Tuesday’s News & Notes
Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitchers |
Syracuse | Lost, 7-1 | @ Louisville, 7:05 p.m. |
Espino (3-5, 3.49) vs. TBD |
Harrisburg | Won, 4-0 | @ Trenton, 7:00 p.m. |
Lopez (1-4, 3.97) vs. Campos (1-0, 1.46) |
Potomac | Lost, 7-1 | @ Salem, 7:05 p.m. |
Crownover (0-2, 7.36) vs. Lakins (5-2, 5.77) |
Hagerstown | Lost, 5-0 | @ Lakewood, 7:05 p.m. |
Avila (5-3, 2.76) vs. Arauz (2-4, 3.35) |
Louisville 7 Syracuse 1
• Long (L, 0-1) 3IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 1K, WP
• De Los Santos 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• den Dekker 2-4
• Goodwin 1-3, 2B, BB
Louisville broke out the, um, bats as they scored four times in the first five innings to hand Syracuse a 7-1 loss. Jaron Long took the brunt of the beating, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one (1) for his first AAA loss of ’16. Matt den Dekker singled twice while Brian Goodwin walked and doubled. The rest of the team went 3-for-24 with a walk.
Harrisburg 4 Akron 0
• Ross (W, 2-0) 7IP, 3H, 0R, 3BB, 8K
• Glover (SV, 3) 1⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 0K, 3-0 IR-S
• Bostick 3-4, R, 2B, 3B, 3RBI
• Soto 3-4, 2R, 2B
Three Senators pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout to complete the four-game sweep of the ‘Ducks by a 4-0 score. Greg Ross won his second start since his recall to AA, allowing three hits and three walks over seven innings while fanning eight. Wander Suero loaded the bases before he was lifted with two out in the 8th but Koda Glover stranded all three runners, then worked around a hit in the 9th to earn his third save. Christopher Bostick was a homer shy of the cycle while Neftali Soto singled twice and doubled once as both went 3-for-4 to lead the ten-hit parade.
Salem 7 Potomac 1
• Bacus 5IP, 4H, R, ER, 2BB, 6K
• Orlan (L, 2-2) ⅔ IP, 1H, 2R, 2ER, 5BB, 0K, 2WP
• Read 1-3, 2B, BB, PB(10)
• Carey 1-3, R
Salem cast a spell on the Potomac bullpen, putting up two in the 6th and four in the 8th en route to a 7-1 win that clinched the C.L. South. Dakota Bacus went the first five innings and let in a run on four hits. He walked two and struck out six. R.C. Orlan walked five of seven batters faced over 2/3rds of an inning in the 6th to suffer the loss, his second. Raudy Read walked and doubled and was the only P-Nat to reach base twice as the team mustered just six hits total.
Lakewood 5 Hagerstown 0
• Bourque (L, 0-2) 4⅔ IP, 5H, 5R, 2ER, 2BB, 3K, 2HR, HBP
• Guilbeau 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 0K, 1-0 IR-S
• Reetz 1-3
• Davidson 1-3, BB
Two BlueClaws pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout to eclipse the Suns, 5-0. James Bourque was the loser for the second time in as many starts as Lakewood took him deep twice to account for four of the five runs he was charged with over four and 2/3rds innings. He hit a batter, walked two, and struck out three. Taylor Guilbeau and Trey Lambert combined for three and a 1/3rd scoreless innings of relief, but the Hagerstown hitters were too busy muttering to themselves as they walked back to the dugout 15 times after striking out. Austin Davidson was the only batter to reach base twice, going 1-for-3 with single and a walk.
WaPo reporting Carter Kieboom has signed.
Dane Dunning went 4+ scoreless for the Gators last night as the advance in CWS
He had announced he was signing with the Nats a few days ago on Twitter. He seems genuinely excited for the chance to get to play with his brother. I think we might even get a discount as a result. Now, if we can draft the 3rd brother next year….
Brother Trevor was an RS Jr. at Georgia this year but wasn’t drafted. He’s not a prospect.
Ryan Ripken was never really a prospect either. The Nats like family connections.
Dunning has Clippard energy with glasses
Nicolas Baker. Dig his game
Potomac’s bats have all fallen silent at the same time. As a result, the idea of promoting Stevenson (.205 BA with no BB and 10 Ks over his last 10 games) or Marmolegos (,262/.367/.851) is looking like less of an option right now.
With Soto and Skoke entrenched at 1B above him, Orange would have to be dominant in order to be promoted. He’s likely looking at a full year in Woodbridge before being bumped to Harrisburg next year.
Meanwhile, Bostick is on a tear right now. I would not be surprised if he swaps places with Lombardozzi at some point since he’s played about a full year in AA and has now proven he can hit there.
I wouldn’t call Skole or Soto “entrenched” above him. Quite the opposite, in fact. Soto is the living embodiment of organizational depth. He hasn’t had an OPS above .800 in 6 years. He was signed for the purpose of filling a hole that existed in 1B/3B at Harrisburg. I suspect after the ASG, Marmolejos will be promoted and Soto will see much less playing time.
Regardless, Orange isn’t bumping anyone with his current stats. Soto was brought in to beef up a weak Harrisburg lineup, and he’s done his job. Skole is still a fringe prospect who has rebounded to have a decent season, so he isn’t going anywhere either.
Marmolejos’ stats might not be otherworldly but they’re still very, very good. His OPS is the 5th best in the Carolina League. Plus, he’s increased his walks and increased his power on last season.
Skole isn’t relevant, as he’s two levels above Marmolejos, and especially because Soto and Pleffner, the 1Bs in Harrisburg, aren’t prospects that would be displaced and need to continue regularly playing.
Could be wrong, but I don’t Orange getting a promotion in 2016. Think he (and Stevenson) stay in Potomac for the season. Other than injury, the one exception is that the Nats do promote prospects for the playoffs. So, I could see the Nats promoting some lower level players to Harrisburg if they are the only affiliate to make the playoffs.
I think Ward is a certainty to get promoted, given he’s already repeating (and dominating) Potomac.
The others less likely. It’s really hard to gauge though. The Nats had previously been quite conservative with promotions, but did a 180 on that the previous season or so. It seems that they’ve returned to the overly cautious approach, with only 3-5 promotions across all levels this season so far.
Papelbon placed on the DL. Belisle activated. Solis stay in DC is extended (although he has pitched so well that he may not have been sent down anyway).
Lowered blood pressure for some of us several times a week
I’ll second that
Let us say farewell to Cutter Dykstra. Hope he catches on somewhere else. Beat guys are saying he asked for his release.
Cutter cut??
Trimming the bench load?
Is he still married to that actress?