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Thursday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Matchup
Syracuse Lost, 8-6 @ Buffalo,
6:05 p.m.		 Jackson (0-0, 5.09) vs.
Guerrieri (0-0, 5.14)
Harrisburg Lost, 3-2 @ Trenton,
7:00 p.m.		 Dragmire (2-0, 2.67) vs.
Carter (0-1, 6.91)
Potomac Lost, 12-7 vs. Wilmington,
7:05 p.m.		 Sharp (2-2, 4.62) vs.
Castillo (1-2, 7.23)
Hagerstown Lost, 10-8 @ Greensboro,
7:00 p.m.		 Stoeckinger (0-2, 9.00) vs.
Cabrera (0-2, 3.57)

Lehigh Valley 8 Syracuse 6
• Fedde 5IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 5K, 3HR
• Simms (L, 2-1) 2⅔ IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 2K, 2HR
• Jones 3-5, 2R, 2-3B, 2RBI
• Kieboom 2-4, 2B, RBI

Syracuse built a 5-0 lead after two and then saw it disappear on five HR’s, including two in the 8th, for an 8-6 loss in the series finale. Erick Fedde was shredded for five runs on eight hits (3HR) over five innings. He walked one and struck out five. John Simms took the loss, giving up the final two big flies for three runs over two and 2/3rds innings. Hunter Jones tripled twice, scored twice, and drove in two while Spencer Kieboom singled and doubled to lead the Chiefs offense.

Hartford 3 Harrisburg 2
• Estevez 7IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, IBB, 3K; 1-2
• Williams (L, 0-1) 2IP, 1H, R, ER, 0BB, 0K
• Hernandez 1-4, R, HR(5), RBI
• Gushue 2-4

Hop aboard the Yadiel Hernandez train as the 30-y.o. outfielder homered for a fourth straight game in a 3-2 Sens loss to the Yard Goats. It was his 5th HR overall but the solo shot was one of seven hits, none of which came with runners in scoring positon. Taylor Gushue was the sole Harrisburg batter to reach base twice (two singles). Hartford pitchers fanned 11 and outdueled Wirkin “For the Weekend” Estevez, who turned in a season-high seven innings with just two runs allowed on five hits and one intentional walk while striking out three. The loss went to Austen Williams on a double and two sacrifices (bunt, fly) in the 9th after pitching a 1-2-3 eighth.

Wilmington 12 Potomac 7
• Crownover (L, 1-3) 3IP, 7H, 5R, 3ER, BB, K, HR
• Pena 3IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 2K
• Soto 2-2, 2R, 2B, 3BB
• Wiseman 2-3, 2R, HR, 2BB, OF assist at HP
• Noll 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2K

Twice Wilmington went for two and missed piled on for five runs in a single inning en route to a 12-7 win over Potomac. Matthew Crownover was knocked for the first five-run salvo on seven hits over just three innings for this third loss. He walked one and struck out one. Taylor Guilbeau took the brunt of the second barrage with four runs charged on three hits and hit batsman. He retired just one of just five batters faced. Juan Soto reached base five times on a single, double, and three walks while Rhett Wiseman singled, homered, and walked twice to lead the P-Nats attack.

Greensboro 10 Hagerstown 8
• Alastre 4IP, 6H, 6R, 5ER, 2BB, 4K, 2HR, WP, HBP
• Brasher (L, 0-1) 1+ IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 2K, HR
• Franco 3-4, 2R, 2HR, 4RBI
• Garcia 2-4, 2R
• Corredor 2-4, 2R, HR, 2RBI

The Suns fell into another 6-0 hole, scrapped back to tie the game at 8-8 but fell in the 9th, 10-8. Tomas Alastre got the start and was done after four innings, letting in the aforementioned six runs on six hits (two homers) and two walks while fanning four. The loss went to Jared Brasher on a HBP then a two-run HR in the 9th. Hagerstown scored six of its eight runs on three homers, two by Anderson Franco and one by Aldrem Corredor. The 4-5-6 combo of Franco, Luis Garcia, and Corredor combined for seven hits and six runs scored.

14 Commments

  1. Funny that we follow the first day with wins across the board with our first day (I think) with losses across all 4 levels.

  2. I was just reading in yesterday’s later comments the chat piece from McDaniel about Soto. First of all, it seems very promising that they think he could have a 50 defense grade and stick in RF. There had been a lot of speculation that he might have to be LF-only or even end up at 1B.

    As for the hitting/power, we’ll see. I tend to agree with Breezy that they’re selling him short with a ceiling of 60 for each category. He’s 19 and already has quite an advanced stroke. Having not seen the games, I don’t know whether he has a good eye to draw the 22 walks thus far this year, or whether teams are pitching around him to the extent that the pitches aren’t that close.

    Ultimately, the “grades” don’t matter unless they’re trying to trade him. By all accounts, they’ve pretty much declared him off limits. The way he’s going this season, there may be some internally who are starting to believe that Soto could be more valuable over the longer term than Robles, particularly for a club that could be losing a lot of power if Harper and Murphy walk and Zim doesn’t bounce back. But again, they don’t have to choose between Soto and Robles unless they feel the need to spend a serious trade chip.

    1. If he keeps going like this, I’ll bet we see Soto in DC in September as we did Robles last year. And if Eaton is unable to return this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes up even earlier to be the starting left fielder.

      1. Kind of been saying the same and once again getting slammed … I keep reading that scouts are saying that even without the injury Soto should be the #1 prospect over Robles. Looking at Harper, the first phenom’s record in the minors Soto seems to be the better hitter. Been waiting to what Luke thinks about him.

        Telmito Augustin also appears to be having a break out year at age 21.

        1. Who here thinks Lerner will allow Harper to walk and go with the young crop??? Or does he like extensive run with Harper past 2018

    2. I generally agree. If McDaniel has seen him at all – a fact that I doubt given how little Soto has played – then it was probably two years ago. I see his hit, game power and raw power future value scouting values are being underestimated, sitting at 55, 55 and 60, respectively. Soto generally didn’t display power before this season, so I understand that the power FV scouting reports may be behind (though it didn’t really take an expert to identify the potential there). The hit rating though is more perplexing, as he’s always shown an extremely refined hit tool.

      Either way, it doesn’t matter too much, as I think everyone agrees he’ll skyrocket up the prospect lists this year.

      More concerning, though, is Carter Kieboom. Luke, any impressions on Kieboom? It looks like he’s struggling mightily on both sides of the ball.

    1. What a Potomac team!

      Perkins, Kieboom, Soto, Rendon atop the lineup. Hope some of you guys can make it to the game.

  4. Great night for Anderson Franco, who I still think could develop into a top prospect. Despite his overall offensive struggles, he’s still only 20, and has almost as many walks as strikeouts. If he could get his power stroking going, he might begin a fast rise up the system since the Nats will likely be looking for a new first baseman circa 2020.

    2. Yes indeed.
      Considering the numbers in the
      Pitching corral. We might see more lower level retirements

  5. Potomac Nationals
    ‏@PNats42

    MiLB ANNOUNCES APRIL PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

    Current P-Nat Juan Soto, who played his first 16 games of the season with the Hagerstown Suns, has been named the South-Atlantic League Player of the Month!

  6. So far great starting pitching by the “SkyChiefs” … what the heck is wrong with naming a team after a monster locomotive Chiefs?

    Except for EJAX Chiefs getting some pretty clutch starting pitching … and some pretty decent, if inconsistent bullpen work behind them.

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