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Saturday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Matchup
Fresno Lost, 8-3;
Won, 9-8 (9 inn.)		 vs. Sacramento, 10:05 p.m. Copeland (2-1, 6.27) vs. E. Franco (1-1, 7.76)
Harrisburg Won, 7-5 @ Altoona, 6:00 p.m. Sharp (4-2, 3.63) vs. Marvel (3-4, 4.27)
Potomac Lost, 5-1 vs. Wilmington, 5:00 p.m. Raquet (1-5, 7.16) and Teel (1-0, 1.64)
vs. Martinez (2-0, 2.53) and TBD
Hagerstown Won, 3-2 vs. Hickory, 6:05 p.m. Alastre (3-2, 4.79) vs. Brennan (2-2, 5.45)

Sacramento 8 Fresno 3 – GAME ONE
• M. Sanchez (L, 0-2) 4IP, 10H, 6R, 6ER, 2BB, 0K, 0HR
• Blazek 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, K
• Kieboom 2-4, R, 2B, RBI
• Keller 1-2, R, BB, RBI

The River Cats had their way with Mario Sanchez again as they took the opener from the Grizzlies, 8-3. Sanchez was strafed for six runs on ten hits and two walks over four innings for his second loss in as many starts at both AAA and against Sacramento. Jordan Mills failed to register a clean outing for the fourth time in 10 appearances, giving up the last two runs on three hits over two innings. Carter Kieboom singled, doubled, and drove in a run to lead the Fresno offense.

Fresno 9 Sacramento 8 (9 inn.) – GAME TWO
• Hoover 3+ IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 2K, WP
• Alvarez 2IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 4K, 2HR, 2-2 IR-S
• Self (W, 2-0) 3IP, 3H, 3R, 1ER, IBB, 4K
• Reynolds 3-3, R, 3B, BB, RBI
• Kieboom 3-5, 2R, HR, 4RBI
• J. Wilson 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI

Carter Kieboom’s three-run HR in the bottom of 9th capped an unlikely comeback as the Grizzlies rallied from 5-1 down to take the nightcap, 9-8. J.J. Hoover pitched into the 4th for the spot start but it was Henderson Alvarez3 who sucked, as he let in two inherited runners and three of his own on four hits, including two HRs. Fresno got back three in the 5th and were gifted the tying run in the 7th on an error to lead off the inning that came around to score a two-out wild pitch. Both teams scored in the 8th and the River Cats got two in the top of the 9th on a two-run double following an intentional walk to start the frame. Taylor Gushue pinch-hit for a single to lead off the 9th to push the free runner to 3rd and bring the winning run to the plate. Collin Cowgill lined out ahead of Kieboom, who made a winner out of Derek Self with his 5th HR.
Roster moves: UT Wilmer Difo optioned from Washington, RHP Kyle McGowin recalled to Washington.

Harrisburg 7 Altoona 5
• Tetreault (W, 2-1) 5IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, BB, K, HR
• Fuentes (H, 1) 1⅔ IP, H, R, ER, BB, K, 2-0 IR-S
• Barrett (SV, 9) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Davidson 2-3, R, 2BB, HR, RBI
• C. Taylor 2-5, RBI
• Jones 2-5, 2R, HR, 3RBI

The Senators scored in four of the first five innings and outslugged the Curve, 7-5. Jackson Tetreault wobbled through five innings and gave up all five Altoona runs on eight hits (one HR) and a walk. Thanks to solid bullpen work following Trevor Rosenthal’s latest attempt to throw (21 pitches, two to the backstop, one walk, one hit, one strikeout), Tetreault got the Jack Morris win. Hunter Jones and Austin Davidson both went deep for the first time while Chuck Taylor and Tres Barrera both had a pair of singles to lead the Harrisburg attack.

Wilmington 5 Potomac 1
• Borne (L, 1-2) 6IP, 4H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 6K, HR, 2HBP
• Reyes 3IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 4K
• Banks 2-4, R, 2B
• Abreu 1-3, 2B

Potomac’s bid to win back-to-back games for the fourth time in 39 games was denied with a 5-1 loss to Wilmington in the series opener. Grant Borne’s fourth start since returning to the rotation was uneven, four hits but three for extra bases, one walk but two hit batsman. The 25-y.o. southpaw gave up all five runs over six innings for his second loss, both to the Blue Rocks. Luis Reyes shut out the Carolina League’s worst offense (.585 team OPS) over the final three innings, striking out four and walking two. Nick Banks singled and doubled while Osvaldo Abreu doubled to account for the lone run scored (on a groundout) and three of the team’s five (5) hits on the night.

Hagerstown 3 Hickory 2
• Peguero (W, 2-2) 5IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 4K, WP
• Day (H, 3) 3IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Stoeckinger (SV, 3) 1IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 0K
• Vickers 1-3, R
• Marinconz 1-3

The Suns took advantage of two errors to score three runs without hitting the ball out of the infield to finally win a one-run game, 3-2 over Hickory. Francys Peguero, who has allowed two earned runs or less in seven of eight starts, saw his four-game no-decision streak end with five innings of two-run ball on four hits, no walks, and four whiffs to earn hus second win. Chandler Day tossed three scoreless innings to earn his third hold while Jackson Stoeckinger worked around two baserunners in the 9th for the save, his first. Hagerstown mustered just four hits (all singles) and four walks on offense, with only Cody Wilson reaching base twice (walk, error).
Roster moves: OF Ricardo Mendez assigned from XST; OF Pablo O’Connor retired.

17 Commments

  1. Luke. Yes we would all applause when you can type in red : Henderson Alvarez released

      1. Caine Mutiny. RIP Herman Wouk.
        Cane. You want a mutiny here for the rebuilding summer??

  2. Alvarez has given up an outrageous 14 HR this season in only 28 innings.

    Can we please put him out of his misery? It’s not like we currently have a log jam of relievers at lower levels, or anything.

    Barrett, Bourque or Condra-Bogan to Fresno.
    Bartow or A. Lee to Harrisburg.
    Fletcher, Cate, Guillen, Irvin, Stoeckinger or Peguero to Potomac.
    Re-instate E. Lee, Schaller or Chu.

    2. Nobody has brought up Istler for a spot in Burg or F- troop. But Witness Protection is a sealed placed

  3. I see that it was discussed a little late yesterday, but I’ll add to the head-scratching over O’Connor’s retirement. He was hitting .267, not setting the world on fire, but considerably higher than a number of other guy who should be contemplating alternative futures. Of the promising OF trio from Auburn last summer, the only one still looking promising is Rhinesmith, albeit still with no HRs. Rhinesmith has an OBP 110 points higher than Wilson, yet Wilson keeps leading off. Go figure.

    1. Give him credit, he was a 27th round pick who made it this far.
      He probably signed for $1.50 and just decided life would be better on the other side.
      I wish him luck with his new life.

  4. Steven Fuentes continues to be quietly one of the system’s most impressive young pitchers (je just turned 22 this month). What a job stranding Rosenthal’s baserunners and adding a perfect inning of his own. I see you, Steven.

    Tanner Rainey ought to be on his way to Nationals Park right now for the hapless Justin Miller. I sure wouldn’t mind finding replacements for Dan Jennings, Matt Grace, and Kyle Barraclough out of the mimors, too. A pick-’em from James Bourque, Michael Blazek, Aaron Barrett, Jacob Condra-Bogan, Vidal Nuño, and Derek Self works for me. Sure, our options aren’t of the surefire-success variety, but how much longer does the big club keep throwing guys who can’t pitch and hoping for a different result? Next man up.

  5. Any word on Pablo’s retirement? He looked promising in his first season out of college.

  6. I haven’t kept up while I was away, but I am sure I am not the only person expecting Aaron Barrett to be back with the Nats soon.

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