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Monday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 1-0 OFF DAY N/A
Harrisburg Won, 11-9 OFF DAY N/A
Potomac Won, 4-2;
Won, 3-2		 vs. Lynchburg,
7:05 p.m.		 Williams (1-3, 4.42) vs.
McKenzie (9-5, 3.31)
Hagerstown Won, 2-1
(11 inn.)		 vs. Hickory,
7:05 p.m.		 Watson (6-4, 4.35) vs. TBD
Auburn Lost, 2-1 @ State College,
7:05 p.m.		 Y. Ramirez (2-2, 4.97) vs.
Oviedo (SS-A Debut)
GCL Nationals Losing, 1-0
(Susp., Top 2nd)		 OFF DAY  

Syracuse 1 Gwinnett 0
Alejandro de Aza’s RBI single in the 9th gave the Chiefs a 1-0 walkoff win and a 2-1 series win. Roster moves: RHP Erick Fedde selected, recalled to Washington.

Harrisburg 11 Portland 9
• Crownover (W, 1-5) 5⅓ IP, 5H, 5R, 4ER, 3BB, 3K, 2HR
• Bacus (H, 1) 1⅔ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, 1-1 IR-S
• Norfork 2-5, R, 2B, HR, 5RBI
• Robles 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI, BB, SB
• Hernandez 3-3, 2R, 3RBI, BB

Harrisburg overcame an early 3-0 deficit to take a 7-3 lead in the middle innings and survived a late surge by Portland for an 11-9 win in the series finale. Matt Crownover got the Jack Morris win, his first at AA, with five runs allowed (four earned) on five hits (two HR) and three walks over five innings. He walked three and struck out three. Andrew Robinson wobbled through the 9th with an unearned run on a hit, walk, and two wild pitches for the save. Khayyan Norfork drove in five with a two-run homer in the 2nd and a three-run double in the 7th to lead the Sens’ 13-hit parade.

Potomac 4 Myrtle Beach 2 – GAME ONE
• Reyes (W, 7-10) 5IP, 5H, 0R, 3BB, 5K
• Collins (H, 1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 0K
• Johnson 3-4, R, 2-2B, SB
• Reetz 2-3

The P-Nats took advantage of the Pelicans’ sloppy fielding to score three times in the 1st and held off a late charge for a 4-2 win in the opener. Luis Reyes won his seventh game with five shutout innings, though he had baserunners in every frame (five hits, three walks). Tim Collins made his first appearance north of Florida, earning a hold with a scoreless 6th but he needed 17 pitches to do it. Daniel Johnson led the Potomac charge, connecting for a single, a single ruled as a double, and another double while Jakson Reetz singled twice in three ABs.

Potomac 3 Myrtle Beach 2 – GAME TWO
• Sanburn 2IP, 3H, R, ER, 2BB, 1K
• Mills (W, 2-1) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Davidson 3-3, R, 2B
• Johnson 2-4, R, OF assist at 2B

Jack Sundberg delivered a two-run single in the final frame for a 3-2 win and a doubleheader sweep by Potomac. Nolan Sanburn started and went the first two innings, giving up a run on three hits and two walks and striking out one. The win went to Jordan Mills for two perfect innings of relief. Austin Davidson singled twice and doubled once while Daniel Johnson piled on two more hits to push his C.L. average to .424 (14-for-23) in his first seven games at High-A. Roster moves: LHP Tim Collins reassigned from Syracuse.

Hagerstown 2 West Virginia 1 (11 inn.)
• DeRosier 7IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 6K, HR
• Fuentes (W, 4-3) 3IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Barrera 1-2, 2R, 2B, 2BB
• Corredor 0-2, 2BB

Likewise, Tyler Beckwith delivered the game-winner with a one-out flyball to the warning track that went untouched for a single and enabled Tres Barrera to trot home from third for the Suns’ 2-1 win in 11 innings. Matt DeRosier went the first seven innings and dominated with just three hits allowed (one HR), no walks, and six K’s. Steven Fuentes got the win with three scoreless in the 9th, 10th, and 11th innings. Barrera singled, doubled, walked twice, and scored both Hagerstown runs. Roster moves: LHP Ben Braymer promoted from Auburn.

State College 2 Auburn 1
• Raquet (L, 0-1) 5IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K
• Ja. Johnson 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Shepard 1-2, 2B, 2BB
• Je. Baez 1-3, RBI, SAC

No such luck for the third “A” team as Auburn’s 9th inning rally fell one run short for a 2-1 loss to State College in the series opener. Nick Raquet took the loss on an unearned run let in on two hits and no walks over five innings. Jared Johnson followed with two scoreless in his NYPL debut. Chance Shepard reached base three times on two walks and a double, accounting for three of the ten Doubleday baserunners (4H, 5BB, 1ROE). Roster moves: LHP Jared Johnson reassigned from the GCL.

GCL Astros 1 GCL Nationals 0 – SUSP.
Rain stopped play after just one inning with the G-Astros leading, 1-0. They’ll most likely make it up when the two teams meet again on Friday.

20 Commments

  1. If you want to see Daniel Johnson in person, it’s a beautiful day for Dollar Monday at Potomac. General admission seats (and hotdogs) are only a buck. (Parking is $5.) The general admission seating begins just after the dugouts on either side, so not bad seats at all. They’re bleacher-style, though, with no backs.

    1. For the most part I agree on Robles, but I think they’re grossly overstating his baserunning skills, which are considerably lacking. Speed without judgment is the analog to a high-90s fastball without command. He’s gotten by on it until this year, but now he’s facing catchers with much better arms and pitchers with much better pickoff moves. I wish they tracked the latter for baserunners because it feels to me that Robles’s success rate is closer to 60% than 70% if you were to factor those in (not all PO’s are ruled as a CS).

      1. Much as with his HBPs, at what point does the base-running issue go from “he’s still young” to “why can’t he learn”? I’ve seen Robles a lot less than Luke has, but I saw the same thing: overly aggressive rounding the bag on every hit, big dancing leads before and after pitches, times where he’s taking off on every pitch no matter the situation. There’s a lot of swagger in it. I’ve seen some compare it to Bryce when he first hit the majors, but Robles is more aggressive, particularly on the steal attempts.

        We’ll see. It’s not a deal-breaker on him at all, but when will he learn?

    2. Thanks for linking!

      Realize that fans tend to overrate the potential of the prospects that they follow, but a little surprised that Johnson’s hit tool is rated the lowest among his tools. While Johnson has only played in low A (until the last week), felt like his hit tool was better than a 40. He doesn’t have huge swing and miss numbers and he makes frequent extra base contact. Regardless, really clear that Johnson was a steal in the 2016 draft (5th round pick).

      IIRC, when Johnson started the season in H’town, he was batting near the bottom of the Suns’ order; so, it appears that the Nats didn’t even appreciate what they had in DJ. With McKenzie Mills gone to Philly, Johnson looks to be the hands-down winner of the “most pleasant surprise” prospect among the 2017 Nats’ farm hands.

  3. This just in: the Robles kid may be decent. Let’s just hope that he and Daniel Johnson are still with us after the close of the trade deadline today. (I don’t see any deal out there for the Nats at this time that would be worth Robles.)

    Meanwhile, don’t sleep on Tim Collins. He’s hit GCL and Potomac and may move up quickly, to the point of getting a look with the big club by Sept. He was a key cog of the KC bullpen before felled by back-to-back TJs.

    1. Agree that Collins has an outside shot to make it to DC in September, but he would have to put up ridiculous numbers between now and then. Also, unlike year’s past, the Nats don’t have a glaring need for a LH reliever. Right now, the Nats have 5 on the roster (Doolittle, Romero, Perez, Grace and Solis), the most of any MLB team.

      1. And yet they continue to be linked to lefties like Wilson (before he went the Cubs), Hand, and Britton (over Angelos’ dead body). Someone thinks they still need a lefty. I guess we’ll find out over the next few hours whether Rizzo agrees.

        I agree that Collins would be a long, long shot. Plus they’ve kept Cotts toiling with the terrible Syracuse club all year and haven’t given him a shot. As I recall, Collins’ family has settled in the Richmond area, and he might be interested in sticking with the Nats next year even if he doesn’t make it all the way to the big club in 2017. I’m sure it has helped having a veteran like him among all the TJers rehabbing in West Palm this year.

        1. Kudos to Matthew Grace roundin
          Out into a decent longlefty in bigs ! Still think he could be broadcaster in future

    2. Robles is worth the gas money and parking fee to watch with his intangibles.
      So happy Nats did not pay the piper with true blue chip kids besides
      Neuse for additions. Pitching is a
      Dime every 44 you draft to find four .

  5. Kintzler to the Nats….. Tyler Watson to the Twins, apparently…. (Per Twitter)

    1. Watson a true lefty for AL central club
      Maybe Raquet comes up to Hagerstown Or Y Ramirez .?

  6. Three young lefties dealt in two weeks. Romero and Raquet had better pan out!

    Watson’s star had cooled somewhat this year. With a heater just barely breaking 90, there were always some questions of how far he could go, despite his great first two years.

    1. The Latin kid will come on in two years !
      Kinzler joins Baker bullpen by committee

      1. Finally the word Anderson utters when Hagerstown bullpen by committee with Watson gone
        Ends tonight vs Hickory

        1. Nats did true homework in scouting and financial office with half a million in intl slot
          To toss @ twins to complete
          Rental reliever deal ( proves Jepson is washed up )
          Kudos to org for busy two months of talent additions subtracting and ending some well needed careers in farm !
          Urena good arm but Nats will get to him
          Another PBR , bartender !

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