Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitchers |
| Syracuse | Won, 6-2 | @ Lehigh Valley, 7:05 p.m. |
Bleier (6-2, 2.93) vs. Buchanan (4-2, 3.14) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 3-2 | vs. Richmond, 7:00 p.m. |
Simms (2-2, 4.50) vs. Gage (2-3, 4.91) |
| Potomac | Lost, 4-2 | vs. Myrtle Beach, 7:05 p.m. |
Spann (2-7, 4.66) vs. Underwood (6-3, 2.63) |
| Hagerstown | Won, 10-9 | @ Lexington, 7:05 p.m. |
J. Rodriguez (1-5, 7.45) vs. TBD |
| Auburn | Lost, 11-5 | vs. Mahoning Valley, 7:05 p.m. |
Hearn (1-5, 3.92) vs. Hentges (0-1, 20.25) |
Syracuse 6 Buffalo 2
• Espino (W, 8-6) 6⅓ IP, 9H, R, ER, 2BB, 4K
• J.C. Gutierrez (SV, 3) 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 2-0 IR-S
• Mastroianni 3-5, R, 2B, 4RBI, SB
• Burriss 2-5, RBI
• Hague 2-4, R, OF assist at HP
Syracuse rallied for four runs in the 8th and broke open a 2-1 game en route to a 6-2 win. Paolo Espino got the win with six and 2/3rds innings pitched and one run let in on nine hits and two walks. He struck out four. J.C. Gutierrez stranded two in the 8th and set the side down in order in the 9th for the save. Darin Mastroianni led the hit column with two singles and a double while driving in four as the Chiefs pounded out 13 hits total.
Roster moves: RHP Rafael Martin, LHP Matt Grace recalled to Washington; IF Mario Lisson activated from the 7-Day DL.
Richmond 3 Harrisburg 2
• Rauh (L, 2-5) 4IP, 3H, 3R, 2ER, BB, 5K
• Suero 3IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Manuel 1-3
• Goodwin 0-2, R, 2BB
The Flying Squirrels struck for three in the 3rd and made it stand up for a 3-2 win over the Senators. Brian Rauh gave up all three runs on three hits and a walk over four innings while striking out five for his fifth AA loss. Wander Suero and Abel De Los Santos combined for five scoreless innings of relief, but the offense was limited to four hits and three walks, two of which were drawn by Brian Goodwin.
The loss combined with a win by Bowie eliminated Harrisburg from the playoffs.
Myrtle Beach 4 Potomac 2
• A. Williams (L, 4-5) 6IP, 3H, 3R, 0ER, 2BB, 2K
• M. Rodriguez 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Bautista 2-4, BB, RBI
• Ward 2-4, RBI, E(28)
Austen Williams flirted with a no-hitter for five and 1/3rd innings but a three unearned runs in the 6th was his and Potomac’s undoing in a 4-2 loss to Myrtle Beach. Williams finished the sixth and gave up three hits and two walks while striking out two but lost his fifth game for the P-Nats. Rafael Bautista and Drew Ward both went 2-for-4 with an RBI as the P-Nats outhit the Pelicans 9-5.
Hagerstown 10 Kannapolis 9
• Fedde 5IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 2K
• Napoli (BS, 2; W, 7-5) 1IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 0K, WP, HBP
• W. Rodriguez 5-5, 3R, 2-2B, RBI, 2SB
• Marmolejos-Diaz 3-4, R, 2BB, 2RBI
• Stevenson 3-6, 3R, 2RBI
The Suns closed out their home schedule with a 10-9 walkoff against the Intimidators. Erick Fedde went the first five and gave up three runs on five hits, no walks, and struck out two. The (dreaded) blown-save-win went to David Napoli for coughing up two runs on two hits in the top of the 9th. Wilman Rodriguez scored the tying run after leading off the 9th with his fifth hit while D.K. Carey drew a bases-loaded walk to send in the gamewinner.
It’s five on the road in Lexington with a chance for .500 with three wins, a winning record with four.
Mahoning Valley 11 Auburn 5
• DeRosier (L, 0-1) 3IP, 7H, 6R, 6ER, 0BB, 4K
• K. Gutierrez 2-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Robles 2-5, R, RBI
• Sagdal 2-5
Three runs in the 9th made this one look a lot closer than it was as the Doubledays were demolished by the Scrappers, 11-5. All three Auburn pitchers were scored upon, with starter Matt DeRosier taking the worst of it with six runs on seven hits over three innings. Kelvin Gutierrez, Victor Robles, and Ian Sagdal each went 2-for-5 as the Auburn offense registered 11 hits total.
The loss dropped Auburn’s tragic number for a wild-card slot to one with five games to play.
It happened again!!! Mejia took another walk!
Perhaps he’s a fellow reader of the comments here?
Luke, you missed the biggest “story” across the whole system: Mejia got his second walk! There’s no coverage of whether he actually knew what to do when they told him it was ball four.
I wonder whether Fedde’s lackluster performance will dim him a bit in the eyes of the prospect analysts. I guess we could have the same question about Lopez, although he sure did finish strongly before getting hurt. I imagine both have done enough to warrant promotion, though. I would think Fedde would be kept in extended spring training, then be sent to Potomac.
given Fedde’s TJ surgery I think he will be cut come slack. while he hasn’t dominated like Giolito he has some decent peripherals
did next year will be the tell tale sign for me and I think you have the promotion track pegged
First year back from TJ surgery for Fedde…next year will be key.
Sorry Will, I was writing about Mejia at the same time you were. Obviously a momentous occasion!
Players I am watching this week:
1) Well of course the AFL rosters would spark discussion. Yes, the assignees all make sense and the selections are telling, and at times exciting. Some are more obvious – Kieboom getting a longer look, as is Simms and Difo, after injuries or promotions reduced them to part of a season. But the Drew Ward choice is exciting. He is the youngest player on his roster and the experience will help inform the impression of whether he is ready for AA. Bacus had moments as a PTC groundball starter, then really tailed off and lost his spot in the rotation. If he does not excite you, consider that Neil Holland went to the AFL last year, too, then to oblivion. De Los Santos has a live arm and got a brief promotion, but was all too often an arsonist. He’s only 22 and since they traded for him, he gets more play than say, Richie Mirowski (we hardly knew ye).Nick Lee has picked up his game recently and it would be interesting to see how often he closes. I’m excited about Kieboom and excited about Difo getting a fresh start.
2) The Nats minor leagues are overtly experimenting in these last weeks, and its fun to watch. Lots of stolen base attempts and stolen bases. Players like Wilman Rodriguez playing for their professional lives and hitting and padding their stat line in the last minute. And then, last minute promotions like Ballou and Jefry Rodriguez.
3) Matt Skole. Would you believe he has not made an error in 34 games at 3B and 1B in AAA? And an improved offense. Of course, Ryan Zimmerman is that much hotter, as is #bathoarder (what a ridiculous name).
4) Chris Bostick has hit his way back into being a prospect. He’s only 22.
5) Since it is only September 3, consider the possibility that now that he has his first hit, Trea Turner will end the year with a higher average than Ian Desmond. Naaa, just kidding – or am I?