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Thursday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Matchup
Fresno Won, 14-13
(10 inn.)		 vs. Tacoma, 10:05 p.m. Espino (7-4, 5.46) vs. Wright (2-4, 4.67)
Harrisburg Lost, 5-2 @ Hartford, 7:05 p.m. Voth (1-0, 0.00) vs. Santos (2-3, 5.12)
Potomac Won, 9-7 vs. Myrtle Beach, 7:05 p.m. Teel (6-3, 3.21) vs. De Los Rios (1-2, 2.27)
Hagerstown Lost, 3-1 @ Kannapolis, 7:00 p.m. Stoeckinger (2-2, 3.28) vs. TBD
Auburn Lost, 2-0;
Won, 3-1		 @ Williamsport, 7:05 p.m. TBD vs. Vargas (1-0, 2.79)
GCL Nationals Won, 12-1 vs. GCL Astros, 10.00 a.m.

Fresno 14 Tacoma 13
• Hoover 1⅔ IP, 7H, 7R, 7ER, 2BB, 1K, 2HR
• Freeman 2IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Bourque (BS, 2; W, 3-1) 2IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 4K
• Reynolds 4-5, 4R, 2B, BB, HR, 3RBI
• Keller 3-6, R, 2-3B, 2RBI
• Y. Hernandez 2-5, R, 2B, HR(31), 4RBI

The Grizzlies led just twice in this one, 12-11 after eight and 14-13 in 10 innings. J.J. Hoover reverted to the mean and was defenestrated for seven runs on seven hits (2HR) and two walks over just an inning and 2/3rds. Sam Freeman was the only pitcher not to give up a run while James Bourque blew it with a run in the 9th and also let in a run in the 10th, but was the pitcher of record when Fresno walked off. Matt Reynolds reached base five times but missed the cycle by a triple as he led the Grizzlies 20-hit parade in which every batter hit safely.
Roster move: RHP Logan Ondrusek activated from the 7-Day I.L.; RHP George Kontos released.

Hartford 5 Harrisburg 2
• McGowan (L, 1-3) 6IP, 5H, 5R, 5ER, 2BB, 5K, 2HR; 1-2, HR, RBI
• Holland 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Bichette 1-4, R
• Stevenson 1-4, OF assist at 2B

Hartford dropped four on Harrisburg in the 5th and took this one, 5-2. Kevin McGowan gave up all five runs on five hits (two HR) and two walks over six innings to lose for the third time at AA. Greg Holland and Andrew Istler both turned in one scoreless inning to keep things close, but the lone extra-base hit came off the bat of McGowan – a solo HR to tie it at 1-1 as the Sens were held to just six hits total and one (1) walk.

Potomac 9 Myrtle Beach 7
• Peguero 2⅔ IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 0K, HR
• Tapani (W, 1-3) 4IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 5K
• Bartow (SV, 9) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Canning 3-4, R, 2B
• Harrison 2-3, 2R, HR(10), 2RBI
• Abreu 2-4, 2R, 2-2B, BB, RBI

The P-Nats took an early 3-0 lead and appeared to be on the ropes midway through, trailing 7-3. But single runs in the 5th and 6th and a four-run rally in the 7th completed the comeback for a 9-7 win. Both Salem and Wilmington lost to keep Potomac’s faint playoff hopes alive. Francys Peguero was knocked out in the 3rd after five runs came in on six hits (one HR) and three walks. The win went to Kevin Tapani, his first at High-A, as he turned in four innings of two-run relief. Frankie Bartow sent ’em packing in the 9th for his ninth save. Gage Canning led the non-rehabbers with two singles and a doubled while K.J. Harrison launched his 10th Carolina League HR (12th overall) and drove in two to lead the Potomac offense.

Kannapolis 3 Hagerstown 1
• Rutledge 5IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 9K, WP
• Troop (L, 1-3) 3IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 5K, HR
• Upshaw 2-3, R, RBI
• Connell 2-5, RBI, SB

Hagerstown had its chances—seven hits, four walks, three opposing errors—but could only cash in one as they dropped another one to Kannapolis, 3-1. Jackson Rutledge set a new career high in K’s with nine as he was allowed to throw 80 pitches over five innings. He walked three and gave up a hit. The decision went to Alex Troop as he gave up a two-out, two-run HR in the 6th to take the loss, his third. Armond Upshaw and Justin Connell both had two singles, with Upshaw scoring the lone Suns run on Connell’s first safety, which was the one hit in thirteen RISP opportunities as Hagerstown left 11 runners on base.

Williamsport 2 Auburn 0 – GAME ONE
• Yean (L, 1-1) 6IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 4K
• Vega 3-3, CS

The Doubledays were shut out for the 6th time in 70 games as the Crosscutters felled them 2-0 in the opener. Eddie Yean took the loss but went the distance, giving up both Williamsport runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four. Auburn was held to six singles, three by Onix Vega.

Auburn 3 Williamsport 1 – GAME TWO
• Chu (W, 3-2) 5IP, 2H, R, ER, 3BB, 4K
• Segura (SV, 2) 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Randa 2-3, R
• Peroni 2-3, R

Auburn rallied for two in the 6th to break a 1-1 tie for a 3-1 win that split the twinbill. Gilberto Chu got the spot start and threw five innings of one-run ball on two hits and three walks while striking out four. Fausto Segura bounced back with two scoreless to earn his second save. Jake Randa and Anthony Peroni both went 2-for-3 while Jake Alu drove in the last two runs with a one-out single in the 6th.

GCL Nationals 12 GCL Cardinals 1
• B. Peña (W, 2-2) 5IP, 4H, 0R, BB, 8K
• A. Martinez 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Fernandez 3-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Martina 2-2, R, 2BB, 2RBI
• C. Wilson 2-4, R, BB, RBI

With the GCL cancelling the final day of the regular season and the playoffs, the G-Nats late surge will be for naught.

22 Commments

  1. I think Rutledge will be getting my vote for #1 on the Top 10 Arms list. Hope he can be a two-level mover in 2020.

    Honestly, I may struggle to come up with 10 worthy Bats.

    1. My early lists (prospects only):

      1. Rutledge
      2. Cate
      3. Fuentes
      4. Cronin
      5. Teel
      6. Seijas
      7. Sanchez
      8. Lee
      9. Crowe
      10. German

      Bats…hm:

      1. Reetz
      2. Martina
      3. Banks
      4. Kieboom
      5. Peña
      6. Gushue
      7. Rhinesmith
      8. Noll
      9. Ward
      10. Harrison

  2. I forgot to mention this earlier but James Bourque was named Nats minor league player of the week last week. After seasoning in the PCL/beer league he should be ready for some September action with the big club.

    1. Not sure Bourque will get called up.

      When Strickland comes back from paternity leave on Friday, the Nats will have 13 pitchers on the active roster Doolittle and Elias coming off the IL will give them 15. Fully expect the Nats to add either Greg Holland or Sam Freeman by moving Austen Williams to the 60 day DL. That would give the Nats 16 pitchers. That is more than they can keep fresh, and they doesn’t count Voth or McGowin who could come up. Just don’t see a spot for Bourque when rosters expand.

      Similarly, will be interesting to see if the Nats bring up Difo or Kieboom. Sanchez (emergency replacement at SS or 3B) will come up as will Stevenson (PH or PR or defensive replacement) and Taylor (same role as Stevenson) and a catcher (emergency replacement), but there just won’t be any opportunity for ABs for anyone called up with the Nats likely playing meaningful games until the last weekend.

    2. Indeed, they’ll probably want to get another look at Borque, albiet in low pressure situations. He has more promise than Austen Williams, who I don’t think will get the call, and might even lose his 40-man spot to Holland.

  3. Moving forward from the end of yesterday’s comments, with Sao breaking the news of the AFL list: Garcia, Freeman, Banks, Reetz, Sharp, Lee, Condra-Bogan, and Raquet. I’m REALLY surprised that C. Kieboom isn’t on there. I guess that means they’re going to call him up . . . and have his service clock tick. How is he going to get any PT with the way Dozier, Cabrera, and Kendrick are hitting, particularly in a pennant race?

    I agree with the mild surprise others expressed at Raquet being on the list. Maybe they start his inevitable bullpen transition in AZ? Raquet spent 2/3 of 2018 in the Carolina League, repeated it for the full season this year, and was very average. He was good enough to still keep around, but not to promote. I would have given the AFL slot to Tetreault — same age, significantly better at A+ level — over Raquet.

    Sharp, Lee, and Condra-Bogan would all seem to be pitching for NRI opportunities in Nats camp next spring. Lee may end up in the ‘pen as well but needs to get his walks down. He’s had a long road back from his second TJ and is probably Barrett’s only competition for the Boone Award. Among the hitters, it would be good if Banks could start showing a little more HR power. It will be interesting to see if they keep trying to get Freeman OF reps in AZ, or if he’s mostly at 2B.

    My bet is that Freeman is the taxi-squad guy, although it could be Reetz since teams usually have three catchers and they don’t play much anyway.

    1. Unless he is hurt, Raquet will begin 2020 season as a starting pitcher in Harrisburg. He pitched well as a starter in the 2nd half of 2019 in High Class A, and is not moving to the bullpen any time soon. It

    2. It’s “all hands on deck” this September. Kieboom could provide some power off the bench in September. That’s why he gets the call.

    3. Well said. Boone award. Barrett and Lee contenders
      It’s almost bowling season again for me. What with summer matinees going bye bye in Sept
      I may have to catch the Sens on city isle on which date ?? Sept 4-6 barring weather ??

      1. Carter clock may have to tick early in case we see a de ja vu all over again from Lerner’s with Tony two bags

  4. Raquet did pitch better over his last seven starts or so. We’ll see. Yes, he probably did do enough to get promoted. It will be interesting to see who is actually in the rotation at Harrisburg next year, though. They probably will use it for a holding pattern for at least one of their MLB shuttle starters (likely from among McGowin, Crowe, and Braymer, with Voth, Fedde, and Ross out of options). I assume Sharp and Fuentes (by May) will be in the AA rotation, and likely Tetreault. Lee would figure to start the season there, as a starter or swingman. Sanchez may be back there if they don’t lose him in Rule 5. Plus they usually pick up at least a couple of AA starters who have been dropped by other organizations.

    Pitching call-ups this weekend will be interesting. They’ve also got to clear a 40-man spot for Hellickson, so it will take more than just moving Austen Williams to the 60-day. I fully expect Holland to be added. Freeman isn’t in the same class as Holland, but he is a lefty. If they activate Doolittle and Elias, and add Freeman, do they DFA Grace? (It’s possible he could clear waivers and stay with the organization.) All of these guys would be ahead of Bourque in the pecking order, as would be McGowin and Voth. (Although Voth is on the 10-day and theoretically could be moved to the 60-day to claim his spot.) They have already DFA’d Guerra once, so he would figure to be the most vulnerable to be cut.

    1. Good point on the possibility of Grace or even Guerra getting DFA’d.

      Just amazing how Grace has navigated through this season on the Nats roster .

      Of the 162 MLB relief pitchers with 40+ innings, Fangraphs rates Grace #158. If the Nats DFA him, there’s a solid chance that no team would claim him (although not sure the Nats are even interested in Grace for 2020). The bottom line is that if Doolittle and Elias are unavailable, it’s more likely Freeman could get an left-handed batter out (LHB are hitting .322 against Grace).

  5. Kinda scary that Grace and Guerra have pitched the 3d- and 4th-most innings for the Nats out of the bullpen this year.

  7. The A’s are bringing up Sheldon Nuese, former Nat’s farmhand (and 2nd round pick in 2016). Nuese has 27 HRs and .939 OPS for AAA Las Vegas (is that good for the PCL?). The Nats traded Nuese, Jesus Luzarardo and Blake Treinen for Doo and Ryan Madson.

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