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Monday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Matchup
Fresno Won, 11-10 @ San Antonio, 12:05 p.m. Crowe (0-1, 3.46) vs. Wilkerson (7-1, 3.06)
Harrisburg Lost, 3-2 OFF DAY N/A
Potomac Lost, 4-1 OFF DAY N/A
Hagerstown Lost, 3-2;
Lost, 6-4		 vs. Columbia, 7:05 p.m. Alastre (4-10, 6.19) vs. TBD
Auburn Lost, 5-1 vs. State College, 7:00 p.m. Dyson (0-1, 2.25) vs. Ju. Gonzalez (2-3, 6.67)
GCL Nationals Postponed vs. GCL Marlins, 10:00 a.m.

Fresno 11 San Antonio 10
• Braymer 2⅔ IP, 7H, 5R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K, HR, WP
• Bourque (W, 1-1) 2IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, 0K
• Y. Hernandez 2-3, 2R, 2BB, 2HR, 3RBI, OF assist at HP
• Ward 3-5, 2R, HR, RBI
• Gushue 3-5, 2R, HR(10), RBI

Drew Ward’s first AAA homer proved to be the difference as the Grizzlies outslugged the Missions, 11-10 to break an eight-game losing streak. It was the fourth HR on the night for Fresno, which pounded out 14 hits total, led by Ward and Taylor Gushue, who both went 3-for-5 with a HR, and RBI, and two runs scored. Ben Braymer got the start but was knocked out by the 3rd with seven hits, five runs, three walks – a good series for a batter, but not so good for two and 2/3rds innings pitched. James Bourque got the “W” with one run let in over 6th and 7th innings, George Kontos earned the hold for a working a scoreless 8th, and Dakota Bacus was credited with his ninth save for not blowing a two-run lead in the 9th.
Roster moves: RHP Javy Guerra recalled to Washington.

Richmond 3 Harrisburg 2
• McGowan (L, 1-1) 6IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 3K
• German 2IP, 3H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K
• Garcia 2-4, 2R, 3B
• Sagdal 2-4, RBI, CS

Richmond got single runs in the 2nd, 4th, and the 7th to take a 3-0 lead and held on for a 3-2 win over Harrisburg in the series finale. Kevin McGowan notched a quality start of two runs on five hits and a walk while fanning three. He was rewarded with his first AA loss of the year. Luis Garcia singled, tripled, and scored both Senators runs while Ian Sagdal went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Both teams left on just two runners but Richmond went 3-for-8 with RISP while Harrisburg had just one hit in four chances.
Roster moves: OF Andrew Stevenson recalled to Washington; RHP Brad Boxberger released; IF T.J. Rivera acquired from Long Island (Atlantic League) and assigned from Washington.

Potomac 4 Wilmington 1
• Teel (W, 6-2) 5IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Klobosits (H, 1), 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 1K, 3-0 IR-S
• Howell (SV, 1) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Agustin 2-4, R, HR, 2RBI
• Canning 2-4, R, 2B

P-Nats got two-run HRs from Telmito Agustin in the 5th and K.J. Harrison in the 6th as they rolled to their sixth straight win, 4-1, and swept he Blue Rocks. Carson Teel put up fivegoose eggs and won his sixth game at High-A with two hits allowed, no walks and three whiffs. Jorge Pantoja put on four base runners before he was lifted for Gabe Klobotsits, who stranded three while getting out of the inning and pitched a scoreless 7th for his first hold. Jacob Howell was perfect for the last two innings for a save in his Carolina Lg. debut. Gage Canning and Agustin were both 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the ten-hit Potomac hit parade.

Columbia 3 Hagerstown 2 – COMP.
• Rutledge 5IP, 1H, 2R, 1ER, 2BB, 2K
• Vann 2IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 1K
• McMahan (L, 0-1) 2IP, 2H, R, ER, 0BB, 2K
• Vickers 2-4, R
• Perkins 1-1, 2B, 3BB, RBI, CS

Columbia scored once in the top of the 8th while Hagerstown drew walks in the 7th and 9th innings as they lost the completion, 3-2. Pearson McMahan gave up a leadoff single, a sacrifice, and a two-out single to lose his Sally Lg. debut.

Columbia 6 Hagerstown 4 – GAME TWO
• Stoeckinger 6IP, 7H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 4K, HBP, PO at 1B
• A. Hernandez (L, 0-1) 3IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, BB, K, E(1)
• Upshaw 2-3, R, 3B, BB, RBI, SB
• Pineda 2-5, R, HR, RBI, PB(21), PO at 3B
• Vickers 2-4, R, 2B, RBI

In the “nightcap,” the two teams traded one-run and three-run rallies before Columbia got two in the 7th and Hagerstown did not answer for a 6-4 loss. Jackson Stoeckinger went the first six and let in the first four on seven hits and a hit batsman while striking out four. The loss went to Alfonso Hernandez, who finished the game and gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. He struck out one in his Sally Lg. debut. Armond Upshaw reached base three times with a triple, single, and a walk and was one of six Suns with two hits, including Israel Pineda with his sixth HR.

Tri City 5 Auburn 1
• E. Lee (L, 2-2) 4IP, 7H, 4R, 3ER, BB, 2K, HR
• Knowles 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• L. Peña 1-3, BB, OF assists at 2B, HP
• Pratt 2BB, 2PB, E(3)

How do you draw 11 walks and still lose? Ask the Doubledays, who managed just one hit and rolled into two double plays, too, as they lost 5-1 to complete the sweep by the Valley Cats and extend their losing streak to five. Evan Lee made his second start and was scratched for four runs on seven hits (one HR) and a walk while striking out two over four innings. It was his second loss. Landerson Peña broke up the no-hitter with one out in the 9th on a bloop single to shallow left field as the Doubledays went 0-for-9 with RISP and left on 10.

GCL Nationals v. GCL Astros – PPD
Make that two doubleheaders this week… weather permitting.

• Denaburg 1⅔ IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, BB, K, 2WP, 2HBP
• De Los Santos 1IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• P. Gonzalez (SV, 1) 5IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 7K
• Martina 4-6, 3R, 2RBI
• V. Peña 3-6, 2R, 3B
• Arias 1-3, 2R, HR(GS), 4RBI, 2BB

16 Commments

  1. Too bad the big club can’t mirror Fresno the last two games. QS from Logan two days ago and now a Sunday beer league slugfest
    Good to see Gabe up to Potnats

    2. You wonder why the Pacifico Cervesa League has Mr Spaulding leaving the yard so much ? That dry heat is so comfortable by the pool at the hotel. Not that wet humid in MD/ VA.
      Kudos to Eric Fedde on that outing by the City by the Bay. Lights…..Infinity….

  2. Um, Boxberger had a 1.04 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 11 Ks in 8.2 IP . . . and they released him? It’s possible he had an opt-out and/or that his agent asked for his release after they traded for three relievers. But it’s head-scratching that they didn’t at least give him a try, particularly considering how quickly they rushed up vets like Jennings, Venter, and Blazek.

    1. Can you blame Boxberger for bailing. I’m sure Dakota Baucus would if he could, he’s got a 3.43 ERA in the PCL/beer league and the Nats just don’t care.

      1. Now we understand Rizzo buying two Long Island Ducks. His relationship with Wally Backman
        Suns played tonight with an umpire named Jose Losada. Former player ??

  3. Good to see from the stats and from Luke’s report that Rutledge seems to be figuring out pro ball and making progress. I do wonder whether a guy that big will struggle with the things Alex Meyer did, the “repeatable delivery” and whatnot. We’ll see. I would guess they’ll hope to be able to start him at Potomac (err, Fredericksburg?) next season. On the flipside, Denaburg thus far isn’t looking like a candidate to be at Hagerstown next year. He turns 20 this week. It’s way too early to be “worried,” but perhaps not to express a little concern.

    While on the subject of 1st round pitchers, has there been any hint of what’s up with Seth Romero? He’s had a year since his TJ so, unless he’s had a setback, he should be ready to pitch at least a little at the end of this season.

    1. I don’t have the exact date handy but I recall that it was the last week in August 2018. With the new, sooner AFL season (Sep 18-Oct 26) he might be hidden in Instrux instead.

  4. After another terrific start, had to look up Carson Teel. An 18th round pick only last year he has appeared in 21 games for Potomac, 12 of them starts. He’s getting better and better and his ERA is 3.87 with a 1.21 WHIP. The best part of yesterday’s performance was 0 walks.

  5. I’m interested in Luke’s take on Teel, who is listed at a slight 160 pounds on a 6-foot frame (not exactly Jackson Rutledge!). Teel has had a few truly outstanding starts to go with a few rough ones. On paper, he looks more like the crafty lefty reliever type, but they’ve seen something in him to try him as a starter this year. Of course Cate is basically the same size . . . as is Tommy Milone, who is still a major-league starter.

    1. Funny enough, the Nats drafted not one, not two, but three six-foot-tall lefties last year, and all of them are doing very well in 2019. (One of them, Aaron Fletcher, was traded to Seattle last week.)

    2. Teel seems like a candidate to switch to relief because in part he’s smaller than the specs but mostly because he’s inconsistent. I’ve seen nights where he looks like he’s turned the corner and then, like last Tuesday, nights where he just gets hammered.

  6. Luke — Thanks for the feedback on Teel. Sort of what I thought. All in all, though, an 18th-round pick doing well overall at Potomac a year after the draft is a “win.”

    Sao — I think Fletcher weighed about as much as Teel and Cate put together!

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