Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Lost, 14-3 | vs. Buffalo, 6:05 p.m. | Adon (1-3, 7.66) vs. A. Sanchez (0-0, 13.50) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 7-3 | vs. Erie, 5:30 p.m. | Luckham (2-1, 4.22) and TBA vs. Burhenn (AA debut) and TBA |
| Wilmington | Postponed | vs. Aberdeen, 5 p.m. | Cornelio (2-4, 5.70) and TBD vs. Baumeister (0-1, 2.57) and TBD |
| Fredericksburg | Lost, 6-5 | @ Myrtle Beach, 7:05 p.m. | Sykora (0-1, 6.35) vs. Egbert (1-1, 4.19) |
| FCL Nationals | Lost, 14-9 | OFF DAY |
Buffalo 14 Rochester 3
• Ward (L, 1-2) 3⅓ IP, 6H, 7R, 7ER, 5BB, 3K, HR, WP
• Zeuch 3IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 2K
• E. Mejia 1-3, R, BB, HR, RBI
• Gallo 1-3, R, 2BB, HR, 2RBI
Buffalo put this one away in the 4th as they sent 11 men to the plate and eight of them came around to score in a 14-3 stampede of Rochester. Thad Ward took the loss, giving up seven runs on six hits (one HR) amd five walks over three and a 1/3rd innings. All three Red Wings runs came via the longball, with Erick Mejia going solo in the 3rd and Joey Gallo hitting a two-run HR in the 6th. James Wood doubled to extend his hit streak to 11 games. RHP Jackson Rutledge optioned from Washington.
Harrisburg 7 Erie 4
• Lord (W, 3-1) 6IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 5K, HR
• Ribalta (SV, 3) 1IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Crews 3-5, 2-2B, 4RBI
• Hassell 2-5, 2R, 2K
• Cluff 1-3, 2R, BB, HR, RBI
Make that three stright wins for the Senators and three straight quality starts for Brad Lord in a 7-4 win vs. the Seawolves. Lord gave up a two-run HR and three hits total over six innings. He walked on and struck out five. Like a cop patrolling near a Dunkin, Orlando Ribalta made it thirteen straight donuts with a scoreless 9th, which also earned him his third save. Dylan Crews led the Harrisburg hit column with a single and two doubles, followed by Robert Hassell with two safeties, and Jackson Cluff with a homer.
Aberdeen vs. Wilmington – PPD
They pulled the plug on this about 80 minutes before first pitch. They’ll shoot to make it up tonight with twi-night doubleheader.
Myrtle Beach 6 Fredericksburg 5
• Polanco 4IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 4BB, 2K, 2HR, WP
• Baldo (L, 0-1) ⅓ IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 0K, BK
• Pimentel 2-4, R, HR, 2RBI
• Ochoa 2-4, 2B, RBI
• Farmer 1-4, R, HR, RBI
Fredericksburg rallied from deficits of 1-0, 3-1, and 5-3 but were walked off in the 9th for a 6-5 loss. Bryan Polanco made his second start but was knocked out after four innings with five runs let in on six hits (two HR) and four walks. Matt Bollenbacher and Dannel Diaz both turned in two scoreless innings to keep thing close. Merrick Baldo couldn’t run the streak to five scoreless frames as he was dinged with a run on a single-walk-balk sequence that forced the infield to be drawn in and enable the Pelicans to score the game-winner on a fielder’s choice. Brandon Pimentel and Caleb Farmer both homered while Nate Ochoa doubled in the 9th to tie the game to lead the FredNats offense.
FCL Marlins 14 FC: Nationals 9
• Colon 4IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 2BB, 2K
• Fortunato (BS, 1; L, 0-1) ⅔ IP, 5H, 7R, 7ER, 1BB, 0K, HBP. WP
• Mota 2-4, R, HR, 3RBI
• Ju. Garcia 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI, E
• K. Diaz 1-3, 2R, 2B, CS, SB
The F-Nats broke out for six runs in the bottom of the 5th to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 9-4 lead. That proved to be way too small as the FCL Marlins scored 10 times in the 6th to secure a 14-9 win in seven innings. Leodarlyn Colon went the first four innings and gave up two runs on four this and two walks. The blown-save-loss went to Marcos Fortunato, who retired just two of nine batters faced, with seven runs scoring on five hits, one walk, and one Robles. Jorgelys Mota and Juan Garcia both homered while newcomer Kelvin Diaz scored twice and doubled once to pace the FCL Nationals offense. Roster moves: LHP Will Sandy assigned from Washington (MLFA, released by April 30 by Tri-City); LHP Adam Bloebaum assigned from Washington (pitched in Pioneer Lg. in ’23; signed but DNP in Frontier Lg. in ’24).
Can someone explain why some injured players getting added to the IL and others don’t?
Take Gavin Dugas and Mikey Tepper as a case study. Mikey Tepper pitched on May 4, and was then added to the 7 day IL on May 7. Meanwhile, Gavin Dugas last played on May 3, 13 days ago, yet he still remains “active” when he clearly isn’t.
Why are two players on the same team handled differently? Is there some strategic value in not adding a player to the IL? Because there is clearly value in doing so (freeing up a roster spot). I don’t get it.
One’s a pitcher, the other a position player. Assuming both are actually hurt, there’s a greater premium on IPs than ABs. Dugas sitting on the taxi squad (the 5-7 players who could be named to a given game’s active roster) isn’t as costly as keeping an unavailable pitcher eligible, especially when right now the FredNats only have 15 pitchers who aren’t on the I.L.
BA remarked about this with the tightening of the player limit a few months ago:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/new-165-player-minor-league-roster-limit-creates-consternation-for-farm-directors/
Crews has very, very quietly put together a pretty solid season so far. He and Brady House have almost identical batting lines: Crews .256/.340/.476 vs House .252/.346/.471, which are both good for 131 wRC+ and 134 wRC+, respectively.
I suppose I had higher expectations from Crews, given the raving scouting reports. But his play so far has been good (not great), which is never a bad thing. The strikeouts are concerning (31.6%), and he is benefitting from an unsustainable .360 BABIP, but he also seems to have adjusted in the past couple weeks, hitting .303/.400/.636 in 10 games in May, while cutting his K% down to 25%.
House, on the other hand, I see almost all positives. He was very good in Harrisburg last season, but there were some concerning peripheral stats. He was walking only 4.7% and striking out 28.4% with a crazy .442 BABIP. He’s significantly improved on all fronts, sitting with a very healthy 11.0 BB% and 23.5 K%, and his BABIP at only .288, and his power has jumped up, already hitting 7 HR (compared to 12 total last season), and his ISO sits at .218.
Both guys sit primed for a promotion to Rochester at some point, probably sooner than later.
By the end of the year with promotions having elevated some kids one wonders if the SF Giants and their injuries to the outfield would inquire about Victor Robles