Saturday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Fresno | Won, 12-8 | @ Salt Lake, 8:35 p.m. | Hoover (2-1, 5.61) vs. Sandoval (3-2, 5.52) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 6-2 | vs. Bowie, 6:00 p.m. | Tetreault (2-2, 4.50) vs. Kremer (6-4, 4.76) |
| Potomac | Lost, 6-2 | vs. Carolina, 6:35 p.m. | Cate (Hi-A debut) vs. N. Hernandez (6-5, 5.07) |
| Hagerstown | Won, 14-7 | @ Rome, 7:00 p.m. | Peguero (2-5, 2.54) vs D. Mejia (3-1, 1.42) |
| Auburn | Won, 8-1 | @ Mahoning Valley, 7:05 p.m. | P. Gonzalez (0-1, 10.80) vs. Hankins (0-0, 0.00) |
Fresno 12 Salt Lake City 8
• Self 2⅔ IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 1K, 2HR
• Alvarez (W, 1-3) 2IP, 1H, 2R, 0ER, 3BB, 3K, 1-0 IR-S
• Stevenson 4-5, 3R, BB, 2RBI
• Marmolejos 3-5, 2B, RBI
• C. Kieboom 2-5, R, HR, RBI
The Grizzlies built an 8-0 lead after three and muddled through for a 12-8 win to take a 2-1 series lead. Derek Self was the opener on a bullpen night, thanks to two starters in transit. The veteran Nats farmhand was buzzed for three runs on four hits, including two home runs over two and 2/3rds innings. Henderson Alvarez3 stranded one runner while getting the last out of the 3rd, pitched a scoreless 4th, and let in two unearned runs in the 5th, which was good enough to earn the “W” – his first of the season. Yadiel Hernandez and Wilmer Difo each hit a two-run HR while Carter Kieboom smacked an Earl Weaver special. Andrew Stevenson led Fresno’s 16-hit parade with four hits, followed by José “Orange” Marmolejos with three.
Roster moves: RHP Joe Ross recalled to Washington; UT Adrián Sanchez optioned from Washington.
Bowie 6 Harrisburg 2
• M. Sanchez (L, 5-1) 7IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, 0BB, 7K, 2HR
• R. Peña 2IP, 3H, 1R, 0ER, BB, 3K, WP
• Barrera 2-3, 2-2B, BB, RBI
• Zimmerman 1-1, BB
The longball did in Mario Sanchez and Harrisburg as a pair of two-run shots were the difference in a 6-2 loss to Bowie. Sanchez gave up five runs on eight hits over seven innings as he lost for the first time at AA. Ryan Zimmerman singled and walked at the plate and made six putouts at 1B. Tres Barrera walked and doubled twice to lead the eight-hit, three-walk Sens offense.
Roster moves: RHP Austin Voth reassigned from Fresno; 1B Ryan Zimmerman assigned from Washington for MLB rehab.
Carolina 6 Potomac 2
• Raquet (L, 5-7) 4IP, 5H, 2R, 1ER, 3BB, 4K
• Reyes 3IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 4K
• Abreu 2-4
• Dunlap 1-3, 2B, BB, RBI
The Mudcats starter Aaron Ashby dominated the P-Nats for seven and a 1/3rd innings, allowing just two (2) runners to reach second base in a 6-2 Carolina win over Potomac. His counterpart Nick Raquet barely made it out of the 1st, as he threw 30 of his 90 pitches during the frame as he loaded the bases with nobody out on a leadoff single and two walks before Anderson Franco wicketed a grounder for two runs and his eighth error. Raquet finished with four innings pitched, five hits and three walks allowed, and four whiffs but took his seventh loss. Luis Reyes extended his string of zeroes to 23 with three more goose eggs before Carolina went to town on Andrew Istler and Hayden Howard for two runs in both the 8th and 9th innings. Potomac broke up the shut out with three doubles in the bottom of the 9th but finished with just seven hits.
Hagerstown 14 Rome 7
• Adon (W, 6-2) 5IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 2K
• Upshaw 3-4, 2B, 2BB, 5RBI, 2SB
• Perkins 2-4, 3R, 2-2B, BB, 3RBI, SB
• Connell 2-5, R, RBI, SB
The Suns scored in seven of nine “ups” as they doubled up the Barves, 14-7. Joan Adon picked up his team-leading sixth win with three runs let in on three hits and two walks over five innings while setting down two on strikes. Neither Angel Guillen nor Jacob Howell were effective in relief, but they didn’t need to be as Hagerstown got a baker’s dozen worth of hits and seven walks. Armond Upshaw reached base five times, drove in five, and swiped two bags, including a double steal with Nic Perkins, who doubled twice, scored thrice, and plated three.
Roster moves: RHP Jacob Howell activated from 3-day T.I.L.
Auburn 8 Mahoning Valley 1
• N. Gomez (W, 1-1) 5IP, 2H, 0R, 3BB, 9K
• Galindez 2IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Jo. Sanchez 2-5, R, 2RBI
• Carrillo 1-2, 2R, 2B, 2BB, RBI
• Dunn 1-3, 2R, 2BB
Three Auburn pitchers combined to strike out 12 in an 8-1 win over Mahoning Valley. Niomar Gomez fanned nine in his five scoreless innings as gave up two hits and walked three, which was good enough for the win. The Doubledays got three runs in both the 5th and 6th innings to break open a 1-0 game. Jose Sanchez singled twice and drove in two while Adalberto Carrillo doubled once, scored twice, and walked twice to lead the Doubledays offense.
Here I was ready to dump Luis Reyes overboard when all it took for him to shine was for him to find his proper place. Hat tip to Luke for noticing his streak.
Andrew Stevenson is hitting! Always terrific with the glove, his bat has been holding him back big time. Now he’s showing an .823 OPS and trending upwards.
He’s done that before.
How many of the guys in Auburn are from the DR? From the 2018 draft? From elsewhee?
Not perfect but a quick look…
2011 Draft – 1 pitcher
2017 Draft – 4 pitchers, 2 catchers, 1 infielder, 1 outfielder
2018 Draft – 2 pitcher, 1 catcher, 1 infielder
2019 Draft – 1 catcher, 3 infielders, 1 outfielder
Dominican Republic – 5 pitchers, 3 outfielders
Venezuela – 3 pitchers, 1 catcher, 2 infielders
Panama – 2 pitchers
Thanks.
Zimmerman only played 5 innings for the Senators. I anticipate he will play more tonight. His single was hit hard up the middle. He jogged from first to third on Barreras double. Any one else would have scored.
Stevenson specifically: I really anticipate the Nats non-tendering Taylor next offseason, so there will be a regular slot on the bench open. That’s pretty much Stevenson’s “big chance.”
Fresno more generally, including the Stevenson resurgence: man, how much can we trust those inflated PCL stats? The hitting environment certainly has to help hitter confidence, but how do you judge how they’re doing? Guys like Stevenson, Marmolejos, and Gushue look legit there. At the same time, you also have to really worry about the guys who haven’t hit well there, like Noll. I wondered whether he was being rushed up the system, as he didn’t hit particularly well at AA last year.
Stevenson looka like a mirage to me. He has hit before. But I believe Taylor is the better player and would keep him over Stevenson. Stevenson’s only advantage is hes left handed with less swing and miss and contact approach. But as a 4th-5th outfielder Taylor has more power, speed, better Defense, and much better arm.
I just got to the island and Adrian Sanchez is playing 2nd base for the senators so he’s not in Fresno.
Yeah, Terry’s media notes has that too – he probably was there all along, but the Nats being the Nats, can’t help themselves from doing paper moves that serve no purpose other than engendering misdirection and suspicion.
In his last arb year in 2020, Taylor would be due to make around $5 million. He’s barely played this season, and he’s struck out 37% of the time when he has played. Stevenson would make about 1/19th of what Taylor would.
I would surely agree that Taylor is better defensively than Stevenson. I’m not even sure Stevenson would be decent in CF for any extended period. I also agree that I’m dubious of the Stevenson offensive surge. It may not be a binary choice, though: Taylor may be gone, but Stevenson may still be in Fresno, with someone else on the MLB bench.