Wednesday’s News & Notes
Sens win, Suns lose on yet another rain-shortened night in the minors
The Quick Rundown…
| Team | Yesterday’s Result | Today’s Game | Pitching Matchup |
| Syracuse Chiefs | Postponed | vs. Toledo, 5:00 p.m. | J.D. Martin (0-1, 5.40) and TBD vs. Charlie Furbush (1-1, 1.62) and Duane Below (1-1, 4.70) |
| Harrisburg Senators | Won, 4-1 | vs. Altoona, 7:00 p.m. | Ryan Tatusko (0-2, 8.31) vs. Jared Hughes (0-1, 5.40) |
| Potomac Nationals | Postponed | @ Myrtle Beach, 6:05 p.m. | Danny Rosenbaum (1-1, 2.60) and Mitchell Clegg (1-0, 5.40) vs. Robert Ross (2-0, 0.00) and Barret Loux (1-1, 4.40) |
| Hagerstown Suns | Lost, 8-5 | @ West Virginia, 7:05 p.m. | Chris McKenzie (1-2, 9.26) vs. Jameson Tallion (pro debut) |
Syracuse-Toledo — PPD
Tuesday’s game between the Syracuse Chiefs and Toledo Mud Hens was postponed due to rain. The game will be played Wednesday as part of a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. at Alliance Bank Stadium.
Harrisburg 4 Altoona 1
∙ Davis (W, 1-0) 6IP 5H 0R 2BB 6K
∙ Mattheus (S,1) 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K
∙ Valdez 2-4, 2B, RBI, OF assist at 2B
∙ Johnson 3-4, 2R, RBI
Thanks to a single run in the fourth and three runs in the fifth, the Senators were able to grab an early 4-0 lead against Altoona. While the Curve would fight back and score one in the eighth, it would not be enough as Harrisburg held on to a 4-1 victory. Late-season pickup Erik Davis finally earned his first win of the season, pitching six scoreless innings, allowing no runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six. Ryan Mattheus earned the save, his first, pitching a perfect ninth and striking out one. Jesus Valdez and Josh Johnson were the batters of the game, collectively going 5-for-8 with a double, two runs scored and two runs batted in.
Potomac-Myrtle Beach — PPD
Potomac was rained out for the fifth time in eighteen games as heavy thunderstorms forced yet another doubleheader today. Last year, the fifth rainout (out of eight) took place on July 29.
West Virginia 8 Hagerstown 5
∙ Grace (L, 1-3) 4IP 8H 6R 4ER 1BB 4K 1HR
∙ Graham 1IP 1H 0R 1BB 0K
∙ Taylor 1-3, 2R, HR, BB, RBI
∙ Newsome 1-4, R, HR, RBI
∙ Harper 1-4, R, HR, RBI
Bryce Harper went deep for the third time in four games, but like the two other Hagerstown home runs, it was just a solo shot as the Power surged past the Suns, 8-5. Starting pitcher Matt Grace was less than amazing, giving up six runs (four earned) on eight hits over just four innings. It was his third straight start in which he failed to either go six or allow less than four runs. Hagerstown collected a respectable 10 hits, with Randolph Oduber, Blake Kelso, and Adrian Sanchez each getting two, but only left five runners on base and had just three RISP opportunities.
Why no mention of the stare-down between the West Virginia pitcher after Harpers second at bat strike out and the ensuing bench clearing brawl.
Well, I looked around at news of that game and saw nothing about it myself.
I’d be curious to hear what happened.
This had gone to virtual print by the time I saw the video from the Nationals Enquirer, but there was no real brawl, thus no need to update.
Here’s a link for the Sun’s game with video.
http://www.totalprosports.com/2011/04/27/bryce-harper-almost-started-his-first-pro-bench-clearing-brawl-last-night-video/
Based on that video, it appears to be a childish attempt to provoke an argument due to his own failure. He homered earlier, so the pitcher probably tried a little harder to strike him out. Fair enough, that’s baseball. But you do not stand at the plate like that. Go back to the dugout and change your pampers. This guy might be able to hit, but he is rapidly turning into a public relations disaster.
Agreed, maybe not on the PR disaster part, but definitely that that was Harper acting his age.
Was reading the official report of the game from nationals.com, absolutely no mention of anything.
Gee, just lke Soviet media.
That’s part of why he’s in the low minors, isn’t it? Understanding that he’s not the BMOC anymore is harder for some to absorb than anything else they might ever learn.
The more and more people I talk to that know him directly say his arrogance will be his downfall.
And the gears continue to turn at the top of the system – Gaudin to the DL, Rodriguez up.
And the players on the other team weren’t jawing at him, trying to get him going! Of course not they wouldn’t do such a thing, the sweeties. Harper will be a target, and granted, he will have to rise above it. But the kid has spunk and fire, something a few more Nationals need.
I’m already sick and tired people waiting to jump on every aggressive move the kid makes so they can chalk it up to immaturity or arrogance, or some other negative trait.
This site has always been my favorite because the posters seem knowledgeable and positive. Public relations disaster–wow!
JCampbell: Not to worry – most of us here are still reasonably good natured. Every blog has their, shall we say ‘heavy-handed’ commenters in terms of hyperbole & anger-control issues. You learn to recognize them (by either style or ‘handle’), and try to pass by their rants much like you would the wild-eyed individual on the street wearing a “The End is Near” sandwich board.