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Saturday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Probables
Rochester Lost, 8-7 @ Indianapolis, 6:35 p.m. Mengden (2-3, 7.11) vs. Contreras (0-0, 4.71)

Indianapolis 8 Rochester 7
• Hernandez 5IP, 10H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 2K, 3HR
• Banda (L, 2-5) 2+ IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 4K
• Harris (BS, 5) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K, 3-3 IR-S
• Dunn 2-4, R, BB, OF assist @ HP
• Adams 2-4, 2B, 3RBI
• Lindsly 2-4, R, RBI

Rochester opened the Book of Genesis with a big inning in the 7th, turning a 4-0 deficit into a 7-4 lead. Unfortunately, the Indians went Ezekiel 25:17 on the Red Wings ‘pen, which coughed up one in the 7th and three in the 8th to lose this one, 8-7.

Alemao Hernandez was strafed for ten hits, three homers, and the first four Indianapolis runs while issuing a walk and striking out two. Anthony Banda was charged with the last four Indians runs, allowing three hits and two walks over two-plus innings. Hobie Harris blew his fifth save in six opportunities as he gave up a triple to the first batter he faced to clear the bases and turn a 7-5 lead into the 8-7 final.

The implosion wasted a strong offensive effort (or masked a similar meltdown by the Indianapolis ‘pen) as the Red Wings marched to an 11-hit parade with Jeter Downs as the beer man (though he walked twice) and Jack Dunn, Matt Adams, and Brady Lindsly each going 2-for-4 and combining for a walk (Dunn), a double (Adams), and four RBI. Rochester only left on five baserunners and went 5-for-11 with RISP.

Roster moves: LHP Joe LaSorsa recalled to Washington.

Five Honored with 2023 Minor League Awards

As noted in the comments, the Nationals named their 2023 Minor League Award winners this week:

  • Hitter of the Year – OF James Wood
  • Pitcher of the Year – LHP Andrew Alvarez
  • “Nationals Way” Award – OF Jacob Young
  • Defensive Player – IF Trey Lipscomb
  • Baserunner of the Year – OF Johnathan Thomas

Wood is a repeat winner, though his inclusion last year was a bit odd given that he had only played 21 games after The Trade while Young last year’s baserunner of the year. Not much to quibble about otherwise, unless you want to argue about the coaches’ favorite “Nationals Way” (neé Bob Boone award) winner.

6 Commments

  2. Luke you’re correct ! As in Genesis after 6:6 , baseball changes after the sixth .
    Especially when most coaching staffs would like to pour out if fifth into a Dixie cup !! Lol
    Time to bring the AAA season curtain down
    The starters are taxed out this season .
    Alameo , Parker , as was Dustin Saenz at AA.
    Todd loved your review of starters at each level and who was deserving a promo or a pink slip
    The Rodney Throphile witness protection ghosting is slightly bizarre

  3. At the top level of offensive prospects, the two biggest questions going into this season probably were: 1) when/if Wood would develop the power that everyone assumed he would? and 2) could House make up for a lost year of development? Both have been answered strongly in the affirmative. Lipscomb, Lile, and Young all put themselves on the radar, and Millas continued his miraculous transformation into a major-leaguer. Plus three hitters have already tasted AA in their draft summer, which is a first for this organization in my memory. So in general there’s a lot to like and be encouraged about on the hitter side of the equation.

    On the pitcher side, not so much . . . OK, Jake Irvin looking like a decent MLB starter is a huge and unexpected plus. Rutledge rising from A-level mediocrity last summer all the way to the majors this year also is significant. But so many of the other higher ceiling guys have been injured, ineffective, or both.

  4. I am marveling at Hernandez’s line of 5IP, 4R, 4ER, with 3 HR (so far, so good) and … ten hits and a walk? That’s some serious damage control to allow 11 baserunners in five innings AND three HRs but only give up 4 runs. In other words, it could have been a LOT worse.

  5. My notes on the history of “Nationals Way.” It used to be called the Bob Boone award, but then they changed the name after they were forced to fire Boone in 2021 for refusing to get vaccinated.

    2023: Jacob Young
    2022: Jake Alu
    2021: Jack Dunn
    2020: Covid
    2019: Jakson Reetz
    2018: Jake Noll
    2017: Raudy Read
    2016: Rafael Bautista
    2015: Austen Williams
    2014: Wilmer Difo
    2013: Tony Renda

    Interesting that practically every prospect we’ve had named “Jake” in the last 6 years haw won the award 🙂 Maybe that’s the secret.

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