Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Syracuse | Lost, 8-7 | vs. Pawtucket, 6:35 p.m. |
Milone (1-2, 5.34) vs. Cuevas (1-1, 2.93) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 12-5 | vs. New Hampshire, 7:00 p.m. |
Long (0-2, 4.74) vs. Rios (0-2, 8.64) |
| Potomac | Won, 5-1 | @ Frederick, 7:00 p.m. |
McGowin (0-1, 9.00) vs. Peluffo (2-0, 4.76) |
| Hagerstown | Lost, 7-3 | vs. West Virginia, 7:05 p.m. |
Stoeckinger (1-2, 7.50) vs. Robles (1-3, 4.00) |
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 8 Syracuse 7
• Vargas 4⅓ IP, 8H, 6R, 6ER, 3BB, K, HR
• Collins (L, 1-2) 1⅓ IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 2K
• Kieboom 2-3, R, BB, 2RBI
• Bautista 2-4, R, SB
• Wilson 2-5, 2R, 2B, RBI
The Chiefs dug out from holes of 5-0 and 7-5 but couldn’t get back on track as the fell to the RailRiders, 8-7 in the series finale. Cesar Vargas gave up the first six runs on eight hits and three walks over four and a 1/3rd innings in a no-decision. The loss went to Tim Collins, as he let in the game-winning run on three hits over an inning and a third. Spencer Kieboom, Rafael Bautista, and Jacob Wilson each notched multiple hits in Syracuse’s ten-hit, three-walk offense.
Harrisburg 12 Erie 5
• Rodriguez (W, 2-3) 5IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 7K, HR
• Guillon 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Lowery 4-4, 3R, 2B, 2BB, 4RBI
• Ward 3-4, 3R, 2BB
• Gamache 2-4, 2BB, RBI
After blowing an early 4-1 lead, Harrisburg blasted Erie for five in the 5th and cruised to a 12-5 win to take the series, 2-1. Jefry Rodriguez got the Jack Morris win with all five Seawolves runs allowed on six hits and three walks over five innings. Israel Guillon and Austen Williams both turned in two scoreless innings to close out the game. Jake Lowery reached base six times with three singles, a double, and two walks while Drew Ward got on five times with three singles and two walks (he’s now finally on the Interstate with a .135 BA) to pace the Sens offense.
Potomac 5 Wilmington 1
• Baez (W, 2-2) 5IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 5K
• Pantoja (H, 3) 3IP, 0H, 0R, BB, K
• Kieboom 2-3, R, 2BB
• Barrera 2-3, BB, RBI
• Noll 2-5, R, 2B
Juan Soto went John Henry on the Blue Rocks as he hammered a three-run home run and the P-Nats drilled them for a 5-1 win. Joan Baez evened his won-loss record with Wilmington’s lone run allows on one hit and three walks while he fanned five. Jorge Pantoja tossed three scoreless and hitless frames for this third hold while Ronald Pena struck out two while mopping up in the 9th. Carter Kieboom singled twice and walked twice to lead Potomac’s 12-hit parade.
West Virginia 7 Hagerstown 3
• DeRosier (L, 0-1) 4⅓ IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 6K, HR
• Johnson 2⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K, 2-0 IR-S
• Garcia 1-3, 2RBI, E(8)
• Corredor 1-3
Hagerstown’s quest for back-to-back wins for the second time this season was denied by West Virginia, 7-3. Matt DeRosier returned for his third tour of duty with the Suns and was shorted by the Power for four runs on six hits over four and a 1/3rd innings. He walked two and struck out six. Kyle Johnston stranded two while getting out of the 5th and added two more goose eggs before turning it over to Sam Held, who didn’t and gave up three runs over the final two innings. The Suns managed just six hits and two walks but did steal three bases. Roster move: RHP Matt DeRosier assigned from XST.
Silly me for “worrying” that Soto had gone two whole games without a homer. His current pace projected over 162 games would result in 63 dingers. He’s got 97 total bases in just 31 games. Curiously, he’s only been intentionally walked once all year.
Good to see Drew Ward sting a couple of good games. Interesting to see that they’re trying Davidson in LF.
As a middle reliever, Austen Williams now has a 1.93 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and .204 average against. He’s looking legit in that role.
What pitch did Austen learn this spring ?
Ward started two weeks behind everyone else due to being on the DL. Hopefully, he continues to hit the ball hard like he has the last two games.
Great point.
Let’s hope better news in Wisconsin with Eaton
Mapes back on the DL, Luke??
Life is fast. Soto AA
Tee hee. Ben Braymer Potomac
Keller begins again @ High A
So much for the All Star game break promotion rule
Nats using Vlad Sr blueprint on Soto ? This doesn’t fit well with
Our wondering if Lerner will open the vaults for Junior Harper .
More like the Davey Johnson blueprint for Harper.
Nice interview with Tripp Keister on minor league blog speaking about Soto, Agustin , Crowe and Gabe K. Not to mention the Pittsfield Mets and the sun delay in Pittsfield until the sun set beneath trees
Nice reminder about how many promotions occur after kids play in league level all star games.
Safe to say Crowe and Klobosits will elevate in June ??
Soto goes to Harrisburg … but what about Augustin?
That leaves Perkins , Keller, and ??? In Kiester OF?? Sundberg to Potomac ?
Wiseman
If Soto continues to hit in Double-A, and I think he will, he would rank ahead of Bichette, Senzel, and Jimenez for me. It would come down to Tatis vs. Soto for the number two slot behind Vlad Jr, with the list looking something like this:
“Vlad Jr
Soto/Tatis
Jimenez
Bichette
Senzel
Bottom line: Soto is certainly a Top Ten prospect at the moment, and waiting for Acuña, Ohtani, and Torres to graduate off the list is the only thing keeping Soto out of the Top Five right now.”
— John Sickels.
No worries. 2-4. 3 hole. HR/2b same first night Potomac pummels FRED with 5 HRs. Wiseman say…only fools rush in .. sing it Elvis…
AA players get promoted to the MLB level all of the time. If the Eaton injury lingers past the All-Star break and if Soto continues to rake in H’burg, could see Soto on the Nats this Summer. Didn’t think so, but that possibility has to be part of the reasoning behind the Nats’ aggressive promotion schedule.
Or just give him number 34
3 or 4 questions on Juan Soto in Keith Law’s chat yesterday…. apparently he was at Potomac on Monday to watch Soto, Kieboom and Augustin….
Anyone read the blog post that he refers to below, and can paraphrase comments?
“John: What did you think about Soto, Kieboom, and Agustin Monday? You mentioned that Soto ran a 70 to 1st — how does that gibe with the 40/45 speed I’ve seen elsewhere. Thanks!
Keith Law: I have a blog post up on those guys. I don’t know about the 40/45 speed. The stopwatch doesn’t lie – you can’t run like that to first with below-average speed. “
To clarify, this was when the P-Nats were in Wilmington (near Law’s home) and Law wrote that he was timed at 3.98 home to first, which is fast. I saw him for a full homestand and didn’t see that kind of speed (just some boneheaded baserunning) but we’ve long seen that phenomenon where guys lollygag in the field and run like hell on the basepaths (e.g. Agustin). Law’s concerned that pitchers who can change speeds easily will get to Soto but also seems convinced he’ll adjust.
Speaking of Agustin, he was very impressed. Apparently, he’s put on a lot of muscle, which certainly explains the power surge (and the drop in footsppeed).