Wednesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Won, 10-2 | @ Syracuse, 4:35 p.m. | Braymer (5-7, 5.99) and Sharp (4-2, 3.88) vs. Worley (4-3, 5.50) and Godley (5-4, 3.88) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 6-1 | vs. Hartford, 6:30 p.m. | Cate (2-8, 6.00) vs. Dennis (3-8, 7.43) |
| Wilmington | Lost, 9-8 (13 inn.) |
vs. Jersey Shore, 7:05 p.m. | TBD vs. TBD |
| Fredericksburg | Lost, 11-2 | vs. Carolina, 7:05 p.m. | Saenz (Low-A Debut) vs. Belzer (6-3, 3.49) |
| FCL Nationals | Lost, 9-4 | @/vs. FCL Cardinals, 10 a.m. | |
| DSL Nationals | Won, 4-0 | OFF DAY |
Syracuse 10 Rochester 2
• Rogers (W, 7-6) 5⅔ IP, 4H, 0R, BB, 6K, HBP, PO @ 1B
• Bacus (H, 3) 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K, WP, 3-0 IR-S
• Palka 4-5, 3R, 2B, 2HR, 3RBI
• Ruiz 3-4, 3R, 2HR, 3RBI
• Casey 2-5, R, 2-2B
The Red Wings went deep five times as they pummeled the S-Mets, 10-2. Josh Rogers pitched into the 6th as he won his seventh game since being signed as a MLFA in early June. The 27-y.o. southpaw gave up four hits, walked one, and struck out six. Daniel Palka and Keibert Ruiz both homered twice and drove in three while waiver claim Mike Ford delivered an Earl Weaver special to highlight Rochester’s four-run 7th that broke open the game. Roster moves: LHP Sam Clay, RHP Patrick Murphy recalled to Washington; RHP Gabe Klobosits, 1B Mike Ford optioned from Washington; RHPs Cade Cavalli, Andrew Lee, LHP Seth Romero promoted from Harrisburg; RHP Tyler Eppler released; OF Alec Keller retired.
Harrisburg 6 Hartford 1
• Tetreault (W, 4-1) 6IP, 7H, R, ER, BB, 5K
• M. Sanchez 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Upshaw 2-3, 2R, HR, 3RBI, HBP, SB, CS
• Rhinesmith 2-4, R, 2B, 2RBI
• Corredor 2-4, R, 2B, RBI
The new guys drove in five while Jackson Tetreault turned in a quality start to power Harrisburg past Hartford, 6-1. Tetreault allowed the lone Yard Goats run on seven hits and a walk while striking out five to get his fourth “W” of the year. Mario Sanchez and (the law firm of) Pearson McMahan combined for three scoreless to close it out. Armond Upshaw singled, homered, scored twice, drove in three, and stole a base in his AA debut while Jacob Rhinesmith, brought up a week ago, hit his first AA homer: A two-run shot that capped off a three-run 5th for the Senators. Roster moves: RHPs Joan Adon, Andrew Karp, OF Armond Upshaw, IF Omar Meregildo promoted from Wilmington; IF Jake Alu placed on the 7-Day I.L.
Jersey Shore 9 Wilmington 8 (13 inn.)
• Fuentes 4IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 2K, HR
• Peterson (BS, 1) 2IP, 1H, 2R, 1ER, BB, 2K, HR
• Moore (L, 1-2) 2IP, 2H, 2R, 0ER, BB, 2K, WP
• Dunn 2-5, R, BB, 2RBI
• Antuna 2-5, 2R, BB, RBI, 2GIDP
• Mendoza 2-5, R, RBI, HBP, SB
• Six (6) errors (Antuna, 28 & 29; Mendoza, 11; Connell, 4; Fuentes, 1; Moore, 1)
A six-run 2nd would not be enough for the Blue Rocks pitchers to work with as they blew a 6-2 lead and fell in extras, 9-8. Steven Fuentes rehabbed for four innings, allowing three runs on five hits (one HR) over four innings. Todd Peterson coughed up the tying runs with a two-run HR surrendered in the 8th to get the blown save. Davis Moore and his mustache took the loss for the second straight appearance, as the 23-y.o. let in the free runner in the 12th and 13th innings while giving up two hits and a walk. Wilmington racked up 11 hits, with Ricardo Méndez, Jack Dunn, Yasel Antuna, and Drew Mendoza each singling twice. Drew Millas connected for the Blue Rocks’ only extra-base hit. Roster moves: IF Junior Martina promoted from Fredericksburg; RHP Steven Fuentes reassigned from FCL for MiLB rehab.
Carolina 11 Fredericksburg 2
• Cuevas (L, 1-6) 5IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 5K, HBP
• Alastre 1IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 0K
• Young 3-4, R, 2B, SB
• De La Rosa 1-2, 2BB, SB
A seven-run 8th by Carolina ended any hopes for a comeback win as Fredericksburg fell for the seventh straight game, 11-2. Michael Cuevas lost his 6th game while giving up three over five on three hits, two walks, and a Victor Robles. He struck out five. Leif Strom took the brunt of the beating, allowing the aforementioned seven runs on three hits, two hit batsmen, and one walk in his sole inning. Five of the runs were unearned “thanks” to a pair of two-out errors by Viandel Peña. Jacob Young led the F-Nats offense with a double and two singles while Jeremy De La Rosa singled, walked twice, and stole a base. Roster moves: 2B Darren Baker, RHP Cole Quintanilla, LHP Dustin Saenz reassigned from FCL; C Gerardi Diaz placed on 7-Day I.L.; RHP Trey Turner, LHP Chris Vann released.
FCL Mets 9 FCL Nationals 4
Brady “He’s A Brick” House connected for a grand slam in the bottom of the 7th to turn a 9-0 shutout into a 9-4 smackdown by the FCL Mets. Cole Henry made his second appearance since emerging from witness protection and let in an unearned run on three hits over three innings. He walked none and struck out three while losing for the second time. Trade pickup Aldo Ramirez made his first appearance for the Nats, tossing a 1-2-3 inning in the 4th. House also walked in the 4th and singled in the 6th to lead the Nats’ six-hit, six-walk offense. No word on whether he was put on a bus to Miami instead of West Palm Beach following the game. Roster moves: RHP Marc Davis (11th Rd. pick) assigned from Washington; RHP Aldo Ramirez activated from 7-Day I.L.
DSL Nationals 4 DSL Angels 0
• Agostini 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 5K, HBP, WP
• R. Lara (W, 3-1) 4IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 4K
• Contreras 2-4, R, 2B, RBI
• Santana 2-4
Surprising that with all the promotions, Yasil “Hands of Stone” Antuna wasn’t among them, despite his surge at the plate. Very clearly, the dude isn’t shortstop material. But he’s one of the better bats in a bat-starved organization, so why hold him back?
An in-season position change doesn’t really work, you have to think the offseason will be when we learn Antuna’s new position.
Ruiz very obviously is the real deal (which is good news considering what the Nats gave up in that trade). I have no idea why they’re not giving him MLB experience right now. Rizzo said at the time of the trade that they sent him to Rochester because they wanted him to play every day. But Barrera and Adams shouldn’t be standing in the way of him playing every day at the next level. Sure smells of service time manipulation.
I’ve heard that “the bat is ready but the glove needs polishing.” Given that they’re not going anywhere this year, I don’t have a lot of problem letting two future #2 catchers spend the rest of the season getting good work.
Across seven years of pro ball, 2,149 plate appearances, Alec Keller hit .296. That’s a heck of a run no matter how you slice it. He just had the misfortune of being a corner OF with limited power (14 career homers). Best wishes to the Richmond native as he finally has to put that Princeton degree to good use. (I wouldn’t be surprised if the Nats try to keep him with the organization, though.)
Is Jackson Tetreault moving into conversation for Rule 5 protection? At age 25, he finally seems to be putting things together.
Not too bad, but given that he has a good-not-great K rate and meh HR rate in AA, that’ll have to get better before he’s a viable option for anyone’s rotation. Unless he throws a few no-hitters to close the season, I kinda doubt he’s gonna get Rule 5’d. Let’s see what happens next year.
Yeah, I think he’s a little interesting, but not Rule 5 material.
The only guy I think gets protected is Jake Alu, although I could also see a case for Carson Teel.
Sorry, not Alu, Donovan Casey. Keep getting my Boston College guys mixed up. Alu isn’t eligible yet anyway.
So much to unpack today. Let’s start with the releases.
A fond farewell to Alec Keller; he obviously loved baseball so much that he kept his Princeton degree at bay for 7 years. He left still hitting with a .828 OPS in Rochester this year. Wish him well.
Christian Vann and Trey Turner show how hard baseball really is. After 3 and 4 years in the system they could not show good results in Low A. Good luck!
What is with Antuna’s 29 errors??
He is either not meant to be a SS or he is rusty from not playing for 2 1/2 years. I used to be told not to scout the box score, especially with the minors where there are bad fields, ect.
House with another bomb!
Now House gets walked. 2 1/3 games in and he is easily the greatest athlete in the history of all sports in this universe and all others.
Tetrault got hit hard the first two innings but settled down and looked good the rest of the way. Upshaw must have been amped up for his first AA throw home from RF. He threw it so high over the catcher that Tetrault (backing up the play) caught it on a fly and threw to the catcher for the easy out and double play.
If I remember right, Upshaw was getting 70/80 grades for his arm and speed when he was drafted. He is 25 and one game into AA, but if he has figured it out that would be huge, if he has those tools.
Let’s not miss that Aldo Ramirez is healthy and able to pitch. His sore arm when traded was concerning but with all due caution he’s pitching again and maybe we see him in Fredericksburg soon.
Slow down Ruiz.