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Monday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Probables
Rochester Won, 8-3 OFF DAY N/A
Harrisburg Lost, 3-2 (10 inn.) OFF DAY N/A
Wilmington Won, 8-6 OFF DAY N/A
Fredericksburg Lost, 5-3 OFF DAY N/A

Rochester 8 Syracuse 3
• Sharp (W, 1-0) 5IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 5K,
• Garrett (SV, 1) 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Barrera 2-2, R, BB, 3B, SF, 3RBI
• Banks 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI
• Stevenson 1-3, R, BB, RBI, 2SB

The S-Mets got to Sterling Sharp for two runs in the first but couldn’t knock the 26-y.o. out, as he won his first in an 8-3 Red Wings triumph in the series finale. Luis Reyes came on in relief and gave up an unearned run in his lone inning of work to lower his ERA to 14.18. No curse of the GBI for Tres Barrera, who singled, tripled, scored a run, and drove in three to lead the Rochester offense. Nick Banks homered while Andrew Stevenson swiped two bases to extend his team lead to eight on the season.

Hartford 3 Harrisburg 2 (10 inn.)
• E. Lee 5IP, 2H, R, ER, 2BB, 2K
• Cronin 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, 2-0 IR-S
• A. Guerrero (L, 1-2) 1IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K
• Hubbard 2-4, R, HR, RBI, SB
• Alu 1-4, R, HR, RBI
• 0-for-7 RISP, 5 LOB

Harrisburg homered twice with nobody on for both of their runs as they dropped the series finale, 3-2 in 10 innings. Evan Lee finally made it through five full innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while fanning two. He threw 70 pitches, 42 for strikes. The loss went to Alberto Guerrero as he gave up a one-out single to plate the free runner in the top of the 10th. New guy Dondrei Hubbard singled, homered, and stole a base while Jake Alu his his third HR to account for the two Senators runs. Roster moves: OF Dondrei Hubbard activated from developmental list; OF Rudy Martin placed on the 7-day I.L.

Wilmington 8 Hudson Valley 6
• Merrill 4IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 4K, 2HR, HBP, WP
• Stainbrook (BS, 1) ⅔ IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, K
• Willingham (W, 1-1) ⅓ IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 0K
• Brzykcy (SV, 3) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Mendoza 2-5, R, 3B, 3RBI
• Ydens 2-4, 2RBI, SB
• Strohschein 2-4, R, SF, RBI

The bullpen collapsed in the late innings, giving up one in 7th, two in the 8th, and three in the 9th. Except it was the Renegades’ not the Blue Rocks, as Wilmington won the see-saw series finale, 8-6. Starter Matt Merrill dug a 4-0 hole with four hits (two HRs) and two walks while fanning four for the no-decision. Troy Stainbrook couldn’t hold a 5-4 lead in the 8th and was charged with a blow save. Amos Willinham retired just one of four batters faced but vultured the win while Zach Brzykcy struck out two in the 9th to earn the save, Drew Mendoza, Jeremy Ydens, Kevin Strohschein, and Omar Meregildo each had two hits in the Blue Rocks’ 11-hit parade.

Charleston 5 Fredericksburg 3
• A. Lara (L, 0-2) 5IP, 7H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 8K, 3WP, HBP
• Threadgill 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• De La Rosa 3-4, R, HR, 2RBI
• Millas 1-3, R, BB, RBI

Charleston broke out for three in the 3rd as they took this one, 5-3 to split the six-game series. Andry Lara lost for the second time as he let in four runs on seven hits over five innings. He stuck out eight, walked non, and hit a batter. Jeremy De La Rosa’s fourth HR broke up the shutout bid as he went 3-for-4 with two RBI to pace the FredNats offense.

10 Commments

    1. Interesting that he didn’t garner more interest until now. Looks like an astute pick up even if it doesn’t work out.

      But I’m more interested in Josh Palacios, another recent under the radar signing. He’s been fantastic (.366/.458/.585) since joining Rochester. If Robles hadn’t rediscovered his swing recently, I think there’s a strong chance he could’ve been in DC by now. But I think Lane Thomas is the one playing himself off the roster.

      But it’s nice to unexpectedly have a few options.

    3. Player development is like Vegas card games .
      How many decks do you have to go through to find a big winning combination ..

  2. I wonder if the Nats have given any thought to a shake up with their catching prospects. Keibert Ruiz has been extremely disappointing so far batting only .239/.267/.296. Meanwhile, Tres Barrera can’t stop hitting the cover off the ball, hitting an insane .353/.443/.628 so far (plus seemingly solid defence too with only 1 passed ball and 32% CS%). The Nationals have too many catching prospects (a point I’ve noted before) that they had to “demote” Drew Millas to Fredericksburg to get him playing time under the guise of rehab.

    Showcasing Barrera in the majors could be a good way to build some value for him and trade him to one of the many teams desperately short on catching depth. Catchers have collectively hit .205/.279/.328 this season. For whatever reason, the Nationals don’t value Barrera, but other teams should.

    This would also then free up the catching logjam we’re currently faced with. Either that, or demote Pineda to Fredericksburg and give Millas the starting catcher role there.

  3. After a slow start to the season, Jake Alu has been on fire the past few weeks, batting .327/.404/.551 over has past 12 G, which brings his slash (.280/.345/.453) almost identical to last year’s breakout performance (.281/.332/.444).

    Really excited to see him play well, given the dearth of interesting infield prospects at the upper levels.

  4. I agree with everything Will said about the catching situation.
    It is definitely time to move the conga line at Fredericksburg. It’s okay to keep House there because of his age but the logjam has gotten ridiculous. At least promote Leandro Emiliani and Viandel Pena so the others can play regularly. It’s time.

    1. It helps that Wilmington’s offense if realllllly bad. Just as it’s easier to count the players with OPSes below .800 than those over .800 in Fredericksburg, there’s hardly anyone in Wilmington with an OPS close to .800, much less over it. Meregildo and Baker are the only two playing well, with Daily, Barley and Canning playing themselves into release territory.

  5. So, if you promote Barrera to DC in order to showcase him (etc.) … whom do you sit and whom do you demote?

    It’s not going to happen anyway, nor should it. Any organization that made such a knee jerk decision based on one month (less that that for the minors) of data would be ridiculed, and for good reason. You can’t successfully run an organization chasing hot and cold streaks any more than you can buy stocks successfully based on hot and cold streaks.

    1. Haha, such a passionate defence of a catcher currently batting .125 with options left to burn.

      What about Adams’ performance right now leads you to believe it’s just a cold streak?

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