Saturday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Fresno | Lost, 7-6 (10 inn.) | vs. Albuquerque, 10:05 p.m. | Voth (3-2, 3.64) vs. Hoffman (2-2, 7.40) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 6-4 | @ Hartford, 7:05 p.m. | Tetreault (1-0, 3.38) vs. Garcia (3-0, 1.71) |
| Potomac | Won, 7-2 | @ Wilmington, 6:05 p.m. | Borne (1-0, 5.48) vs. Martinez (1-0, 2.93) |
| Hagerstown | Won, 3-0 | @ Delmarva, 7:05 p.m. | Peguero (1-1, 2.45) vs Rom (1-0, 2.53) |
Sacramento 7 Fresno 6 (10 inn.)
• M. Sanchez 5IP, 5H, 4R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K, 2HR
• Mills (L, 0-1) ⅓ IP, 0H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K, HBP
• Gushue 2-4, RBI
• J. Wilson 2-5, R, HR, 2RBI
• Kieboom 1-3, R, 2B, BB, RBI, HBP, SB
The Grizzlies blew leads of 3-0 and 5-1 and nearly lost the game in regulation, but for Matt Reynolds gunning down the go-ahead run for the third out of the 9th. Alas, in the 10th, Carter Kieboom’s throw bounced off Ryan Howard during a rundown between third and home to enable the 24-y.o. SS to score the game-winning run for a 7-6 Sacramento win over Fresno. Jordan Mills took the loss while Vidal Nuño3 and Derek Self each blew their first save. Mario Sanchez fared much better than his AAA debut, but still labored through five innings on 94 pitches, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits (two HR) and three walks. He struck out four. Taylor Gushue singled twice and drove in a run while Jacob Wilson smacked his 12th HR while going 2-for-5 with two RBI to lead the Grizzlies attack.
Harrisburg 6 Hartford 4
• Crowe (W, 4-1) 6IP, 6H, 0R, 2BB, 7K
• Baez (SV, 2) 1⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 0K, 1-1 IR-S
• Wiseman 3-4, SB, CS
• Garcia 3-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Goeddel 2-4, R, 2B, RBI
Harrisburg weathered a four-run 8th but got off the schneid to beat Hartford, 6-4. Wil Crowe bounced back from a bad start to fire six scoreless innings on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. Jacob Condra-Bogan set the side down in order in the 7th but went Trevor Rosenthal in the 8th as he issued a walk, homer, a double, and a single and was charged with all four Yard Goat runs. Joan Baez let in one inherited runner in the 8th and cordero’d through the 9th on two walks to earn his second save. Rhett Wiseman and Luis Garcia both had three hits to lead the Sens’ 15-hit parade, which included Drew Ward getting both a golden sombrero and an Earl Weaver special.
Potomac 7 Wilmington 2
• Johnston (W, 3-4) 6IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 10K
• Reyes 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 4K
• Harrison 3-5, R, 3RBI
• Corredor 3-5, R, 2B
• Freeman 2-3, 3R, 2BB, SB(10)
Kyle Johnston finally beat a team not from Winston-Salem as he struck out a career-high of 10 as the P-Nats drilled the Blue Rocks, 7-2 in the series opener. Johnston gave up both Wilmington runs on three hits and two walks for his second straight quality start and, perhaps not coincidentally, second straight win. Jhonatan German put up a goose egg in his High-A debut while Luis Reyes struck out four in his 234th and 235th innings in the Carolina League. K.J. Harrison drove in three while going 3-for-5 while Cole Freeman scored three times while reaching base four times to lead the Potomac offense.
Hagerstown 3 Lakewood 0
• Irvin (W, 2-3) 5⅔ IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 8K
• Fletcher (H, 1) 2⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K, 1-0 IR-S
• Stoeckinger (SV, 2) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Cropley 2-3, R, 2-2B, RBI
• Marinconz 2-3, R, 2B, BB
• O’Connor 2-3, RBI, SB
Three Hagerstown pitchers combined to shut out Lakewood, 3-0 on five hits. Jake Irvin pitched into the sixth and won for second straight start, as he gave up four hits without a walk while fanning a career-best of eight. Aaron Fletcher stranded a runner while getting the last out of the 6th and put up zeroes in the 7th and 8th innings for his first hold while Jackson Stoeckinger worked around the final Blue Claws hit in the 9th for his second save. Five Suns batters had multiple hits led by Tyler Cropley, who doubled twice, scored a run, and drove in a run.
Some brilliant performances from our SPs. Johnston and Irvin have now turned in two straight good outings. Maybe they have turned a corner? Would be good to see Irvin get a quick promotion as a 4th round pick and 22 years old in low A ball…
Crowe also rebounded nicely from his worst start of the season. I’m surprised with how well he’s performed, and forced himself into consideration in DC much sooner than I’d expected. I don’t see rebounds coming from Hellickson and Sanchez (two very ill advised FA signings at the time and in retrospect), but Hellickson and his 5.56 ERA can’t remain in the rotation forever.
I hope Rizzo has learned from last year the lesson of waiting too long to pull the trigger on a re-build. A decent prospect return for a rental of 3 months of Harper could have come in handy just about now. And if our fortunes don’t turn very soon, Rizzo is going to have to make a very tough decision about flipping Rendon (whose extension should have been signed years ago). I hope he’ll also take a cue from the Braves about locking down premium young talent ASAP. Soto, Robles and Turner should have signed extensions by now. Almost every other team besides us has done this with their best young players.
Also how much longer is Fletcher doomed to play in Hagerstown? He’s 23 years old, and has only dominated batters in his two seasons, while the Nationals have been exceedingly conservative with his promotions. A career 2.26 ERA, including an elite 1.31 ERA this season in 11 games. His WHIP is similarly excellent at 0.68. High strikeouts, low walk rates. There’s nothing to suggest he has anything left to prove.
Meanwhile, Luis Reyes continues to get regular innings in Potomac…
I have to think Cate and Fletcher move up by Memorial Day. They are clearly far too good for Sally League hitting.
Sometimes, it just seems the f.o. Just doesn’t like somebody. Fletcher fits that list, I don’t know why.
It’s Cate’s time.
What was that Houston offer on 34 again ??
Credit to Wil Crowe, among others — not sure the Nats would be as comfortable using Ross and Fedde as pure relievers without knowing they have near-MLB rotation depth performing well in the high minors.
I would think that right now, Voth and McGowin would be ahead of Crowe in the pecking order but not by much. I share Will’s surprise at how much Crowe has improved this season.
I’ve been on the Fletcher bandwagon for a while. I think they should/will give him a look as a starter at some point. Yes, he and Cate need to be promoted. I would give Irvin more time to solidify his recent success.