Tuesday’s News & Notes
Nats take three of five again on Monday night.
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Syracuse | Won, 6-3 | @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 7:05 p.m. | Voth (4-8, 4.57) vs. Rosa (2-0, 1.59) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 5-3 | vs. Erie, 6:30 p.m. | Sharp (5-3, 4.47) vs. Burrows (10-9, 3.95) |
| Potomac | Won, 4-1 | vs. Frederick, 7:05 p.m. | Raquet (3-3, 5.95) vs. Alvarado (11-10, 4.28) |
| Hagerstown | Lost, 7-2 | @ West Virginia, 7:05 p.m. | Stoeckinger (2-5, 7.16) Nunez (0-0, 1.88) |
| Auburn | Lost, 2-1 (12 inn.) |
@ West Virginia, 7:05 p.m. | Schaller (1-1, 4.57) vs. Spears (1-5, 5.87) |
Syracuse 6 Rochester 3
• Ross (W, 1-0) 6IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 0K
• Williams (S, 1) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Torres (W, 4-3) 1IP, 0H, 0R, IBB, 0K, HBP
• A. Sanchez 2-4, R, 2B, 3RBI, E(9)
• Robles 2-4, R, 2B, SB
• Sierra 2-4, R, 2B, 2K
The Joe Ross rehab tour made its latest stop in Syracuse. He got the benefit of a three-run 6th as the Chiefs doubled up the RedWings, 6-3 and took the four-game series, 3-1. Ross gave up all three Rochester runs on seven hits and a walk but did not strike a single batter (or a married one). Chris Smith and Trevor Gott both turned in a 1-2-3 inning to earn holds while Austen Williams worked around a two-out single to earn the save. Bengie Gonzalez was the beer man in Syracuse’s 13-hit parade that saw five players collect multiple hits, with Adrian Sanchez driving in three and Irving Falu two. Roster moves: RHP Joe Ross reassigned from Harrisburg for MLB rehab.
Harrisburg 5 Erie 3
• Long (W, 5-8) 7IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 2K
• Harper (H, 5) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• R. Pena (SV, 5) 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Kieboom 2-3, 2B, SF, 2RBI, CS, E(11) – 25th overall
• Keller 2-3, R, 2B, SAC
• Davidson 2-3, R, HR(9), RBI
The 6th was the pivotal inning for Harrisburg as well as Taylor Gushue’s two-run double in the 6th put Harrisburg up 4-3 en route to a 5-3 win over Erie. Jaron Long won his fifth game with seven innings of three-run ball on eight hits and a walk while striking out two (2). Bryan Harper and Ronald Pena both turned in a scoreless inning to notch the hold and the save, respectively; the 5th for both. Carter Kieboom, Alec Keller, and Austin Davidson combined to go 6-for-9 with two doubles (Kieboom, Keller), a homer (Davidson), and three RBI. The RubberDucks lost again so the Sens remain mathematically alive with a tragic number of two.
Potomac 4 Frederick 1
• Johnston (W, 5-1) 7IP, 4H, R, ER, 0BB, 3K
• Fuentes (S, 3) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Media 2-4, R, 2B, 2RBI
• Masters 2-4, 2B, RBI
Oh, look: another 6th-inning rally and another two-run double. Bryan Mejia delivered the go-ahead runs to give the P-Nats a 2-1 lead that they extended in the 8th for a 4-1 win over Frederick in the series opener. Kyle Johnston notched his fifth “W” with seven innings of one-run ball on four hits, no walks, and three whiffs. Carlos Acevedo wobbled through the 8th for a the hold while Steven Fuentes worked around a single and an error in the 9th for his third save. David Masters also doubled and matched Mejia’s 2-for-4 night to lead the Potomac offense. Matt Crownover and Rhett Wiseman swept the Carolina League’s Player of the Week Awards..
West Virginia 7 Hagerstown 2
• Held (L, 5-7) 6IP, 7H, 7R, 3ER, 2BB, 7K, HBP, PO at 1B
• P. Morse 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Meregildo 2-2, BB, RBI
• Caulfield 2-3, 2-2B, RBI
Hagerstown also got a run in the 6th, but it was just the second of two as Lexington took the series opener, 7-2. Sam Held was charged with all seven Legends runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings for his seventh loss. Phil Morse finished the game with two scoreless innings for his first clean outing more than two weeks. Omar Meregildo reached base three times with two singles and a walk while Phil Caulfield doubled twice to pace the Suns offense.
West Virginia 2 Auburn 1 (12 inn.)
• Peguero 5IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 6K
• Guillen 4IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 3BB, 3K
• Driskill (L, 1-4) ⅔ IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 2BB, 1K
• Marinconz 2-4, 2B, BB
• Sanchez 1-4, BB
Extra innings continue to be unkind to the Doubledays as they lost for the sixth time in eight chances, 2-1 to the Black Bears in 12 innings. The Doubledays broke up the Star Trek convention with a single run in the 11th and loaded the bases with one out in the 12th, but the threat was ended with a popup and a whiff. A single and an intentional walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Tanner Driskill also got an infield fly and a strikeout but then walked in the game-winning run.
Who we got for non-roster call-ups? My sheet says Ross and Fedde get their spots back and then the Nats find space for Bryan Harper, Austen Williams, and maybe Kyle McGowin too. Not really seeing any position players in the high minors who are currently kicking down the door; you could make arguments for Yadiel Hernandez, Jacob Wilson, and Austin Davidson, but none of those guys are really viewed as prospects.
Two spots open right now on the 40-man roster (Daniel Murphy, Matt Adams). Easy shout to clear two more (Kelvin Herrera, Tommy Milone). Scuttlebutt is Gio Gonzalez could be traded this week, perhaps as soon as today, although nothing concrete. Ryan Madson could hypothetically be traded too. And no guarantee Sean Doolittle returns this year, although every indication is that he is progressing toward a September comeback. So the Nats have some flexibility here if they want to see some new faces.
Nats eager to clear 7 million on Madsen with Herrera walking with his seven million
Is it wrong to admit that I’m desperately hoping that I’ll see the day when you’re able to work in Anthony Peroni and “being the beer man” into a game review?
Sadly, based on this year’s stats, I may never see that day come…. hope I’m wrong!
Peroni is an Italian foood maker or adult beverage maker??
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Robles again in AFL along with Raudy Read because of missed reps. Maybe even DJ again. Rhett Wiseman is a candidate.
The pitchers is a toss up to me at this point.
Funny I wasn’t able to see today’s comments until I commented
I believe the change that did the trick was the setting that sets a cookie. Once you commented, the cookie was set and that helps make comments appear.
Why again is Kieboom STILL playing shortstop? His ETA to the majors is basically any day now. The Nats have been very clear that a player does not need AAA experience to be promoted to DC, do Kieboom doesn’t have any more steps on the ladder to climb. Meanwhile, Turner is locked down for years more at SS and Kieboom is proving scouts right in that he’s not a very good defensive SS and will likely have to move somewhere else… Maybe 2B where the Nationals both today and in the future have a giant gaping hole?
But really, what’s the play here? We start Kieboom at SS to showcase him for a trade to acquire a 2B? Wait until he gets too hot not to promote then shift Turner to 2B? Promote Kieboom and force him to play a position he’s never played before in the majors?
This problem has been foreseen for months now, and now we are left with a premier prospect without a future in the majors. Hope Rizzo doesn’t flip him for some more failed bullpen arms.
Don’t they play ’em at short until they just can’t anymore? Switches to 3rd and 2nd from short happen all the time.
The thing is I find it a very unlikely that Kieboom comes up this year nor do I think he is ready just yet. He will start next season either back in AA or AAA.