Tuesday’s News & Notes
The Doubledays made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2012 as the Nats affiliates won four out of five on the last day of the season.
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Syracuse | Won, 2-0 | END OF SEASON | N/A |
| Harrisburg | Won, 7-3 | END OF SEASON | N/A |
| Potomac | Won, 5-4 (10 inn.) |
END OF SEASON | N/A |
| Hagerstown | Lost, 9-4 | END OF SEASON | N/A |
| Auburn | Won, 8-5 | END OF SEASON | N/A |
Syracuse 4 Buffalo 3
• McGowin (W, 3-2) 5IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 5K
• Dragmire (H, 2) 2IP, 0H, 0R, BB, K
• Reynolds 3-4, 2B, RBI, SB
• Dominguez 2-3, R, BB, RBI
Syracuse did not lose the most games in the I.L. for the first time since 2015 as they ended 2018 with a 2-0, three-hit shutout of Buffalo. Starter Kyle McGowin went the first five and gave up just one hit, no walks, and fanned five for his third AAA win. Relievers Brady Dragmire, Chris Smith, and Carlos Torres finished the game without allowing a run though Torres gave it a go with two hits allowed in the 9th. Mark Reynolds led the Chiefs’ hit column with three in four trips to the plate and drove in a run, as did Chris Dominguez, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Harrisburg 7 Richmond 3
• Darnell 5IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 3K, HR; 1-3, R, RBI, 2K
• Harper (W, 3-1) ⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• H. Jones 2-4, 2B, BB, 2RBI
• Keller 2-4, BB, RBI
• Abreu 2-4, 2R, 2RBI
Senators struck for four in the top of the 8th to break a 3-3 tie en route to a 7-3 win that swept the four-game series and finished the season with five straight wins. Logan Darnell started and turned in five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three. Bryan Harper picked up the win after finishing off the Flying Squirrels in the 7th while Ronald Pena and James Bourque each tossed a scoreless frame to close out the game. Hunter Jones’s two-run double capped off the aforementioned rally in the 8th as he, Alec Keller, Drew Ward, and Osvaldo Abreu each went 2-for-4 to lead the Harrisburg attack.
Potomac 5 Wilmington 4 (10 inn.)
• Bogucki 5IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 4K
• Condra-Bogan (W, 1-2) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• McKinney (SV, 4) 1IP, 1H, 2R, 1ER, 3BB, 0K
• Garcia 3-5, R
• Sagdal 2-4, R, 2-2B, SF, 2RBI
• Mejia 2-5, R, RBI
Potomac rallied to tie it in the 8th at 2-2 and got three in the 10th, and held off Wilmington for a 5-4 win. A.J. Bogucki got the spot start and threw five innings of two-run ball on five hits and no walks while fanning four. The win went to Jacob Condra-Bogan as he made donuts in the 8th and 9th innings. Jeremy McKinney was awarded the save despite letting in the free runner and a run of his own while walking three in the 10th. Luis Garcia led the P-Nats hit column with three singles while Ian Sagdal doubled twice to take the Carolina League batting crown with a .318 batting average. Next up: Potomac travels to Lynchburg for Games 1 and 2 tomorrow and Thursday, and will host Games 3, 4, and 5 on Friday, Saturday (if necessary), and Sunday (if necessary)..
Kannapolis 9 Hagerstown 4
• Cate 6IP, 5H, 3R, 2ER, 2BB, 6K, HR
• Brasher (L, 0-5) 1IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 0K
• Choruby 2-3, 2-2B, BB, CS
• Scudder 2-3, R, 2B, BB
The Suns overcame an early 3-0 deficit with a three-run 4th but had no answer for the Intimidators’ four-run 7th as they dropped the series finale, 9-4. Tim Cate spun his second straight quality start with three runs let in on five hits and two walks while fanning six over six innings. Jared Brasher lost for the fifth time with nary a “W” as Kannapolis lapped the bases four times on three hits and two walks in his single inning pitched. Nick Choruby doubled twice and walked once while Jake Scudder singled twice and walked once to lead the Hagerstown offense.
Auburn 8 Batavia 5
• Irvin 2IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 1K
• Fletcher (W, 2-1) 3IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 4K
• Teel (H, 2) 3IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Marinconz 3-5, 2R, 2B, 2RBI
• Blash 2-5, 2B, 3RBI
• O’Connor 2-5, R, 2B, RBI
Auburn outhit its substandard pitching with a pair of four-run rallies to take the series finale, 8-5 and secure a spot in the NYPL playoffs for the first time since 2012. Jake Irvin gave up two runs in two innings while Aaron Fletcher fell down for three run in three innings. Despite being the most effective reliever, Carson Teel was awarded the hold instead of the win as he allowed one hit and one walk over three innings. Ryan Tapani pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the save, his second. Kyle Marinconz and Jamori Blash combined for five hits and five RBI as the Doubledays pounded out 13 hits on the afternoon. Next up: Auburn hosts Hudson Valley, who they did not play this season, tomorrow then travels to Wappingers Falls for Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) on Thursday and Friday.
What a good way to end the regular season with nearly every team winning. In the only loss, Cate had one of his best starts. Thanks to Luke for his daily efforts to keep us informed. I’m sure it’s a chore on some days, but it’s much appreciated.
Noted by some late yesterday, but I’ll bring it forward — TJ for Seth Romero. I’ll start by saying that you don’t wish a major injury on anyone. But jeez, what a disaster of a draft pick he’s turned out to be. With a TJ this late, he’ll miss nearly all of 2019 . . . so likely won’t have pitched above Hagerstown by the time 2020 arrives. (And yes, he had previous elbow issues when they drafted him. They were just obscured by the character issues.)
The only good that can be offered with this news is that by 2020 at age 24 he will have grown up.
He’s always been the electric arm with the character and maturity of a 16 year old. quite a low return on a 1st round pick.
Sure makes you appreciate Juan Soto!
I don’t think he had a TJ before being drafted, but he had a plate in his elbow or some such. But I do wonder whether, with pre-existing damage, he may be facing a longer rehab, like guys like Andrew Lee and Ryan Williamson had.
As for the growing up part, he sure better, as rehab is no joke, and if he doesn’t take it seriously, there’s no guarantee he makes it back.
Sure hope McGowin gets a Sept. look by the big club. He’s had a fantastic season. He’ll certainly have to be added to the 40-man before Rule 5. I like his chances to be more consistent that Rodriguez. Really, Fedde hasn’t proven anything at the big-league level yet, either. I think Voth is out of options, so he may not still be around with the Nats come next spring.
The Nats are calling him up per multiple reports, including McGowin’s hometown paper in Sag Harbor, which quotes him directly. Announcement should be soon.
That would be great news. Does anyone associated with Harrisburg have any scoop on the McGowin and Williams transformations this season? Was the new pitching coach, Michael Tejera, the key? I hope someone in DC does a story on them and their journeys this season, as their careers were not looking good just a year ago.
Mick Reinhard wrote about Williams here: https://mayfliesandbigflies.com/2018/06/05/the-third-times-the-charm-for-austen-williams/
Yes, McGowin was called up. Still waiting to see when he will pitch. Most likely it will be this weekend since he pitched monday.
Unfortunately, hammered for three home runs in his 2nd appearance and couldn’t finish out the inning.
Thanks to Luke for another great season of in-depth minors coverage. We’ve had a lot of guys not many casual fans knew much about make it to The Show this year, and sites like this one are an invaluable resource and guide for getting a sense of who these players are and what they have accomplished.
With all the news of the last 48 hours (thank you Luke) it was easy to miss the great start by Nick Raquet to end his season. Only 1 hit over 7 innings is just terrific and an optimistic look to 2019.
And they will need Nick Raquet, sooner rather than later.
Ty Luke. Now I can walk my dog longer since your posts fade with the advent of late summer Indian summer sept .