Wednesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Won, 7-3 | vs. Worcester, 6:05 p.m. | Peralta (0-2, 5.89) vs. Dermody (1-1, 4.70) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 5-1 | vs. Bowie, 6:35 p.m. | Parker (1-2, 6.10) vs. Armbruester (1-1, 1.88) |
| Wilmington | Lost, 5-4 (11 inn.) | vs. Brooklyn, 5:05 p.m. | Lara (0-3, 7.29) and Knowles (1-0, 2.00) vs. Tidwell (0-2, 5.40) and Colon (0-0, 6.46) |
| Fredericksburg | Won, 4-3 | @ Carolina, 7 p.m. | Susana (0-2, 6.94) vs. Aquino (1-1, 1.96) |
Rochester 7 Worcester 3
• Abbott (W, 2-3) 6IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 9K,
• Baldonado 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Blankenhorn 2-4, R, BB, 2-2B, 2RBI
• Kieboom 2-4, R, BB, 2B
• W. Garcia 2-4, R, RBI
The Red Wings jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one and pushed it to 6-0 after three as they cruised to a 7-3 win in the series opener. Cory “Don’t Call Me Roger” Abbott returned to the rotation with his first quality start and second win, allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out nine. Travis Blankenhorn doubled twice, walked once, and drove in two while Carter Kieboom reached base three times on a two-bagger, a safety, and a base-on-balls to lead the Rochester offense.
Harrisburg 5 Bowie 1
• Rutledge (W, 3-1) 6IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 5K
• Willingham (SV, 4) 1⅓ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, 3-0 IR-S
• Arruda 2-4, R, HR, 2RBI, 2K
• Hassell 1-3, R, BB, 2B, OF assist @ 3B
• Millas 1-3, BB, 2RBI
How long before the MASN Commenters start the campaign to bring up Jackson Rutledge? The fourth-year prospect spun his fourth straight quality start to become the first Nats’ starter in the minors to win three games, giving up a run on five hits and two walks to go with five whiffs. J.T. Arruda gave the Sens an early 2-0 lead with a first-inning HR, his first, while Drew Millas’s two-run single capped off a three-run 6th to highlight the Harrisburg batters’ night. Roster moves: RHP Ronald Herrera roster status changed (I.L.?)
Brooklyn 5 Wilmington 4 (11 inn.)
• Alvarez 4IP, 5H, 1R, 0ER, 2BB, 4K
• Peterson 2⅓ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 4K, 1-0 IR-S
• Sinclair (L, 2-2) 2⅓ IP, 0H, 1R, 0ER, 1BB, 2K, HBP
• Wood 2-5, 2R, 2B, RBI
• McKenzie 2-5, 2B
The Blue Rocks somehow managed to force extras despite their offensive futility (3-for-22 RISP) but fell in the 11th, 5-4. Andrew Alvarez went the first four innings and let in one unearned run on five hits and two walks. He struck out four. Jack Sinclair took the loss on a pair of sacrifices (hit, fly) in his third inning of work. Wilmington collected eight hits and four walks, with James Wood and Jared McKenzie both going 2-for-5 with a double.
Fredericksburg 4 Carolina 3
• Bennett (W, 1-2) 5IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 2K, BK
• Denaburg ⅔ IP, 0H, 1R, 1ER, 4BB, 0K
• Yankosky (SV, 2) 1IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 0K,
• Lile 3-4, BB, RBI
• Lawson 2-5, R, 2B, RBI, E(5)
• Green 1-3, 2BB, 2SB(10)
Fredericksburg ended its four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over Carolina. Jake Bennett turned in five scoreless innings, with two hits, a walk, and two down by way of the K. He got the benefit of a four-run top of the 6th to earn his first win. Mason Denaburg was trotted out in the 6th and sent to the showers after walking four of six batters, with only one run allowed as Franklin Marquez stranded three. Tyler Yankosky got the rulebook save with two runs allowed on two hits and a walk in the 9th. Daylen Lile reached base four times with three singles and a walk while Cortland Lawson singled and doubled to lead the FredNats attack.
Wow, this might be the first time we had 4 very good outings from our SPs in the same day.
Cory Abbott seems to really be finding his rhythm. His last start was that stellar 12 K 1 hitter, and he’s followed it up with a 9K 1ER gem. It’s great to see Jake Irvin holding his own in the majors, but Abbott has to be next up if Irvin falters (or someone else gets injured).
Jackson Rutledge has also surpassed all expectations I had for him. I would have never guessed he’d handle the promotion from A to AA so easily. Dare I question that we might see him in DC before the end of the season??
Andrew Alvarez has quietly had a very solid season so far while being stretched out as a starter. Meanwhile, a moment of silence for Nick Pogue’s perfect ERA being no longer.
Lastly, I don’t know what more Jake Bennett has to do in Fredericksburg. He’s too good. Hope he’ll get tested in Wilmington soon.
On the downside, Denaburg looks broken. He’s now sporting a 11:2 BB:K ratio (yes, it’s the correct way around) in only 6.1 IP.
FredMD I’d imagine we’d have some interesting conversation for 9 IP sitting at a game together .
On Harrisburg Senators roster page, Herrera is listed as “Injured – Full Season”.
He was injured in NH covering home plate on a wild pitch. I don’t know what the injury was, but the trainer put air casts on both legs.
He was no prospect but you hate to see that happen to anybody. Wish him luck.
That’s a first in my adult life of following baseball
Both legs in air casts . Major ouch .
Can Lara lay it out good for 6-7 ?
Oh, and great to see Alu get a start yesterday! Hope his poor showing doesn’t prevent future playing time. But he’ll always get to tell people he played in the majors no matter what happens.
DM did him a favor by playing him early, then again he had to face the Giganto’s ace.
Somebody someday will write a blog about players careers interrupted by the infamous injuries mixed with Covi campaign halt .
House on fire !
Interesting to see how brass judges the improvement with JR and Bennett for the next bump up .
Abbott sure went with the good vibe after 12 K effort followed by the 9 K effort
The buzz about the Athletics , Vegas and a site on the old Tropicana casino plot takes me back to the Sunday when Elway and Broncos beat Favres Packers where there was the late night comedy at the Trop stop . The Athletics elephant logo is fitting for keep it weird Vegas .
While Rutledge’s stuff remains good and his secondary pitches have improved significantly, I am not convinced he is totally comfortable with this new delivery. he still misses badly too often which drives his pitch count up. he could possibly benefit with a Strasburg approach and pitch from the stretch 100%
Millas gunned down another runner that appeared to get a good jump and made contact with two in scoring position to drive them in with a bouncer up the middle.
Denaburg appears to be done, he can’t throw his fastball for a strike and it appears to be noticeably slower. I suspect injuries have ended his career. too bad, last April he appeared healthy.
Millas is doing great both offensively and defensively. Hassell showed a strong arm in throwing out a runner at 3rd. Willingham continues to come in and throw strikes.
On the subject of good defensive catching performances, Onix Vega threw out 2 of 3 runners last night AND threw out a runner on 3rd. Highly impressive performance for one game.
I have to wonder when the catching carousel occurs, because it’s creating three problems at the moment, which could all be easily resolved. I don’t understand why Millas is still in AA. He’s obliterating pitching, and already spent most of 2022 in Harrisburg as well, which he topped off with a really solid showing in the AFL. He’s also 25 years old, and not getting any younger. Equally problematically, his spot in Harrisburg is blocking Vega from advancing. Vega had a fabulous full season in Wilmington in 2022, and after getting jerked around to cover the catching depth issue in Rochester, has been doing fine again this season in Wilmington. Meanwhile, there’s a hole at catcher in Rochester, which would be resolved with Millas getting a promotion.
Listen to the Doctor ( Doobie Bros )
There’s no rush for Rutledge. Let him get comfortable, as FredMD says. His performances have been good but not particularly dominant.
With Denaburg, you would think that if he was hurt, they would shut him down. If he’s actually healthy, then yikes. I was hoping that he could really show something this year.
Love what Daylen Lile is doing. Glad to see Jared McKenzie get a confidence-boosting game.
good to see McKenzie’s walk rate this year, hopefully his start was just a mini-slump or bad hitting luck