Monday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Lost, 11-4 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Harrisburg | Won, 8-6 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Wilmington | Won, 8-1; Won, 4-2 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Fredericksburg | Lost, 6-1; Won, 9-1 | OFF DAY | N/A |
Buffalo 11 Rochester 4
• Peralta (L, 0-4) 1⅓ IP, 8H, 8R, 8ER, 3BB, 2K, HR
• Ferrer 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 2K, 3-0 IR-S
• Mazara 2-4, R, 2B, OF assist @ 3B
• Alu 2-5, 2B, 2RBI
Wily Peralta threw in-game BP during the first two innings, enabling the Bison to build an 8-1 lead and cruise to an 11-4 win. The Red Wings finished the series at 2-4. Peralta retired just four of 16 batters faced as he lost for the third time in four May starts, posting a 9.39 ERA and a WHIP of 2.02 over that stretch. The trio of Jake Alu, Travis Blankenhorn, and Nomar Mazara each had a single and a double to account for six of the ten Rochester hits.
Harrisburg 8 Erie 6
• Parker (W, 3-3) 5IP, 7H, 4R, 3ER, 3BB, 5K
• Ribalta (SV, 2) 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, 2-0 IR-S
• Lindsly 2-2, 2R, 2BB, 2B
• Hassell 2-3, R, 2BB, 2B, RBI
• Tostado 2-4, R, BB, HR, 2RBI
Harrisburg battled back from deficits of 2-0 and 4-3 to win the finale, 8-6, and earn a 3-3 series split. Mitchell Parker made it out the first inning this time and went five full, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks to get the Jack Morris win. He struck out five. Orlando Ribalta stranded two while getting out of the 8th then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save. Brady Lindsly and Robert Hassell both singled, doubled, and drew two walks as the Senators marched to a 14-hit parade, with every batter taking part.
Wilmington 8 Jersey Shore 1 – GM. 1
• Theophile 2IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 4K, HR
• Alvarez (W, 2-1) 5IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• J. Young 3-5, R, RBI, SB
• De La Rosa 2-4, R, RBI
• V. Peña 1-3, R, 2BB, 3RBI
The Blue Rocks sent 12 men to the plate in 3rd and seven of them came around to score as they boiled the BlueClaws, 8-1 in the opener. Rodney Theophile made his first appearance since April 19, giving up the Jersey Shore run on a home run while also issuing a walk and striking out four over two innings. Andrew Alvarez finished the game with five scoreless innings to win for the second time in eight outings. Viandel Peña drove in three while going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks while Jacob Young led the Wilmington hit column with three singles.
Wilmington 4 Jersey Shore 2 – GM. 2
• Lara 3⅔ IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 2K, HR
• Knowles (W, 3-0) 1⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 3K
• Schoff (SV, 3) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 4K
• White 2-3, R, HR, 2RBI, E(5)
• V. Peña 2-4, 2B
Wilmington got three straight singles in the 6th to break a 2-2 tie and sweep the doubleheader with a 4-2 win that split the series. Andry Lara failed to go five innings for the fourth time in his last five starts, as he allowed both Jersey Shore runs on a two-run HR and two hits total over three and 2/3rds. He walked one and struck out two. Lucas Knowles got the benefit of the 6th-inning rally to get his third win while Tyler Schoff struck out four of seven batters faced as he closed out the game with two scoreless frames to earn his third save. T.J. White singled, homered, and drove in two while Viandel Peña went 2-for-4 with a double to lead the Blue Rocks offense. Roster moves: RHP Rodney Theophile activated from the 7-Day I.L.
Columbia 6 Fredericksburg 1 – COMP.
• B. Sanchez (L, 1-2) 2⅔ IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 5K, HR, WP
• Young 3IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 3K
• Lawson 1-3, 3B, BB, RBI
• Green 1-3, BB, 2B, SB
The FredNats couldn’t muster another run in five “ups” as they dropped the completion, 6-1. Luke Young “started” the 5th and bottled the FireFlies for three innings, giving up two hits and a walk while whiffing three. Justin Lord gave up the final two runs in the 9th on a single and two errors by Daylen Lile and Brady House. Elijah Green got the sole hit on Sunday – an 8th-inning double with two outs – as Fredericksburg was held to five hits total.
Fredericksburg 9 Columbia 1 – GM. 2
• Henry 4IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 6K
• Denaburg (W, 1-2) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 1K
• Lile 2-3, 2R, BB, 3RBI, SB
• Quintana 1-3, R, BB, 2B, 2RBI
• Lawson 2-3, 2R, 2B, HBP
Fredericksburg put this one away early while Cole Henry stretched to four innings in a 9-1 win over Columbia in the “aftercap” to finish the series at 2-4. Henry scattered three hits and struck out six without giving up a run or a walk. Mason Denaburg did walk two but kept both from scoring while fanning one in the 5th inning, which was good enough for his first Low-A victory in 20 appearances. Daylen Lile and Cortland Lawson both went 2-for-3 with two runs scored as the FredNats took advantage of six walks and two Fireflies errors to score nine times on just seven hits. Five stolen bases without getting caught didn’t hurt, either.
A lot of pitching performances from players too good for their level.
I understand the cautious approach to Henry, who yet again looked fantastic. Slightly concerning was that he hit two batters, but he didn’t walk any so it seems he was relatively in control. I wonder how many more starts he gets? And will they send him back to Rochester? Or stash him in Harrisburg?
Meanwhile in Wilmington, there were a few good performances from pitchers, who also had good ’22 seasons in Wilmington. I don’t know what more Alvarez and Knowles need to do to make it to Harrisburg. Knowles posted a very good 3.19 ERA/1.09 WHIP last season, and has followed up with a 1.79 ERA/1.30 WHIP this year. The walks are a bit concerning (10 in 15.1 IP), but he’s limited hits (10 allowed), and is missing plenty of bats (20 K). Alvarez has adjusted really well to starting, throwing mostly in relief last year, where he had a rocky stint in Wilmington, posting a 5.90 ERA. But he’s been very good this year, with a 3.31 ERA, 12:28 BB:K. He too has earned a promotion. However, the problem that’s going to quickly become an issue is how to accommodate the influx of arms from A+ in Harrisburg. There is, though, no shortage of re-treads (A. Hernandez, Alston, Javier, Beck) who aren’t performing there…
While T.J. White is still struggling, he does seem to have made some positive adjustments. Through his first 20 games, he only had one extra base hit. But in his past 11, he’s got 5 (out of 8 total hits), meaning he’s at least making good, hard contact in the rare instances he does. His strikeouts are still far too high. In the same 11 game stretch, he has 15 in 42 PA or 36%.
I’ve been watching Senators baseball for 20+ seasons. I remember way back when players came in April and stayed the whole season. Those who came after the all star break were sure to start the season back in AA the following year. Everyone served their time in each level and there was no rush to move them up. Did this make them better players? Maybe not but they had time to work and figure things out at each level.
The last few years it seems like players are promoted quickly and they fail.
I’m hoping the Nats have a plan and we will just have to be patient and see how it all plays out. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the players we have for as long as we have them. Go Senators!
City Island was packed yesterday. The city of Harrisburg gave out free tickets to Harrisburg residents.
There was a father and son sitting behind me, and the son was the most foul-mouthed nine-ish-year-old I’ve ever encountered. Mitchell Parker was driving him crazy, and he and his father threw in the towel in the top of the fifth — and missed the Senators’ offensive explosion in the bottom half of the inning.
A man in my row — he wore a Brett Favre Packers jersey — was astounded by Frankie Tostado, calling him “the Antonio Banderas of baseball” after Tostado’s hat flew off (revealing a red hair band and flowing locks) while chasing after a foul ball.