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Wednesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Postponed OFF DAY N/A
Harrisburg Lost, 2-1 “@” Hartford,
6:30 p.m.		 Lopez (0-2, 4.50) vs.
Musgrave (2-0, 1.32)
Potomac Won, 7-4 vs. Myrtle Beach,
7:05 p.m.		 Whiting (3-0, 5.06) vs.
Hedges (1-2, 2.37)
Hagerstown Won, 8-7 @ Asheville,
7:05 p.m.		 Baez (0-2, 6.75) vs.
Killian (0-2, 12.08)


Syracuse vs. Pawtucket – PPD
Officials pulled the plug on yesterday’s matinee between Syracuse and Pawtucket due to forecasts of heavy rain. They’ll make it up June 21st with a doubleheader. Roster move: C Pedro Severino recalled to Washington. No corresponding move yet.

Hartford 2 Harrisburg 1
• Mapes (L, 3-1) 6IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 2K, HR
• Suero 1IP, 0H, 0R, 2K, HBP
• N. Lee 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Kieboom 1-1
• Jeroloman 2-3, 2B, RBI

Tyler Mapes picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue team to match up against in a pitcher’s duel as the Yard Goats, team ERA 1.80, outdueled him and Sens, 2-1. Mapes shut out Hartford for four innings before allowing single runs in the 5th and 6th to turn in a third quality start in four outings, with five hits and a walk given up over six innings and two strikeouts. Wander Suero and Nick Lee both worked around a baserunner for a scoreless inning to keep things close. Brian Jeroloman, who took over for (most likely) Syracuse-bound Spencer Kieboom, singled, doubled, and drove in the one Harrisburg run. The Senators tallied just seven hits and one walk total.

Potomac 7 Myrtle Beach 4
• Fedde (W, 1-2) 6IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 6K, 2WP
• Brinley (SV, 3) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Stevenson 4-5, R, 2B, RBI, SB
• Ward 3-4, 2R, 2HR, 5RBI, E(1)
• Read 2-4, RBI, PB(5)

Drew Ward homered twice for the first time in his pro career while Erick Fedde turned in a quality start as Potomac won its sixth straight, 7-4 over Myrtle Beach. Ward also drove in a career-best five RBI and singled to finish with a 3-for-4 night. Fedde let in three on four hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six to win his first game of 2016. Andrew Stevenson led the P-Nats hit column with a 4-for-5 mark, scored a run, drove in a run, and stole his ninth base. Roster moves: IF Cody Dent, RHP Mick VanVossen reassigned from Hagerstown; UT Khayyan Norfork placed on 7-Day DL, retroactive to April 22.

Hagerstown 8 Asheville 7
• J. Rodriguez 6IP, 3H, R, ER, BB, 6K, HR
• Guilbeau (H, 2) 1⅓ IP, 6H, 6R, 6ER, 0BB, 0K, HBP
• Rivera (BS, 2; W, 3-0) 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 1-1 IR-S
• Sagdal 3-4, R, 2B, RBI
• Robles 2-3, R, RBI, 2SB, HBP
• Gutierrez 2-4, R, 3B, SF, RBI

The Suns blew a 7-1 lead in the bottom of the 8th but got one back in the 9th and held on for the 8-7 win. The implosion took away a win from Jefry Rodriguez who gave up a run on HR and three hits total over six innings. He walked one and struck out six. After retiring the leadoff man in the bottom of the 8th, Taylor Guilbeau hit a batter then gave up five straight hits before Mariano Rivera was called upon to hold the then 7-6 lead. Rivera gave up a double to the first batter he faced, then a sacrifice fly to the second to blow the save. In the top of the 9th, Victor Robles was hit by a pitch, stole second, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on Kelvin Gutierrez’s sac fly for the gamewinner. Rivera set the side down in order in the inning’s bottom half to earn the win Roster moves: IF Jeff Gardner reassigned from XST; LHP Connor Bach reassigned from Auburn.

21 Commments

  1. Kieboom actually felt some tightness in his leg (“crampy”) after getting a hit in the second inning. He was pulled as a precautionary measure, not because of a an imminent trip north.

    1. I sit right at first base and I could hear the conversation between Kieboom and the trainer, Matt Lecroy pulled him saying take no chances.

    2. Thanks, Mick. I’m just so used to the Nats being ham handed I just presumed it was “oh yeah, we need to send the Chiefs a new catcher.” My bad.

  2. Looks like this might be Ward’s year to put things together, much like Taylor’s 2014 season, and Steven Souza’s 2012 season.

    The difference is Taylor and Souza both had everything “click” at age 23, while Ward’s barely 21.

    It reminds me how advantageous it can be to draft HSers. Souza and Taylor, and to a lesser extent, Ward, had stalled developmentally for 1-3 seasons, and still maintained their “prospect” status. Meanwhile, college guys that have struggled with injuries or performance, like Johansen, Skole and Kieboom can’t afford to have 2 bad seasons.

    It’s odd that the Nats FO is so HS-averse, despite having an extremely strong success rate with HS draftees. Remarkably, we’ve only signed 8 HS players in first 10 rounds since 2009 (we failed to sign only one HSer- Miguel Pena in 2009), they are:
    Blake Perkins, Reetz, Ward, Giolito, Hayden Jennings, AJ Cole, Taylor, Roberto Perez.

    Jennings and Perez are clear failures, the rest are, at present, successes.

    1. They are adverse because it usually takes a long time before HS picks become useful MLB players. Ian Desmond was drafted in 2004, didn’t make his debut until 2009, didn’t become a starter until 2010 and didn’t have his breakthrough season until 2012. Taylor was drafted in 2009, and yet in 2016 he still has yet to demonstrate that he is good enough to be an everyday player.

      If you’re a GM, especially one whose feeling a bit of heat as Rizzo has been lately, drafting a high school kid could well mean helping your successor look good long after you’ve been fired.

  3. Luke and other Potomac watchers- how doe Stevenson profile in CF? I’ve seen him referred to as a plus defender, but I’m curious on your take.

    I was looking at an early promotion for him, but with Bautista in ahead of him in AA, and Goodwin/Ballou/Campana all capable there in AAA, it’s not looking likely. And it might be further complicated once Revere returns to DC.

      1. They didn’t add Goodwin to the 40 man roster for nothing. Plus, Goodwin is actually playing well.

        Bautista in AA isn’t exactly banging down the door for a promotion either, but he’s certainly been good enough to continue starting in CF. There just seem to be too many parts in play for promotions/demotions of CFers.

        However, our 1Bs are another story, and if OMD can keep up his play, he could get a quick hook to Harrisburg. 3B too, but I’d rather they take things more cautiously with Ward.

  4. Looks like Matt Belisle may be heading to the DL with a strained calf. Who gets the call up?

    Rafael Martin?
    Abel Del Los Santos?
    Trevor Gott?
    Sammy Solis?

    1. how about Erik Davis?

      Martin’s ERA is iffy, de los Santos just got to AAA and seemed overmatched during his last MLB appearance, Gott isn’t lighting the world on fire, and Solis is lefty … not that that’s a bad reason since he’s pitching great, but that’s put 3 lefties in the pen and i’m not sure Dusty would like that balance.

      1. Davis is no longer on the 40 man.

        It’s gonna be Martin or de los Santos.

        I’d rather Martin, as it’s sort of now or never for him.

      2. My bet is on Solis. He’s pitching by far the best of all of them, and with his heat he’s more than just a LOOGY.

        1. Martin started the MILB season off with 5 straight scoreless appearances. He then had a bad blown save on April 20 giving up 4 runs, and he then gave up a homer on April 23, his last outing. All of the four (Martin, Solis, Gott, De Los Santos) are rested as none of them have pitched since Sunday.

          Whomever they call up will need be generally used to eat innings in low leverage situations as the Nats play everyday until May 12.

          Would guess Martin as the Nats already have two lefties in the pen.

          2. This is a big opportunity for Solis. He turns 28 this summer and thus far has only had one cup of coffee in the bigs. He was a starter until last season so should have “long man” capability. Dusty seems to have transitioned Treinen out of long-man status and made him more of a late-inning setup guy.

            On the flip side, since Gott was one of the final cuts by the big club, it’s disappointing that he isn’t ready to answer to bell for the first call-up. But you don’t get called with a WHIP of 1.839. Solis’ is 0.889. I sure hope that Gott can get things straightened out, though, as he’s the kind of power arm who could help the Nats down the stretch. Solis isn’t too shabby on the velo front either, though, supposedly touching 96.

  5. On another note, I’ve noticed Jose Marmolejos-Diaz has struck the Diaz from his name. I guess we can start calling him JOM now instead of OMD? Or is just Marmolejos easy enough?

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