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Friday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Probables
Rochester Lost, 4-3 @ St. Paul, 8:07 p.m. ​Cavalli (3-3, 4.94) RHP Josh Winder (2-2, 3.68)
Harrisburg Won, 6-4 vs. Bowie, 7 p.m. Reyes (0-2, 6.14) vs. Velez (1-6, 6.75)
Wilmington Lost, 5-2 @ Rome, 7 p.m. Cuevas (1-6, 5.14) vs. Salinas (1-3, 5.32)
Fredericksburg Lost, 9-7;
Won, 8-1		 vs. Lynchburg, 7:05 p.m. Rutledge (0-4, 13.15) vs. Dion (3-0, 1.22)
FCL Nationals Lost, 6-2 @ FCL Mets, 12 p.m.
DSL Nationals Won, 9-2 @ DSL Mets, 11 a.m.

St. Paul 4 Rochester 3
• Verrett 6IP, 1H, 0R, 4BB, 6K, HBP
• Garrett (BS, 1; L, 4-3) ⅔ IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 0K, 2HR, WP
• Palacios 2-4, R, 2B, HR(5), 2RBI
• Freeman 1-4, 2B, SB

St. Paul homered twice with two out to walk off Rochester, 4-0. Logan Verrett saw his best outing wasted as he threw six scoreless innings with four walks, six whiffs, and a hit batsman. The blown-save-loss went to Reed Garrett, who gave up a double to lead off the 9th, a two-out HR, an error ruled an infield single, and another two-run HR. Josh Palacios doubled and homered while Cole Freeman and Andrew Stevenson added a double apiece to pace the Red Wings’ six-hit effort.
Roster moves: LHP Sam Clay optioned from Washington, RHP Stephen Strasburg MLB Rehab ended.

Harrisburg 6 Bowie 4
• Troop 5IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 6K, HR, WP
• Guasch (BS, 1; W, 3-7) 2⅓ IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 3K, HBP
• Brzykcy (SV, 1) 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, HBP, 2-0 IR-S
• Alu 2-3, 2R, E(8)
• W. Garcia 1-2, R, HR, BB, 2RBI
• Connell 1-3, R, BB, RBI

The Senators put up crooked numbers in the 1st and 2nd to build a 4-1 lead and got two more in the 7th to break a 4-4 tie and take a second straight from the BaySox, 6-4. It’s the first time Harrisburg won back-to-back games since May 28-29. Alex Troop got the start and let in three on five hits (one HR) and two walks while striking out six. Richard Guasch gave up the tying run in the top of the 7th for the blown save but got the win thanks to the rally in the bottom of the 7th. He put on two more in the 8th before Zach Brzykcy came on to get the last five outs for the save, his first at AA. Wilson Garcia’s two-run HR in the 7th proved to be the difference as Harrisburg squeezed six runs from seven hits and five walks, with Jake Alu the sole batter to have multiple hits.

Rome 5 Wilmington 2
• Theophile 5IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K, WP
• Chu (L, 1-3) 1IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 0K
• Mendoza 2-3, BB,
• Jo. Sánchez 2-4, SF, RBI
• 1-for-12 RISP, 11 LOB

Rome rallied for three in the 7th to snap a 2-2 deadlock and defeat Wilmington, 5-2. In his High-A debut, Rodney Theophile turned in five innings of two-run ball on four hits and two walks while setting down two on strikes. Gilberto Chu took the loss as Rome got to him for three runs on five hits. José Sánchez and Drew Mendoza both singled twice while Gage Canning homered to lead the Blue Rocks’ ten-hit offense.

Lynchburg 9 Fredericksburg 7 – GAME ONE
• A. Lara 4⅓ IP, 3H, 6R, 6ER, 4BB, 5K, HR, 2WP
• Peterson (L, 0-1) 1IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 1K, HBP
• Emiliani 2-3, R, BB, RBI
• Berríos 2-4, R
• Infante 1-4, 2B, RBI

The FredNats took advantage of walks and errors to rally for six in th 4th and take a 7-5 lead. But the Fredericksburg ‘pen couldn’t hold the lead as they dropped the opener, 9-7. Andry Lara gave up six runs on three hits (one HR) and four walks over four and a 1/3rd. The loss went to Todd Peterson, who gave up two in the 7th on two hits and a walk. Leandro Emiliani and Allan Berríos both singled twice and scored a run to lead the FredNats offense.

Fredericksburg 8 Lynchburg 1 – GAME TWO
• Alvarez (W, 2-3) 5IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 4BB, 5K,
• B. Peña 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• White 3-4, R, 2RBI
• Emiliani 2-4, 2-2B(10), RBI
• De La Rosa 1-3, BB, RBI, CS(5)

Playing as the road team because it was a makeup from last month, Fredericksburg scored in five of seven “ups” for an 8-1 win that split the doubleheader. Andrew Alvarez got the start and went the first five, allowing the one Lynchburg run on three hits and four walks. He struck out five while earning his second win. T.J. White led the FredNats 11-hit parade with three singles followed by Leandro Emiliani with two doubles.

FCL Mets 6 FCL Nationals 2
• Otanez 3⅔ IP, 5H, 5R, 3ER, 2BB, 4K, HR, HBP
• K. Rodriguez 2⅓ 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 2K, 2WP
• Quintana 1-2, 2B, RBI
• Matos 1-2, 2B

The F-Nats couldn’t pull off the winning streak as they fell to the F-Mets, 6-2. Johan Otanez got the start and was pounded for five runs on five hits (one HR) and two walks while striking out four. Roismar Quintana and Wilfrido Matos both doubled while Landon Dietrich singled to comprise the three-hit “offense.”

DSL Nationals 9 DSL PIT Gold 2
• R. Lara 4IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 1BB, 4K, E
• Carmona (W, 1-0) 2IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 4K
• Castro 2-4, 2R
• D. Martinez 1-3, R, 3B, 3RBI
• Ju. Garcia 1-3, 2B

20 Commments

  1. The Senators game was delayed twice due to a drone flying over the field. The umpires are required to pull the teams off the field. During the delays, “Spirit in the Sky” and “Low Rider” were played over the PA system.

    1. Lol LM
      The other Lara had a better outing same day
      Let’s see how JR does tonight

      1. FCL Mets ran out a RH starter so Nats ran out a heavy RH lineup including Dietrich @ 1 b
        Nats must really like this guy .

  2. T.J. White — April — .923 OPS

    May — .228 OPS

    June — .1.399 OPS

    Can’t explain it.

    Some more numbers. Jeremy De La Rosa — .904 OPS

    Viandel Pena — .903 OPS

    Leandro Emiliani — .919 OPS

    Can’t explain that either, why they are still at Low A.

    1. Not sure what more Emiliani has to prove. The only thing blocking a promotion is Omar Meregildo in Wilmington, who himself is batting .857 OPS, who is being blocked by a platoon consisting of a 28 year old minor league free agent with a .772 OPS in Harrisburg, and KJ Harrison and his .626 OPS.

      Meanwhile, Schrodingers firstbaseman, Will Frizzell, can’t get playing time in the FCL.

      1. Will
        The Dietrich effect on rehab ?
        Arruda in rehab on rehab
        Tomato tormato
        Can’t forget Coutts not getting the PT either

    2. Here’s to hoping House and Pineda can follow in White’s footsteps.
      House first 24 games: .909 OPS
      House last 19 games: .454 OPS

      Pineda first 25 games: .773 OPS
      Pineda last 13 games: .317 OPS

  3. I posted about this a couple days ago, and looked into it a bit deeper. I’ve been surprised just how few new names have been appearing the both the DSL and FCL Nats lineups, so it got me wondering, are the Nationals just taking their time and giving the new DSL signees more time to acclimate? Same for the DSL guys that were promoted to the FCL?

    It turns out, no, there’s just been very few promotions from the DSL to the FCL, and even more maddening, the Nats seem to have signed very few IFAs this past year! (Precisely at a time where they need to dedicating maximum resources to a rebuild)

    I went through the DSL roster. There’s currently 21 pitchers and 20 hitters. Only 16 of these 41 players are new signings (8 arms, 8 bats). While it’s true the Nats are holding back some of their newest signings (7 of the 16 haven’t yet appeared in a game) it’s astounding that the Nats signed as few players as they did. Remember, the majority of teams have TWO DSL squads, meaning anywhere from 50-80 players in the DSL. The Nationals are one of 11 teams with only one squad, and they aren’t even able to sign a full team. That’s insanely frustrating and self-defeating. Rebuilding a farm system is mostly a numbers game. Even if one of these non-bonus IFAs turn into a semi-competent major leaguer (like Rodney Theophile and his $10k signing bonus looks like he could be), then it’s well worth the other 100 signings amounting to nothing. Of course you want to sign premium prospects, like Vaquero and Cruz, but not to the detriment of only signing premium prospects. But if you only sign 16 players, well… you’re stacking the deck against yourself. Meanwhile, everyone else is out there bringing on at least 25-40 new faces each year, while the Nationals, arguably the most in need of a refresh, are sitting on the sidelines.

    When the Nats shifted from contenders to pretenders in 2020, this should’ve been the first change to occur: a significant reinvestment in the farm system (frankly, this never should have even been overlooked in the first place, but I digress…), because the IFAs we sign in 2021 aren’t going to have any effect at the big league level for at least 4 more years. But real change is yet to occur, and unless every high end prospect pans out to something close to their best case scenario, I’m not optimistic that the Nats major league success is going to appreciably change for a long time.

  4. Zach Brzykcy was the hero of the day yesterday. That huge jump from High A to AA doesn’t seem to have fazed him. He is becoming a major prospect.

    2. I’m really pleased with how Brzykcy has handled the promotion, and that he’s immediately slotted into the closer role. I’m still puzzled why Matt Cronin was never given similar high leverage outings in Harrisburg. Why treat Cronin with kid gloves but not Brzykcy? But guess I shouldn’t spend too much time dwelling on the past, at least both got much deserved promotions!

      1. Will, I think the reason is Brzykcy was always known for having an electric arm while Cronin just got people out.
        A bit dumb but probably the answer.

      2. well they let Cronin go a second inning on Thursday so to an extent, the gloves may be coming off.

        both need better secondary pitches, both have good fastball command. prospects for sure but at this point think Finnegan not Rainey

        1. Aren’t both players meant to have good curveballs in addition to their mid 90s FBs?

          I thought the “problem” with them was not having a 3rd pitch. But for a reliever, that’s not a problem.

          1. I have only watched each a limited amount but the hitters are generally waiting on their fastball as the secondary pitches are not generating strikes.

            as an exception, Brzykcy threw only one curve in the ninth last night and he got the batter looking for strike three on a beauty. the rest of the inning was was working fastball/change-up only.

  5. Now
    Can we see JR string together some consistency after this last “ stunning “ outing ?
    Promotion thought
    Baker and Meregildo to AA
    Give Mendez the table setting chore in Wil line up .
    V Pena up to Wil
    Leo replaces Meregildo who should be raking on City Isle / EL

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