Monday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitchers |
| Syracuse | Lost, 5-4 | @ Louisville, 7:05 p.m. |
Long (0-0, 4.50) vs. Reed (5-3, 3.38) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 7-6 | vs. Akron, 7:00 p.m. |
Ross (1-0, 0.00) vs. Plutko (3-2, 3.02) |
| Potomac | Lost, 4-3 | @ Salem, 7:05 p.m. |
Bacus (0-2, 4.82) vs. Kent (5-3, 3.57) |
| Hagerstown | Won, 7-5 | @ Lakewood, 7:05 p.m. |
Bourque (0-1, 15.00) vs. Leftwich (5-3, 2.43) |
Indianapolis 5 Syracuse 4
• Voth 5IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 4K,
• Martin (BS, 3; L, 1-3) ⅔ IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 0K
• Severino 3-4, R, HR, RBI
• Skole 2-4, 2R, RBI
A two-run lead was too small for Rafael Martin to hold as Indianapolis got to the Syracuse reliever for three in the 9th to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 walkoff win. The blown save and loss (third on both counts for Martin) turned five innings of two-run ball by Chiefs starter Austin Voth into another no-decision (seven times in 11 starts). Pedro Severino singled twice and went yard for a 3-for-4 game, followed by Matt Skole, who was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Harrisburg 7 Akron 6
• Valdez 5⅔ IP, 9H, 5R, 5ER, 4BB, 5K
• Robinson (W, 4-0) 3⅓ IP, 3H, R, ER, 2BB, 4K, 1-0 IR-S
• Bautista 4-4, R, BB
• Pleffner 3-4, 2R, 3B, BB, 2RBI
• Ballou 3-5, 2R, 2B, RBI
The RubberDucks issued three straight walks with two out in the bottom of the 9th – one intentionally, two unintentionally – to give away a 7-6 win to the Senators. The free passes made a winner out of Andrew Robinson, who had given up a two-out solo HR in the top of the inning to tie it at 6-6. Philips Valdez was knocked for five runs on nine hits and four walks over five and 2/3rds innings in his AA debut for a no-decision. Rafael Bautista reached base five times with four singles and a walk to lead Harrisburg’s 16-hit parade, followed by Shawn Pleffner’s 3-for-4 afternoon with a triple, a walk, two singles, two runs scored, and two RBI.
Frederick 4 Potomac 3
• Reyes (L, 3-6) 6IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 4K, 2HR
• Mendez 2IP, 0H, 0R, BB, K
• Read 2-5, 2B
• Vettleson 2-5, 2B
After erasing a 2-0 deficit with a three-run 4th, Potomac had no answer for Frederick’s two-spot in the 6th in a 4-3 loss, dropping the Woodbridge nine below .500, into 3rd place, and out of the first-half playoff race. Luis Reyes gave up all four Keys runs on six hits, including two solo HRs. He walked two and struck out four to lose for the sixth time. Raudy Read and Drew Vettleson both went 2-for-5 with a double, but the offense struggled in the clutch with a 2-for-14 mark with RISP and 11 men stranded—including the tying and go-ahead runs in the 8th at second and third base.
Hagerstown 7 Lexington 5
• DeRosier (W, 2-3) 6IP, 2H, R, ER, 0BB, 7K, HR
• Walby (SV, 1) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 4K
• Page 3-4, 3R, 2B, 2HR, 2RBI
• Tillero 2-3, R, 2B, 3RBI
• Sagdal 2-5, 2B
Matt DeRosier nearly suffered the fate of Austin Voth as Mariano Rivera got blasted for four runs in the 7th to turn a 7-1 beatdown into a 7-5 decision over the Legends as the Suns took the series, 3-1. DeRosier fanned seven and gave up a run on a homer and two hits total with nary a walk to win his second game. Philip Walby kept Lexington off the board in the 8th and 9th innings for his first save. Matthew Page homered twice and doubled for ten total bases and two RBI while Jorge Tillero singled, doubled, and drove in three to lead the Hagerstown offense.
(Orginally posted in yesterday’s notes.)
Soto was originally added to the roster for the DSL, but was then removed. My bet is he will be at the GCL, as his name disappeared the same time as other players that were removed from the DSL roster(Likely grads to the GCL also).
One DSL name to keep an eye upon, is Yelmery Sisnero. He’s an 18-year old lefty pitcher that pitched five near perfect innings with 10 Ks (only a double given up). It is only one start, but perhaps he can follow Pedro Avila’s path.
Luis Aquino (Guzman’s nephew) is 17 and playing regularly early on at 2B. His numbers are not great, but he is young.
The feel-good story that is Rafael Martin isn’t feeling too good these days. Given his age, and now his bloated ERA, as well as the Nats’ huge need to develop (or acquire) a closer, Martin’s days both on the 40-man roster and as the AAA closer may be coming to an end soon.
I made a similar observation the last time Martin gave up three runs and got jumped on by his defenders. Here’s the compromise: take “advantage” of his current 5.11 ERA and DFA him off the 40-man but plan to keep him unless another team puts in a claim. It’s not a big loss if he gets claimed. He’s 32 years old and would probably have a better big-league shot with another team anyway. The DC Nats are currently overloaded in the ‘pen as it is, with Belisle ready from his rehab (time officially up on June 22) but with limited options of who could be sent out to make room for him. Solis has made himself doubly valuable with some long-man stints.
As for who should be the AAA closer, it’s hard to argue that Erik Davis shouldn’t get a shot.
Unfortunately, it looks like his window of opportunity has shut. Hopefully he can momentarily turn things around, and then the Nats can deal him to someone like the Reds, Pirates or Rangers, who have really awful bullpens. He’s good enough to pitch in the majors, just not good enough to play for the Nats.
My man Agustin with another dinger–call him Robles “light.”
As for Martin, there is no longer real reason to take him off the 40-man right now. Maybe in July if they need the roster spot after a trade. I also think he has minimal trade value as an aging AAAA guy. For him, just making it to the bigs the way he did was a huge success. And he’ll always have that great outing in Fenway to look back on.
I wrote a couple of weeks ago that Espinosa’s career low BAIBP meant that his BA was likely to begin rising and that was probably one of the reasons why the Nats were not going to turn to Turner any time soon, but wow, no way anyone could have predicted this power explosion. Glad to see it. I have a soft spot for big club guys I’ve seen play at Potomac.