Friday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Won, 6-5 | @ Lehigh Valley, 7:05 p.m. | Tetreault (0-1, 5.54) vs. Marvel (0-2, 13.97) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 14-5 | @ Reading, 6:45 p.m. | Henry (0-0, 0.00) vs. Leverett (1-1, 5.19) |
| Wilmington | Lost, 5-2 | vs. Hickory, 6:35 p.m. | Irvin (0-0, 1.50) vs. White (0-0, 2.25) |
| Fredericksburg | Won, 5-4 (10 inn.) | @ Kannapolis, 7 p.m. | Collins (0-0, 6.75) vs. Kelley (0-0, 3.00) |
Rochester 6 Lehigh Valley 5
• J. Rodriguez 3⅔ IP, 0H, 3R, 3ER, 5BB, 3K
• Edwards (W, 1-0) 2IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K
• García 3-4, R, RBI
• Meneses 2-4, R, 2HR, 3RBI
• Banks 2-5, R, HR, RBI
The Red Wings went deep four times to score five of its six runs as they stopped a two-game slide, 6-5 over the IronPigs. Jefry Rodriguez no-hit Lehigh Valley for three and 2/3rds but issued five walks, hit a batter, and uncorked a wild pitch to allow three runs. Carl Edwards Jr. picked up the win with two scoreless innings, walking one and fanning three. Luis García singled three times and drove in the game-winning run while Joey Meneses homered twice and plated three to lead the Rochester offense. Roster moves: RHP Erasmo Ramírez added to 40-man roster, recalled to Washington; RHP Erik Manoah Jr. transferred from XST.
Harrisburg 14 Reading 5
• Guasch (W, 1-2) 5⅔ IP, 2H, 0R, 3BB, 7K, WP
• Alu 5-6, 2R, 2B, 3RBI, SB
• Lindsly 2-3, 2R, 2BB, 2B, 3B, 3RBI
• Flores 2-3, 2R, 2RBI, SB
• Connell 2-5, 2R, HR, RBI
Make that 35 runs in three games for Harrisburg’s…batters?! After a nine-run 6th to go up 13-0, the Fightin Phils said “no más,” and the Sens mostly relented, scoring once more in the 8th for a 14-5 smackdown. Starter Richard Guasch fell one out short of a quality start, with two hits, three walks, and no runs allowed while fanning second to earn his first win. K.J. Harrison was the beer man in the 16-hit assault, led by Jake Alu’s double and four singles and Brady Lindsly’s double and triple.
Hickory 5 Wilmington 2
• Cuevas 5⅓ IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K
• Kirian (BS, 2) ⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K, WP, 1-1 IR-S
• Romero (L, 1-1) ⅔ IP, 2H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, K
• Jo. Sánchez 1-2, R, HR, 2RBI, BB
• Barley 1-4, SB
José Sánchez’s two-run HR was not enough to carry the night as Hickory scored five unanswered runs to defeat Wilmington, 5-2. Michael Cuevas pitched into the 6th for the first time this season and was rewarded with a no-decision. He let in two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two over five and a 1/3rd innings. Michael Kirian blew the save, letting in the tying run on a wild pitch and a sac fly while getting the last two outs of the 6th. Carlos Romero took the loss with four runners put on base and three of them coming in to score during the Crawdads’ 7th. Yasel Antuna, Drew Mendoza, and Israel Pineda each doubled while Jordy Barley singled to round out the five-hit barrage for the Blue Rocks.
Fredericksburg 5 Kannapolis 4 (10 inn.)
• Theophile 6IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 7K, HR, 3WP
• Glavine (BS, 1) 1⅓ IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, 4K, WP
• Sinclair (W, 1-0) 1⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 4K, 1-0 IR-S
• Ribalta (SV, 1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• V. Peña 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI
• Williams 2-5, R, 2B, RBI
• House 2-5, 2RBRI
Fredericksburg lost a 4-3 lead in the 8th to send the game into extras, where Steven Williams plated the free runner in the top of the 10th with a leadoff single and Orlanda Ribalta retired the side in the inning’s bottom half to pick up the save in a 5-4 win over Kannapolis. Rodney Theophile got his second career quality start with three runs allowed on four hits (one HR) and one walk. He struck out seven. Peyton Glavine was charged with the blown save while Jack Sinclair picked up the win as both pitchers set down four on strikes for a total of 16 on the night. Viandel Peña led off the game with his first HR of the year to lead a quintet of batters with multiple hits, including Brady House with two RBI to extend his Carolina League-leading RBI total to 15 in 12 games (Jeremy De La Rosa is second with 13).
I made the pilgrimage to see the Ironpigs take on Rochester. Jefry Rodriguez was cruising and then suddenly was unable to throw a strike. The home plate umpire was the strictest I have seen on enforcing the pitch clock. Rochester pitchers were called at least twice for not pitching fast enough. I’m not sure what the batters need to do, but Barrera fouled off strike two and the next thing I know, the umpire called an automatic strike three for the third out. Barrera went ballistic and was ejected (I omitted his language).
Interesting scoop on the game, and the strange enforcement of the pitch clock. Sure hope J-Rod can find some consistency, as there will be ample opportunity for pitchers with the big club this season.
Thanks LM for the scouting report.
It’s actually not on the umpires anymore. I’m pretty sure the arrangement I saw in Fredericksburg is the new normal: MLB now has a guy running the pitch clock in the booth — and only the pitch clock — who’s wired to the umps and signals them when it’s time. The 14/18-second thing is well-known. But batters have to get in the box by the 9-second mark or they’re penalized. This is to prevent them from forcing quick pitches and/or automatic strikes.
One might think Karlo Seijas is being stretched out to be an effective long reliever or starter option @ FRED . Time will tell.
V Pena hitting anywhere in the lineup . Speed never sleeps : Whitey Herzog .
Keep Pena @ lead off for Wil.
I mean Fred . Coffee brewing …
Has there been any news about Cavalli? He missed a start this week, leading to speculation that he was about to be called up, but he wasn’t. He isn’t listed on IL, though.
Some folks are saying it’s to limit usage, but [GOB]come on…[/GOB]
Now Cavalli is listed as Sunday’s starter.
Thanks Luke
It’s easy to talk about House and White at Fredericksburg because of the hype and results so far.
I want to spotlight a couple of much later selections in last year’s draft.
Jack Sinclair was a 16th round pick who so far has an ERA of 1.43. Terrific!
Steven Williams, a catcher, was an 18th round pick who’s OPS this year is .893. That’s also terrific and I’d like to find something on his defense because the offense is there.
Williams hit 13 homers in only 48 games in his senior season at Auburn, so he has some interesting pop for a catcher. A lot of his current OPS is built on 10 walks (.560 OBP). He and Boissiere, the experienced college players, both have 10 walks, and two other players have 9, indicating that they’re seeing a lot of wildness at that level. Williams actually has his 10 walks in only 5 games.
Didn’t play yesterday, but for someone who got lots of hype, Cluff’s season has been a disaster so far with only 3 hits in 39 at bats. This after also struggling mightily in AA last year as well. Not sure what the heck is going with him.
Based on what Cluff did at the alternate site in 2020, they jumped him to AA to start the season, but he really struggled, as did Mendoza. They both got dropped down to Wilmington but still weren’t that great. Cluff had a decent run in the Arizona Fall League, renewing some interest in him. There’s a GREAT need in the upper level of the organization for SS-capable utility guys. Adrian Sanchez has burned all of his options so can’t be their shuttle guy anymore.