Wednesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup (’22 Stats at the Level except for AAA) |
| Rochester | Lost, 7-2 | vs. Buffalo, 1:05 p.m. | Romero (0-1, 15.75) vs. Lawrence (0-1, 2.70) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 5-1 | vs. Richmond, 6:30 p.m. | Cuevas (6-12, 4.64 @ A+) vs. Murphy (1-1, 9.35) |
| Wilmington | Lost, 3-2 | vs. Hickory, 6:35 p.m. | Alvarez (0-2, 5.90) vs. Teodo (3-6, 3.09) |
| Fredericksburg | Lost, 3-2 | @ Fayetteville, 7:05 p.m. | Denaburg (0-1, 4.15) vs. Mancini (0-0, -.–) |
Buffalo 7 Rochester 2
• Abbott (L, 1-1) 5IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 3K, HR, PTV
• Cronin 1⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 2K
• Baker 2-4
• W. Garcia 1-4, R, HR, RBI
The Bisons stampeded Cory Abbott for two runs in the first two innings as they easily sent the Red Wings to their eighth loss in nine games, 7-2. Abbott recovered with three scoreless frames to finish with four runs on five hits (one HR) over five innings. He walked one and struck out three while losing his first game. Darren Baker was the sole Rochester batter to notch multiple hits with two singles while Wilson Garcia connected for the only extra-base hit, a solo HR in the 6th.
Roster moves: UT Jeter Downs recalled to Washington.
• Troop (L, 0-1) 3⅓ IP, 4H, 5R, 4ER, 4BB, 4K, HR
• Carrillo 2IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 0K
• Meregildo 1-4, 2B
• Frizzell 1-4, RBI
Five Harrisburg pitchers combined to shut out Richmond for eight innings. Alas, the game is nine innings and the five runs surrendered in the 4th were more than enough to impeach the Senators, 3-1. Alex Troop took the loss with all five Flying Squirrel runs charged to him on four hits (one HR) and four walks. He struck out four. Harrisburg got its lone run in the bottom of the 9th as Yasel Antuna drew a leadoff walk, took third on the double by Omar Meregildo, and scored on Will Frizzell’s groundout to 2B.
Hickory 3 Wilmington 2
• Theophile (L, 0-1) 5IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K, HR, WP
• Zinn 1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 3K
• Wood 3-4, R, 3B, RBI, SB
• Barley 1-3, SB, E
It was too little too late as the Blue Rocks scored twice in the 9th to make this a one-run loss, 3-2. Rodney Theophile was the starting and losing pitcher, giving up two runs on four hits (one HR) and two walks. He struck out five. James Wood notched his first multihit game, including an RBI triple to break up the shutout bid. He also singled twice, scored once, and stole a base.
Fayetteville 3 Fredericksburg 2
• Cornelio (L, 0-1) 5IP, 5H, 2R, 1ER, 2BB, 7K,
• B. Sanchez 3IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 5K
• House 1-4, R, HR, RBI
• Lile 1-4, 3B, RBI
• 1-6 RISP, 4 LOB, 17K, 3BB
The good news is Fredericksburg hit for the cycle. The base news is those four hits were all they got in a 3-2 loss to Fayetteville. Riley Corenelio struck out seven over five innings in his pro debut, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks. He would take the loss. Daylen Lile broke up the no-hitter and the shutout with an RBI triple in the 6th. Brady House homered to right in the 9th with one out, followed by Elijah Green who doubled and tried to score on double right-center but was thrown out at the plate (pictured). Branden Boisserie rounded out the four-hit night with a leadoff single in the 8th.
I mentioned the rise in strikeouts in the minors yesterday. That was on full display. The 4 teams combined for 60 strikeouts yesterday…
It’s also disappointing that Downs got a promotion and not Alu, but with Alu’s strange rehab assignment, as Downs’ ability to play SS, it’s not that surprising.
Still, the infatuation with Downs is bizarre. He was hitting .105 in 6 games, and is now four years removed from the last time he hit above the Mendoza line.
Somehow I doubt the Senators (21 Ks!) and FredNats (17 Ks) were facing Othani, either. That’s just insanely bad, any way you slice it.
I share the befuddlement at the infatuation with Downs, which I said all spring. They did the same thing with Fox last spring. He also had to be called up early and totally looked like a deer in the headlights in an MLB batter’s box.
How many times when ole ex- po fans think back to the monster talent squads or even the squads Buck Rodgers had to work with post Dawson there were guys who made you scratch your head being around :
Jerry White
UL “ toothpick “ Washington
Even Bad Vlads brother
What’s that phrase you use Luke ?
Seat warmer ?? Lol
Trey Harris hit a triple to open the inning, but alas no one could bring him in, the next inning the Flying Squirells hit a lead off triple and before we knew it it is 5-0
Too bad he’s hurt, Jake Alu getting called up would be a great story.
Downs just can’t hit.
That’s the plan and even Downs knows it
Alu is destined for Davey bench
The Sens struck out 21 times while Richmond only struck out 8 times and 2 of those were due to batter pitch clock violations for the third strike. There were a few called third strikes that Sens batters were not happy about. On the positive side, it was a beautiful evening for mid April.
Why can’t the Nats make deals like the Giants made getting that Arm from Taiwan in a deadline deal
That kid has some gas
And six foot four
I continue to be impressed by Tampa Bay and how they scout , procure and progress the pipeline
Taj Bradley fifth or sixth rounder just promoted
Would be nice just to have guys develop like Cuevas and others just to eat innings up the pipeline to take the load off of bullpens and the truly prized starters
Get me point fans ?
I’d be happy with the Nats getting ANY draft pick at all (even first rounders!) to contribute positively to the big league team. The last player to do so was Anthony Rendon, 12 years ago.
So now AJ Alexy and Daniel Ponce De Leon @ AAA Charlotte ( Chisox ).
It’s good to see a big night from James Wood. Maybe that will help get him going.
Troop’s delivery seems different from last year, a little higher arm angle maybe. Not very good command did him in.
The Squirrel’s starter set the Richmond record for Ks last year yet is repeating the level. his nasty slider gave them fits. still no excuse for the strikeout parade that followed against the bullpen.
Cornelio has not been on my radar but has nice arm action and throws a lively ball. One to watch.
Rochester without Alu, Kieboom, Pineda and Garrett is hard to watch
Fred MD it’s April
By July the juke joint will be jumping
Rochester is a perfect storm of futility this year. The best performing talent (Downs excluded) on an already extremely thin squad will get promoted to the Nats: see Stone Garrett (and probably Adams soon, and eventually Alu and Kieboom). Meanwhile, there’s no batting talent in Harrisburg to fill in any gaps left by promotions, and the Harrisburg pitching staff isn’t particularly talented. I think the recent promotees from ’22’s Wilmington team will need a few months in AA before they make the jump to AAA, which leaves basically Cate, E. Lee, Schaller and Troop as the only potential help.
This has the potential be a historically bad team.
Thanks Will for your last thought. I have 68 more games to sit through in Harrisburg LOL!
At least Harrisburg can hope for some interesting promotions — Wood, de la Rosa, maybe Lipscomb. They’ll get to see Hassell once he escapes witness protection, hopefully looking a lot better than the last time they saw him. And while we’re wishing, maybe they’ll get to see Rutledge evolve into the dominant starter we were promised.
And heck, by the end of the summer, they may even be seeing Dylan Crews or Wyatt Langford.
Haha! Harrisburg should be alright. The pitching staff should be good, and as KW noted there’s some really good players in Wilmington who could see time in Harrisburg in the 2nd half. It should be a lot better than last year’s mess of a team. But that’s how this stuff often works. A good chunk of that bad ’22 Senators team will now be stinking it up in Rochester. While a chunk of the solid ’22 Wilmington team are now in Harrisburg.