Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Syracuse | ALL-STAR BREAK | @ Pawtucket, 7:05 p.m. |
Valdez (3-5, 2.83) vs. Haley (4-7, 3.20) |
| Harrisburg | ALL-STAR BREAK | vs. Hartford, 7:00 p.m. |
TBD vs. TBD |
| Potomac | Won, 2-1 | @ Lynchburg, 6:30 p.m. |
Baez (3-8, 4.86) vs. Tully (3-8, 4.73) |
| Hagerstown | Lost, 5-0 | vs. Columbia, 7:05 p.m. |
Lee (2-2, 5.00) vs. Dibrell (3-4, 3.59) |
| Auburn | Lost, 6-4 | vs. Lowell, 7:05 p.m. |
TBD vs. Bazardo (2-2, 2.77) |
| GCL Nationals | Lost, 8-5 | vs. GCL Astros, 12:00 p.m. |
Syracuse – ALL-STAR BREAK
As predicted, Jacob Wilson, the Chiefs sole player named to the AAA All-Star game, did not appear in the game. For those that care, the PCL beat the IL, 12-7.
Harrisburg – ALL-STAR BREAK
• Gushue 1-2, R, K
• Gamache 0-2, 2K
• Williams ⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Self (BS, 1) 1IP, 2H, R, ER, 0BB, 1K
All four Harrisburg representatives on the E.L. West roster made an appearance in the E.L. All-Star Game, with Taylor Gushue going 1-for-2 with a run scored as the starting catcher; Dan Gamache going 0-for-2 with two whiffs coming off the bench at second base; Austen Williams getting the last out of the 7th; And, apparently because it was in New Jersey, there was no Self service as the E.L. East got to Derek for a run on two hits in the 9th for a 4-4 tie.
Potomac 2 Lynchburg 1
• Johnston (W, 1-0) 6IP, 7H, 0R, 2BB, 3K
• Bourque (SV, 5) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Corredor 2-2, R, 3BB
• Basto 2-4, 2-2B, BB
Kyle Johnston spun six shutout innings and won his High-A debut, as the P-Nats edged the Hillcats, 2-1. He allowed seven hits, issued two walks, and struck out three. James Bourque came on again in the 9th and worked around a one-out single for his fifth save. Aldrem Corredor reached base five times with two singles and three walks (one intentional) while Nick Basto walked once and doubled twice to lead the 13-hit, seven-walk Potomac offense, which hit into four double plays and left 15 runners on base.
Columbia 5 Hagerstown 0
• Alastre (L, 3-4) 6IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 3K, 2HR, BK
• C. Pena 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Scudder 1-3, 2B, E
• Antuna 0-4, 2E(24, 25)
Two Columbia pitchers combined on a three-hit, 3-0 shutout of Hagerstown. Suns starting pitcher Tomas Alastre gave up all five Fireflies runs on eight hits, including two HRs, over six innings. he walked one and struck out three. Carlos Pena (2IP) and Connor Zwetsch (1IP) combined for three scoreless inning of relief. Jake Scudder was the only Hagerstown batter to reach base twice (double, walk). Roster moves: IF Branden Boggetto released; RHP Connor Zwetsch promoted from Auburn.
Lowell 6 Auburn 4
• Y. Ramirez 5IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 3K, 2HBP, WP
• N. Ramirez (BS, 1; L, 1-1) 2⅓ IP, 5H, 3R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K, HR, WP
• O’Connor 3-4, R, 2B, RBI
• Rhinesmith 3-5, 3B, RBI
After rallying for three in the 6th to take a 4-3 lead, the Doubledays gave ’em back in the 8th to lose, 6-4. Yonathan Ramirez went the first five inning and gave up three runs on six hits and no walks while striking out three. Nector Ramirez issued the tying run on a homer to lead off the 8th, then gave up two more with the “help” of an error for the blown-save-loss. Pablo O’Connor and Jacob Rhinesmith both had three hits and an RBI as Auburn racked up 11 hits but left on 12 as they went just 2-for-13 with RISP.
GCL Cardinals 8 GCL Nationals 5
• Williamson 1⅔ IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 0K
• Strom (BS, 1; L, 0-1) 3IP, 6H, 6R, 6ER, 0BB, 2K, 0HR
• Robles 2-4, R
• Morales 2-4, 2B, RBI
• De Aza 1-2, R, BB
Like Rodney Theophile earlier this week, Ryan Williamson made the long trek from the roster he was assigned to last month (Harrisburg) to West Palm Beach to make his professional debut in an 8-5 G-Nats loss to the G-Cards. The 2016 15th Rd. pick gave up a run on three hits over an inning and 2/3rds without a walk or a whiff. The loss went to Leif Strom with six runs let in on six hits over three innings. Victor Robles singled twice and scored a run while Jesus Morales singled, doubled, and drove in a run to lead the G-Nats attack. Roster moves: LHP Ryan Williamson reassigned from Harrisburg; LHP Darly Infante placed on the 60-Day DL.
As some noted yesterday, congrats to Ryan Williamson on his pro debut, just over two years after he was drafted. He was the Friday starter with a sub-3 ERA for an ACC school, so there’s talent there, if he can reclaim it.
An A+ to Kyle Johnston on his A+ debut. He’s been promising but inconsistent since moving up to start at Hagerstown.
I had not looked up Nick Basto before now, and I’m just shaking my head. He was released from AA from the White Sox this year after slashing .165/.284/.226. I guess he’s filling the OF gap created by the struggles of Upshaw and Perkins (since traded) and the injury to Agustin. The path is clear for rapid advancement of the 2018 OF draftees. Canning is already at Hags, and Rhinesmith (currently slashing .338/.390/.446) should be joining him soon.
It’s nice to see the Nationals successfully convert a starter to relief mid-way through their careers. James Bourque has been unhittable this season, after sporting an ERA above 5.00 in each of his past two seasons.
52 strikeouts in only 33 IP is fantastic, to go along with his 2.16 ERA.
Meanwhile, A.J. Cole has now given up 1 earned run in 18 innings in relief for the Yankees. His ERA sits at a microscopic 0.48 and he’s struck out 24 and walked only 6. And to think we just traded away a few prospects for bullpen help. Sometimes you need to use your own assets more efficiently…
Those Cole stats hurt. There was a lot of chatter here for years that A.J. was better suited to relief. There it is.
I was one of those who thought Cole should have been converted to relief at the beginning of last year when he still had an option left. I guess this is how the Nats repay the Yankees for Tyler Clippers.
It’s amazing how bad Rizzo is at constructing bullpens. Every year since 2012 the bullpen has been a problem, and it seems he’s always squandering raw young arms in trades without getting enough in return. There is almost an entire pitching staff worth of former Nats prospects floating around the league these days, including no less than two All Star closers. How does a team so consistently underestimate the talent of it’s own pitching prospects?
It’s certainly strange…
I was also recently thinking about how much pitching talent exists around the league. Imagine this rotation:
1. Robbie Ray
2. Nick Pivetta
3. Reynaldo Lopez
4. Jesus Luzardo (he sure looks ready for the MLB)
5. Nate Karns
Long man: Brad Peacock
Closer: Blake Treinen
Set up man: Felipe Vazquez
RP: A.J. Cole
RP: Dane Dunning
RP: Pedro Avila
RP: Taylor Hearn
RP: McKenzie Mills
Did I forget anyone?
If you squint a bit, you might think they’re better than our current pitching staff, Scherzer and Strasburg included.
I will say we traded some good ones, but this is only magnified by us not winning the big one. If we win a ship throw all this out window.
Mills, Hearn, Dunning, and Luzardo have yet to make MLB. Though I will say with the way the team is currently situated at least two would have debuted now.
I always thought Lopez would be a dynamite reliever I would have converted him.
Dunning looks like prototypical very good mid rotation arm and Luzardo looks like a potential ace.
Hearn looks like mid rotation and Mills back end.
Ray, Pivetta, and Karns all became solid pitchers at one point or another but I have no gripes letting them walk.
I’m still ok with removing Aj Cole.
I would flip Vazquez and Treinen, the way you listed them. My closer would be Vazquez who is disgusting and then the set up would be Treinen.
Only players I’m truly upset that we dealt are Luzardo, because who knew he would be this good this fast, sheesh, and Dunning who I feel like we coulda kept and was a throw in the Eaton deal.
Let it go. Inventory which brought valued assets
On the heels of lamenting comments about farmhands missed.
Bravo , Andrew Lee. Vs a tough Mets affiliate. Plus Esthay has 8 HRs on July 13. 12-15 total 2018?
Wait. Cole has been more effective as a reliever? [sarcasm]Who saw that coming?[/sarcasm]
Luzardo has been the pitcher version of Juan Soto this year. Man we shouldn’t have traded him. He would probably had made his debut this year. We could have had Soto and Luzardo shoot up lists smh. If they knew what he would be I think hes untouchable and see if you can get the Doo deal done another way or with other prospects.
Has Edwin Lora hit the ceiling @ Potomac or will he live another off season with future instruction and reps ??
Hitting his ceiling and sticking around are two different things (cc: Bryan Mejia, David Masters)