Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Lost, 7-4 | vs. Durham, 6:05pm | Cavalli (0-1, 15.43) vs. TBD |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 8-0; Won, 6-4 |
@ Altoona, 6pm | TBD vs. McMillan (0-0, 0.00) |
| Wilmington | Won, 7-2 | vs. Jersey Shore, 5pm | Sthele (1-2, 5.81) and TBD vs. McFarlane (0-2, 5.23) and Graves (1-2, 7.71) |
| Fredericksburg | Lost, 2-1; Lost, 1-0 |
@ Delmarva, 7:05pm | Meckley (1-3, 5.87) vs. Gongora (0-1, 5.79) |
| FCL Nationals | Lost, 2-1 | OFF DAY |
Durham 7 Rochester 4
• Sampson (L, 0-1) 5IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 6K, HR
• Sinclair 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Hassell 1-4, R, HR, 2RBI
• House 2-4, R, HR, 2RBI
The Red Wings fell into a 4-0 hole after one but a pair of two-run HRs got them within one after eight, but the Bulls gored the Rochester ‘pen for two more in the 9th for a 7-4 win. Adrian Sampson gutted through five innings in his second start for the Red Wing, allowing those four runs on six hits (one HR) and three walks. He struck out six while taking the loss. Robert Hassell hit his third longball in the 6th while Brady House cleared the fences for the sixth time in the 8th. The rest of the Redwings combined for three singles and two walks.
Altoona 8 Harrisburg 0 – GM. 1
• Saenz (L, 2-4) 4⅓ IP, 8H, 6R, 5ER, 1BB, 4K
• Santos ⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K, 1-1 IR-S
• Wallace 1-1
• Stehly 1-2
Altoona scored in five of six “ups” and shut out Harrisburg, 8-0 on three hits. Dustin Saenz reverted to the mean as he was bent by the Curve for six runs on eight hits and a walk over four and a 1/3rd to lose for the fourth time in seven non-Richmond starts. Cayden Wallace left with an apparent concussion after a collision at second base to end the 2nd inning. His double in the top half of the frame was the Sens’ sole extra-base hit. Yoyo Morales and Murphy Stehly collected the other two hits, both singles.
Harrisburg 6 Altoona 4 – GM. 2
• Luckham (W, 3-2) 5⅓ IP, 7H, 4R, 3ER, 1BB, 4K, WP
• Davila ⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 1K, 2-1 IR-S
• Cuevas (SV, 5) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K, HBP
• De La Cruz 2-2, 2B, 2RBI
• Glasser 1-3, R, BB
• Stehly 1-3, 2R, BB, HR, RBI
In the “aftercap,” the Senators broke it open with a four-run 3rd to take a 5-0 lead and held on to win 6-4 and split the doubleheader. Kyle Luckham pitched into the 6th and was charged with all four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk. He struck out four while winning his third game. Michael Cuevas worked around a Robles with two outs to notch his fifth save. Carlos De La Cruz singled, doubled, and drove in two while Murphy Stehly walked, homered, and scored twice to lead the Harrisburg offense.
Wilmington 7 Jersey Shore 2
• Kent (W, 3-3) 5⅓ IP, 7H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 6K, HR
• Amaral 1⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K,
• Boisserie 4-5, 2R, 2B, 2RBI
• Cox 3-5, R,
• Green 2-4, R, BB, RBI, 1K
The Blue Rocks boiled the BLueClaws for five runs in the 1st and held on to break a five-game losing streak with a 7-2 win. Jackson Kent shook off the 74-minute delay of the first pitch and allowed both Jersey Shore runs on seven hits (one HR) and three walks while striking out six to get his third “W.” Branden Boisserie went 4-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI while Brenner Cox singled three times and scored once to pace the Wilmington offense.
Delmarva 2 Fredericksburg 1 – GM. 1
• Sykora 3IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 4K, HBP
• Bruni (L, 2-1) 2⅔ IP, 1H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 5K
• Dickerson 2-3, 2-2B, RBI
• Peoples 1-2, BB
Delmarva erased a 1-0 lead with two runs in the 6th and held on to hand Fredericksburg its fifth straight loss. Travis Sykora put on four baserunners over three scoreles innings and struck out four in his first appearance for the FredNats this season. The loss went to Gavin Bruni, who allowed both Shorebirds runs on a hit and three walks over two and 2/3rds. Luke Dickerson doubled twice in his Low-A debut, driving in the sole Fredericksburg run.
Delmarva 1 Fredericksburg 0 – GM. 2
• Polanco (L, 2-3) 5IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 5K
• Bollenbacher 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Dickerson 1-2, BB
• Vaquero 1-2
A third-inning run by the Shorebirds stood up as the FredNats were shut out, 1-0 on two hits to complete the doubleheader sweep. Bryan Polanco took the loss on the one run allowed on five hits and three walks while striking out five. Christhian Vaquero ended the no-hit bid with a single to lead off the game while Luke Dickerson collected the second and final hit for Fredericksburg with a single in the 6th. Dickerson was the sole FredNats batter to reach base twice. Roster moves: RHP Travis Sykora activated from 7-Day I.L..
FCL Marlins 2 FCL Nationals 1
• Farias 2⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 4BB, 1K, 2HBP, PO @ 1B, E
• D. Perez 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, E
• Aldonis (BS, 1; L, 0-1) 1⅔ IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 0K
• Jones 2-3, BB
• L. Arias 1-4, R4.91
The F-Nats came within one out of a 1-0 shutout, but a two-out, two-run single turned it into a 2-1 walkoff win for the F-Marlins. Starter Victor Farias walked four and hit two out of 11 batters faced but somehow got seven outs without a run scoring. The blown-save-loss went to Pablo Aldonis, who gave up both FCL Marlins runs on three hits over an inning and 2/3rds. Jamison Jones singled twice and walked once to lead the FCL Nationals offense. Roster moves: 1B Andrés Chaparro assigned from Washington for MLB Rehab.
I knew Nats 3B hadn’t been particularly good this season. Between Dejong, Tena, Lipscomb and Rosario, they’re hitting a collective .261/.308/.373 for a total of 0.5 WAR.
What surprised me is that that’s 14th best in the MLB! The league quality of 3B is pretty disastrous at the moment, and quite a few playoff contenders have black holes at third. Milwaukee is in last place with a combined -1.1 WAR in only 47 games (that’s a full season pace of -3.8 WAR!!!). But the Cubs (-0.9), Twins (-0.7), and Yankees (-0.2) aren’t all that much better. I’d hope we can find a trade partner to take Dejong and/or Rosario from us to free up space for House, who’s looking increasingly big league ready. In the hitter friendly IL, his slash of .286/.346/.476 is “only” good for a 119 wRC+, but his power is marginally up and his walks too, though strikeouts are also slightly increased on last season.
What is everyone’s thoughts about House’s promotion schedule? Wait until the trade deadline and a 40 man roster spot gets freed up? Or do we not wait until then, and make space by releasing Baker, who’s been rightfully usurped by Lipscomb in the pecking order (a 47 wRC+ will do that!).
I think House is up by or before the first week of June.
Unless House goes on a serious run at AAA I’d be shocked if he was up that early. In part because he’s merely good at AAA (119 wRC+), not knocking the door down the way that James Wood did (177 wRC+). And partially yes, because of service time issues.
Could be wrong, but believe most of the service time issues are gone, by June. Also, feel like Rizzo and Martinez are starting to feel a little squeeze by the lack of results on the MLB level. Adding House may give the Nats a little juice. We shall see.
Really good to see Dickerson start his career well in full season ball!
Also good to see Sykora proving his outrageous performance vs FL complex batters wasn’t a fluke, but why is he STILL in Fredericksburg? He hasn’t had anything to prove there since July of last year.
in game one Dickerson came within a few feet of a HR on his one out. what a debut that would have been!
my guess is that Sykora’s still rehabbing even though he was activated. I suspect that was procedural. also the weather in Wilmington was iffy. I doubt he’ll be there long
Sykora will climb quickly. Barring an injury setback or U-turn in performance, he will be in AA before the season is done.
since being designated the closer for the Sens, Cuevas’ state line is 6IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 5K with 5 saves. he has not taken more that 12 pitches to close them out in any outing.
he does not project as a dominant closer but he’s getting the job done.
Vaquero came out of game two after diving for a ball and appearing to injure his left shoulder. let’s hope it’s nothing long term, he’s been making some good progress
Interesting that the talk in the moment is about Luke Dickerson but no talk about the debate between Holliday , Hernandez or Arnold with first pick since the farm system is showing signs of thinness in the starting pitching maturation and the hitting prowess .
This draft should be interesting to see the blend of resume experienced gained by the fellows formerly with Arizona and Baltimore .