Monday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Lost, 8-6 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 7-2 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Wilmington | Won, 16-4 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Fredericksburg | Canceled | OFF DAY | N/A |
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 8 Rochester 6
• Adon 4⅓ IP, 8H, 4R, 4ER, 4BB, 4K, WP, PTV
• Ferrer 1⅔ IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 0K, 1-0 IR-S
• Moreno (BS, 1; L, 0-2) ⅓ IP, 1H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 0K, WP, PTV, 1-1 IR-S
• Baker 2-4, R, BB, 2B(5)
• Hill 1-1, BB, SAC, 2SF, 2RBI
• Alu 1-2, R, HR, 2RBI
The Red Wings battled back from a 4-2 deficit to take a 6-4 lead in the 6th but the RailRiders rallied for four in the 8th to take the series finale, 8-6. Joan Adon pitched into the 5th, giving up the first four runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out four. Gerson Moreno let in the last three runs, two of which were his own, on a pair of walks and a two-run double to blow the save and take the loss. Darren Baker singled, doubled, walked, and scored a run; Jake Alu hit a game-tying HR and drove in two; Derek Hill singled, walked, and hit two sacrifice flies to lead the Rochester offense.
New Hampshire 7 Harrisburg 2
• Cuevas 5IP, 3H, 1R, 0ER, 4BB, 3K,
• Cate (BS, 1; L, 0-2) 1IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 1K
• Rutherford 1-2, R, HR, 2RBI
• Tostado 1-3, BB
• 0-8 RISP; 11 LOB
Harrisburg took a 2-1 lead early but the ‘pen coughed up three runs in the 6th to lose the lead, then three more in the 8th to secure the 7-2 loss, the fourth straight for the Sens. Michael Cuevas spun five innings of one-run ball on three hits and four walks while whiffing three for the no-decision. Tim Cate was roughed up for three runs in the 6th for the blown-save-loss. Blake Rutherford accounted for both Harrisburg runs on a two-run homer while J.T. Arruda, Frankie Tostado, Brady Lindsly, and Leonel Valera each had a single to round out the Harrisburg hit column.
Wilmington 16 Hudson Valley 4
• Huff 4IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 5K, HR, E, PO @ 1B
• Ale. Hernandez 4IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K, HR
• White 3-5, 2R, 2B, HR, 3RBI
• Lipscomb 3-6, 2R, 2B, HR, RBI
• Vega 2-4, 2R, 2BB, 2B, HR, 2RBI
• De La Rosa 2-4, 2R, 2BB, 2B, RBI
The Blue Rocks snapped a four-game losing streak to the Renegades with a 16-4 smackdown in the series finale. Chance Huff gave up a two-run HR in the first but followed with three zeroes, with three hits, one walk, and five men set down on strikes. Alemao Hernandez got the “W” with four innings of relief, giving up a solo HR and four hits total. He walked none and fanned one. T.J. White, Onix Vega, and James Wood each homered and combined for 18 bases and six RBI to highlight a 15-hit, nine-walk onslaught.
Down East vs. Fredericksburg – CNCLD
The finale between Down East and Fredericksburg was canceled due to rain. Despite being in the same division, the two teams will not meet again in 2023. Roster moves: C Matt Suggs reassigned to XST; C Jose Colmenares reassigned from XST.
MLBtraderumors says Robles to IL, Jake Alu called up, Kieboom optioned to Rochester.
Looking at bats, Brady House is in an 0-12 slump and moved out of the top spot in OPS. Utilityman Jack Dunn joins the list. Daylen Lile (age 20) continuing to do well.
OPS (45 AB)
1. D. Millas HRB 986
2. D. Lile FBG 920
3. M. Adams ROC 905
4. B. House FBG 903
5. T. Harris HRB 901
6. J. Dunn ROC/HRB 894
7. S. Infante FBG 891
8. D. Baker ROC 889
9. F. Barreto ROC 847
10. J. Wood WMT 847
(C. Lawson 928 w/ 37 AB)
Notables:
R. Hassell FBG/HRB 721
E. Green FBG 679
Congrats to Jake Alu! He hasn’t deserved it this season, batting .239/.317/.359 across two levels. Though perhaps his bat has awakened in May, hitting a more Alu-esque .286/.348/.524 in only 6 games.
I have no idea, however, where he’s going to play. Candelario and Garcia are blocking him at his natural positions of 3B and 2B (plus, Ildemaro Vargas is back and Michael Chavis is still there too). I suppose Thomas and/or Call will move to CF, which opens a corner OF spot. With Garrett still hitting well, that’s your OF: Thomas, Call and Garrett.
Also, the Nats haven’t really followed through with the Alu-in-OF experiment. He’s played 6 games in LF total (including 2 this season) out of a minor league career of 298. Seems they didn’t really like what they saw…
As much as I’d LOVE for Alu to get a promotion, I don’t want it to lead to him getting a handful of pinch hits over several weeks. But then again, there isn’t anyone on our 40 man roster capable of playing the OF, which is what happens when you inexplicably use roster spots for guys like JDLR, who can’t capably hit A+ pitching.
I think his best shot is an occasional platoon spot start in place of Garrett. I doubt Robles will be out more than 10 days, then Jake can go back and rake in NY
With Dickerson out, all of the Nats OFs hit right-handed which is unusual. Think Alu will get some starts against RHP in LF. Garrett and Lane Thomas both have skewed career splits where they crush lefties, but aren’t so good against righties.
Also, Candelerio missed the last two games of the D-Backs series with what was reported as dehydration. If it’s a lingering issue, Alu could get a start at 3rd.
After a hot start, JT Arruda has fallen off a cliff. He’s now hitting a mere .203/.350/.253. That’s really disappointing.
#5 on your list, Trey Harris, has inexplicably been assigned to the Development List for nearly two weeks. Remember that OF depth issue I mentioned above? You know who could solve it?
Lastly, #6, Jack Dunn is batting a ridiculous .480/.594/.640 in Harrisburg. That won’t last long (see Arruda’s abrupt decline), but it’ll be fun while it lasts.
Good to see a number of the struggling Wilmington bats wake up. Even with 15 hits, there were also 12 K’s, including three by Wood and McKenzie (still really struggling) and two by White. For Wood, 11 of his 22 hits this season have been for extra bases. But he also has 30 K’s. De la Rosa has 36, with 27 for White and McKenzie, both of whom are still on the interstate with their BAs. The highest BA on the team belongs to Jacob Young at .286, to go with his 14 SBs. Lipscomb (.265) and Young (.262) follow on the team BA leaders. Collectively, the team BA is a frightening .215.
Hooray for Alu getting the MLB call. It is curious that they’ve taken a straight 40-man approach instead of calling up a regular OF like Derek Hill, which would require a roster subtraction. I hope they give Alu some opportunities to play a little. It also will be interesting to see if they give Darren Baker more time in CF, as they did on Saturday. He was back at 2B on Sunday, with Hill in center.
nice story about Jake Irvin in the WaPo today. go get your first win tonight my boy!
I hope Davey Martinez puts Jake Alu in tonight’s game. I still feel bad for Donovan Casey who got called up and Davey couldn’t find one opportunity to play him in even one game.
they’ll take the opportunity along with the pay bump and head back to the Red Wings without complaining. I get your point though