisited the Renda plan. The housecleaning is well under way. Renda, to his credit, drives in a lot of runs, makes contact, may yet play in the majors, but has fallen on the middle infield depth chart for this organization, especially with Escobar turning into such a fantastic, fantastic acquisition (versatile, controllable, affordable, player who knows how to play, Cuban, popular).

    I do hope this does not mean a double play combo in Harrisburg of Difo-Turner. But the organization knows whether it is premature to promote Bostick. I still think that regardless, Turner may yet end up as the top prospect in the organization this year and may even be ticketed for starting at SS if there is a Desmond plan.

    Norfolk is an OG. Abreu has a nice average and nice speed but has made so many errors that he cannot be winning fans on the defensive front. So I do not agitate for his promotion.

    As for replacements, there are at least two credible ones: Bryan Mejia (2b), who was starting and playing well on the GCL miracle team in 2013, and Edwin Lora (SS) another Dominican who was one of the top players on a mediocre GCL 2014 squad. I expected both to be up already and wonder how much their slower progress has reflected their learning English and acculturating.

    1. Farewell to Renda, a hardworking player who never should have been a second-rounder but will always have that held against him. I do, in fact, believe this means a Turner-Difo combo in Harrisburg. I do agree that it would be more valuable if there was a way to keep Difo working at SS as well, but Turner will clearly be the “shortstop of the future.” Of course Goodwin was thought to be the designated “centerfielder of the future,” so plans can change.

    2. I would be remiss without thank Tony Renda for
      Leaving everything between the lines flashing hustle
      And incredible leather in Hagerstown / PotomAc
      Rewarding the miles driven and $$& spent !

  6. The question now is did difo get a callup
    With Sanchez pinch hit in 3 rd IP
    Yes, Gil , I am well aware of Lora and Meiijia
    But we are awaiting the post draft assignments.
    We know the OG list well even in hags @ $7 GA
    Lol!

  7. LOL indeed. And here I am hoping Josh Johnson can catch fire in ‘Cuse. I’ve been rooting for him to make it for a few years now. It’s like last chance, last last chance for him, Martinson, Erik Davis, Brandon Miller, and Tyler Moore and a few others whose star was brighter.

    But hey, you look at Espinosa and you see exhibit A for organizational patience being rewarded.

    1. Am I reading the Cuse roster right?
      Jose Lozada on DL or released on heels
      Of renda trade ??

  8. I do really like the proven arm for plugging into the bullpen right away idea. Boy, AA (Nick Lee, Manny Rodriguez?), A+ (??) and A- pitching staffs will look dramatically different by end of July.

    Still no word on Dickson and Silvestre, and meanwhile Bacus and Spann have fully graduated to AA rotation, and Simms looking like he is back on track. You can’t rush development.

  9. Surprise Nat friends and Gil Grissom
    I guess Hague plays more 2 b???
    Carpenter for renda. Not a bad return ???
    Tchau

    1. I’ve felt all season that Hague will be released once the Turner trade is completed. He’s like Sean Nicol and Justin Bloxom last year; he’s spending another year in Harrisburg, he’s hit his ceiling in the organization, and he’s a disposable roster spot.

      1. Can’t complain about any Rice players who bring
        The Graham way into Nats org.
        If I lived in syracuse I would ask for partial to ticket
        Package refund with an under achieving squad
        In IL.

  10. Gil. You are spot on about Spann and Dakota B.
    Maybe Pivetta moves up with austenWilliams
    Behind his dust trail along with Von Orden.
    Turner/ Difo makes sense @ burg
    Let the Chiefs play with what they have. Yes?
    Auburn graduates in August to hags ???

  12. I still think Giolito is the next arm up to Harrisburg, unless they want him to stay in Potomac in the hopes that he gets playoff run experience (second half). Pivetta has the numbers, but the Nats have not resolved life after JZimm and Fister (other than Roark) and neither Cole or Jordan separated themselves from Ross. The Nats have to figure out what they have before making irreversible decisions on the free agents to be (that’s why I’m thinking differently on Span these days). Giolito is much more part of that discussion, especially with Lopez showing he needs to develop a little more slowly.

  13. A shoutout to Springfield Fan for getting the Draft Tracker up and running so quickly.
    As with all drafts, hope springs eternal.

  14. Gil. Your comment on Jordan and Cole getting
    Slightly outdistanced by ross is true. Stay tuned
    Tomorrow night in miller park. Nats will enjoy the
    Cooler lake breeze.
    Agree: perez and Bostick stick @ potomAc
    The harrisburg park is not getting dents in
    Certain seats and walls. Some of those guys should be
    Banging balls all over

  15. If Bostick sustains this tear, his promotion won’t take long.

    Hague is a placeholder at 2B if needed.

    Interesting palace intrigue with Difo getting pulled in the second inning today as you noted above.

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