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Friday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 2-1
(12 inn.)		 vs. Lehigh Valley,
5:05 p.m.		 Hill (6-10, 4.63) and
Espino (7-10, 3.55) vs.
Russell (3-5, 3.79) and
Klein (2-1, 1.64)
Harrisburg Lost, 8-7 @ Richmond,
7:05 p.m.		 Valdez (4-3, 5.81) vs.
Gage (7-7, 3.86)
Potomac Lost, 3-2 vs. Frederick,
7:05 p.m.		 J. Martin (0-0, 4.50) vs.
Romero (5-4, 6.06)
Hagerstown Won, 4-2;
Lost, 6-2		 @ Lexington,
7:05 p.m.		 Reyes (1st start
at Low-A in ’16) vs. TBD
Auburn Lost, 7-2 @ Hudson Valley,
7:05 p.m.		 Acevedo (2-3, 3.06) vs.
Navas (3-2, 1.81)


Syracuse 2 Lehigh Valley 1 (12 inn.)
• Brady 7IP, 4H, R, ER, 0BB, 8K, HR
• Grace 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Davis (W, 7-4) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• den Dekker 2-4, BB
• Ramsey 2-5, R, 2B

Syracuse tied it in the 8th and walked off in the 12th for 2-1 victory over Lehigh Valley. Michael Brady made his I.L. debut with one run let in on four hits and no walks while striking out eight over seven innings. The win went to Erik Davis who rebounded from retiring nobody on Wednesday to striking out the side in the 12th. Matt den Dekker walked once and singled twice while Caleb Ramsey singled, doubled, and scored a run to pace the Chiefs seven-hit, seven-walk offense, which was 2-for-14 with RISP and left on 13 baserunners. Roster moves: RHP A.J. Cole recalled from Washington; OF Brian Goodwin optioned from Washington; RHP Michael Brady reassigned from Harrisburg; RHP Mitch Lively assigned from Washington.

Erie 8 Harrisburg 7
• Simms (L, 7-5) 4⅔ IP, 6H, 5R, 2ER, 0BB, 4K, HR
• Bautista 2-4, R, BB, HR, RBI, SB, OF assist at 2B
• Marmolejos 2-5, R
• Kieboom 2-3, R, BB, HR, 3RBI

The Seawolves completed the three-game sweep with an 8-7 triumph over the Senators. John Simms stepped in for Mike Brady and tossed four scoreless before the running aground in the 5th as Erie put up a five spot. He lost for the fifth time with five runs allowed on six hits and no walks while fanning four over four and 2/3rds innings. Harrisburg rallied for three late but couldn’t push across the equalizer, leaving the tying runner on at third in the 8th, and at second in the 9th. Rafael Bautista walked, singled, homered, scored a run, stole a base, threw out a runner at second, took out the trash, walked the dog, called his mother to lead the Sens’ attack while Jose “Orange” Marmolejos pushed his modest hit streak to five games with another two singles.

Wilmington 3 Potomac 2
• Williams (L, 4-4) 5+ IP, 7H, 3R, 2ER, 4BB, 1K, BK
• Mendez 3IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 2K, 2-1 IR-S
• Schrock 1-3, 2R, BB
• Read 1-3, BB

Wilmington sent Potomac packing with its fifth straight loss by a 3-2 count. Austen Williams took the loss with all three Blue Rocks runs charged to him on seven hits and four walks over five-plus innings. Max “For Those About To” Schrock scored both P-Nats runs while taking a walk and singling, as did Raudy Read. But the rest of the lineup went 3-for-28 with two walks and stranded nine baserunners, including the tying run and the go-ahead run in the 9th.

Hagerstown 4 Rome 2 – GAME ONE
• Baez 4⅓ IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 4
• Peterson (W, 4-1) 2⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, HBP
• Lora 2-3, 2R, 2B, SB
• Sagdal 2-3, R, 2B
• Encarnacion 2-3, 2B, CS

Hagerstown scored twice in the 7th to take the opener from Rome, 4-2. Tommy Peterson was the winner in relief, stranding an inherited runner in the 5th as he retired eight of nine batters faced down the stretch. Joan Baez started and gave up both Braves runs on six hits and two walks over four and a 1/3rd innings. Edwin Lora, Ian Sagdal, and Randy Encarnacion each went 2-for-3 with a double as the Suns collected 11 hits total.

Rome 6 Hagerstown 2 – GAME TWO
• Bourque (L, 4-6) 4⅔ IP, 8H, 5R, 4ER, 3BB, 5K, 2WP, HBP
• Encarnacion 1-3, R, BB
• Sagdal 2-4, RBI

In the nightcap, the Braves scored in every inning but the 1st as they eclipsed the Suns, 6-2 and split the doubleheader. James Bourque took the loss and the brunt of the beating with five runs allowed on eight hit and three walks over four and 2/3rds innings. Randy Encarnacion singled, walked, and scored once while Ian Sagdal singled twice and drove in a run to highlight the Hagerstown offense.

Hudson Valley 7 Auburn 2
• Ramirez 5IP, 8H, R, ER, BB, 3K
• Harmening (L, 0-1) 1IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 2K
• Martinez 4-4, 2R, 2B, HR, RBI
• Banks 1-3

It was a bad Happy Hour in Hudson Valley – lots of singles (23), lots of strikeouts (19) – as the Renegades splashed a drink in the face of Auburn, 7-2. Yonathan Ramirez did his part at the start with five innings of one-run ball as he scattered eight hits and a walk and struck out three, but left with the game tied, 1-1. Russell Harmening was the losing pitcher with two runs allowed on four hits in the 6th, as the Doubledays ‘pen was lit up for six runs in the final three frames. Andres Martinez homered in the 9th to fall a triple shy of the cycle as he went 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored to pace the Doubledays offense.

18 Commments

  1. Bad Happy Hour — lots of singles, lots of strikeouts. Haven’t heard that one before. Very good, Luke!

    Good to see Simms getting another look as a starter, even if it only may be a spot start. I never understood why he got demoted to long relief. He’s had a solid year with a 3.27 ERA and an excellent 1.09 WHIP.

  2. Orange sure is having a difficult transition to AA.

    Max Schrock was only 1-3 with a walk; what a bum!

    1. For all the attention Schrock has gotten here for performing even better after his promotion, Marmolejos has done even better. He’s now batting .386 at AA. Looks like he was well prepared for the promotion having spent so long in Potomac. If Zimm keeps struggling, Orange might get a cup of coffee sooner than everyone thinks.

    2. After two strong performances, including a dominating one last night, looking like Reynaldo Lopez will stick in the rotation for the forseeable future. Is Ross scheduled for another rehab start this weekend? Wonder if a 6 man rotation is possible in September to give all starters a little extra rest.

  3. I’m intrigued by Brady. If i recall correctly, he was a former position player who converted late to pitching in the Angels system. For the Nats to have him included in the Escobar trade must mean they saw some good potential there. I know he is old, but to take up pitching late must mean he has a fresh arm so perhaps he could he be a late bloomer. He started the season late that i think was due to injury, so we are only now getting to see what he is capable of. For those who have seen him, how is his stuff? What are scouts saying?

    1. Ironic that Gott followed him
      Last night in game
      Scouts will write down : lay off
      High 98 Cheddrr !!!

  4. It’s hard not to be tickled with Rey Lopez’ start last night. The guy is growing up so quickly, and when needed. More to the point of this site, he is the first product of the Latin Academy to have a breakthrough performance at the ML level in recent years. Congratulations to him and to all, with continued encouragement to Difo and his resurrection as a prospect.

    Orange is indeed moving up the food chain. Hard to see him leapfrogging to ML just yet, but it would be great to see him get play in the fall league, along with Schrock, Abreu, and Silvestre.

  5. Also would be wise to keep an eye on Michael Brady. A late bloomer that Rizzo plucks as a throw in — again?

    1. We forgot about Burnett up in
      Minnesota
      Rizzo loves old horses who ran well
      Out of the pen
      SeAn will look good mixed with
      Cole and glover and co ..

  6. Both Kieboom players homered yesterday. For the younger, his 4th in the past 7 games.

    For the older, he’s kind of had a down year. It will be interesting to see what his future is with the club – especially since Severino looks MLB-ready. Speaking of Severino, the Nats sure have a tough call this winter regarding him and Wilson Ramos. Does Severino impact how much they offer Ramos? If they keep Ramos, is Severino the back-up or is it better for him to play more at AAA? And if it that happens, does Kieboom need to have a spot on the 40-man?

    1. The Nats need Ramos back in the fold for the offense he offers. If they do resign him, my guess is that Severino will be the backup next year and Kieboom will move into his spot as the No. 3 catcher.

  7. All of the sudden, Trevor Gott looks like he might be able to become a solid contributor to the big club this year after all. Since returning to AAA, he has not allowed an earned run in 6.2 IP and has 7 Ks and 0 BBs in that span. Gott and Glover could end up seeing a lot of action in September and possibly October.

    1. Agreed. Since returning from his injury, Gott has been the player the Nats thought they were getting last summer. I expect he and Matt Grace and his 2.34 ERA to be summoned to DC at 12:01 on Sept. 1.

      Actually, I could see Grace being summoned before September if Ollie Perez doesn’t turn things around.

      Glover, Gott and Grace – the Three Gs – could make a big impact for the club in September and I wouldn’t be surprised if more than one of them snuck onto the playoff roster.

      1. Gott was quite successful at the MLB level last season at 22. He had a 3.02 ERA over 47.2 IP. I was pleased when the Nats got him and thought he might have a chance to be their 8th-inning guy this year.

        Well, that didn’t work out. The couple of times I saw him on TV from Viera in the spring, he was having a hard time locating his pitches. I know there have been some reports that his velocity has been down this year as well. He seems to finally be getting the expected results now, though. Although Dusty loves his vets, Sept. will probably be open auditions for at least a couple of slots in the postseason bullpen. Glover is already getting an early shot at claiming his.

        The other thing to watch in all of this is whether Glover, Gott, or someone else shows enough to make the Nats think that they might not need to re-sign Melancon (or sign Chapman) in the offseason. It’s a stretch to think that the Nats would go with a youngster closing in their last couple of “Bryce window” years, but it’s possible.

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