Tuesday’s News & Notes
Rain in upstate NY, hard luck in Frederick, another four-game sweep for the Suns
The Quick Rundown…
| Team | Yesterday’s Result | Today’s Game | Pitching Matchup |
| Syracuse Chiefs | Postponed | vs. Norfolk, 7:00 p.m. | Craig Stammen (2-2, 3.26) or Tom Milone (2-3, 4.21) vs. Chris George (2-2, 4.15) |
| Harrisburg Senators | OFF DAY | vs. New Britain | Shairon Martis (1-1, 4.19) vs. TBD |
| Potomac Nationals | Lost, 3-2 | @ Frederick, 7:05 p.m. | Paul Demny (1-2, 2.94) vs. Richard Zagone (1-0, 0.00) |
| Hagerstown Suns | Won, 8-3 (12 inn.) | vs. Kannapolis, 6:35 p.m. | Matt Grace (3-4, 4.54) vs. Jacob Petricka (3-1, 2.70) |
Syracuse-Durham — CANCELED
The rains washed out the doubleheader. Because these two teams will not play each other again in the regular season, the games have been canceled. Tonight, Syracuse begins a four-game set against the Norfolk Tides.
Harrisburg — OFF DAY
After an off day yesterday, the Harrisburg Senators host the New Britain Rock Cats for three before heading out on the road to Binghamton (three games) and Akron (four games).
Frederick 3 Potomac 2
• Holder (L, 1-5) 8IP 6H 3R 3ER 0BB 5K
• Leon 2-4, 2RBI
After shutting out the Keys on 73 pitches through seven innings, Trevor Holder appeared poised for a complete game, perhaps even a shutout. He got one but not the other as the Keys rallied for three in the eighth, aided by a strikeout-wild pitch with two outs that extended the inning, and turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead. Potomac would get one back in the 9th, as Justin Bloxom and J.P. Ramirez drew walks following outs and Sandy Leon drove in his second run, but Jose Lozada struck out to end it, the tying run stranded at third.
Hagerstown 8 Lakewood 3 (12 inn.)
• Jordan (ND) 6IP 7H 3R 3ER 2BB 5K
• Swynenberg 3IP 1H 0R 1BB 2K
• Brown (W, 1-0) 2IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K
• Kelso 3-6, R, 2SB
• Oduber 2-6, 2R, 2RBI, SB
• Taylor 2-6, 3B, 2RBI
With a five-run 12th, highlighted by a two-run triple by Michael Taylor, the Hagerstown Suns beat the Lakewood Blue Claws, 8-3 in extra innings, securing a four-game sweep on the road for the third time this season. Taylor Jordan allowed all three Blue Claw runs on seven hits and two walks over the first six innings, as four Suns relievers shut down the Blue Claws for the last six, with Sam Brown getting the win. Blake Kelso led the 13-hit attack with three hits, while Bryce Harper was given an intentional pass to extend his on-base streak to 24 games.
Fans, I was at the game yesterday , I am a local Jersey Shore guy. I have been on this blog because I am a huge Nats fan. In fact I was at all four games this weekend. Let me just say for those of you who ever have a chance to watch a game at the Lakewood Phillies field, do so. It is as close to perfect as it gets. Fan friendly, great food, and the people are great
Now I read this blog everyday, and I want to go in a different direction, please allow me to ramble on. The hagerstown Suns are a absolute pleasure to watch, and I have never seen a minor league team become a team so fast. In many aspects minor league baseball becomes every man for themselves. Each player is trying to get to the next level, and ultimately the promise land. I watched the interaction amongst the players.It is unreal. They are a team and that is why they have the best record in the league. So today its not about any individual player, but its about the coaching staff at Hagerstown. My personal feeleing is the guys love playing for Daubach, Anderson, Michalak. The Suns win the first three games and they are down by 1 in the last inning with two outs , and the every guy in the bullpen and every guy in the dugout is in to the game. I was sitting near the bullpen, and an blueclaw fan said that they were completely thrilled as a fan to see the bullpen doing rally caps and chatting in unison. congrats coaches, this is what baseball should be like at every level.
This is no surprise to me. Daubauch was a hard-nosed “grinder” who managed to live up to the task of following a departed superstar in Boston in the late 1990s. Bear in mind he spent nine years in the minors before he “made it” and stuck around for more than 250 more games over three seasons at AAA in his early 30s. Those are the types that tend to be better coaches and managers because their achievements were always more predicated on effort and work than talent.
Wally, not to be cynical, but how much of that is the Bryce Harper effect. He seems to raise the “play” by his sheer hustle and youthful desire. I saw that in Spring Training with him. The “Charlie Hustle” effect is great. Who would have really known this Kelso kid? Now he is on many radars. Is Kelso “for real”?
Wally, I hope it continues after Bryce Harper moves on!
Michael, I totally respect your opinion, but could not disagree more. Bryce is a superstar, and the team has embraced him knowing that he will move on after the all-star break. At this level players tend to just leave a player at this caliber alone and let him do his thing. Bryce looked awful yesterday, but his teammates picked him up and you can see that even he was into the game with the rally caps and a pure interest to win. So this club is a reflection of its coaches and how they have handled the players. I do agree when Bryce leaves, noone can replace him but I have a gut feeling this team will continue its successful ways
It will be interesting to see if the team is as peppy and cohesive after Bryce leaves, just to confirm your hypothesis.
Great stuff Wally & Sue. I agree on Daubach, he was the ultimate ‘dirtbag’ ballplayer. And that’s a compliment!
Regarding Potomac, I’ve been critical of the ‘Hagerstown/Potomac outfield triplits’, as none of them were hitting at all.
Well, things have changed for two of them. In the last 10 games this what we have —
Eury Perez — .935 OPS
Destin Hood — .897 OPS
At least 2 of them seemed to have turned the corner on the hitting side. I know that at least Perez needs lots of practice on the defensive side, but it is encouraging.
I cant help thinking that Wally makes a great point. It could be the reason why Harper is still in Hagerstown . No difference in quality of pitching between A and High A so why not leave him in a WINNING DUH atmosphere.(sorry Charlie Sheen)
STRONGLY disagree. High-A pitchers have to have more than just a good fastball and a show-me offspeed pitch to succeed. Every year we see a lights-out Low-A guy get lit up in High-A because he has no command of a second pitch. (See: Demmin, Ryan).
Sue its a minor difference. This is why you will see Harper go from hagerstown directly to Harrisburg
Seems to be a lot of people selling that bridge, but I ain’t buying it.
Sue, if you sell that bridge, I have some land in Florida next. 🙂
Bryce Harper goes to Potomac next and there has to be a Harperstown effect. What are the opinions on this Kelso kid hitting .366 ? I would love to see the Nats catch one of these Brandon Belt types that runs the gamut.
MarkL, great points on the Potomac outfielders. Eury Perez looked lost in the field the one game I saw him. Being a RH in a LH heavy backlog of Minor League outfielders has me most interested in him and can’t wait to see Perez, Harper and Hood in the same outfielder together.
There’s absolutely a difference between low-A and high-A pitching (and hitting for that matter). Just this year look at what Selik did in Hagerstown versus Potomac thus far. And, there’s no way Harper skips high-A ball. Its a progression. The question is when does he get promoted, not where.
Todd you are correct about the hitting , the hitting is much better, The pitching is no different ask any hitter that played at that level. When I played the difference became a serious isssue at AA. sorry do not mean to be argumentive
By this argument, the only difference between Low A and Hi A is the hitting. Which makes no sense to me. By virtue alone of Hi A guys having a bit more experience it’s pretty clear that the pitching is better and more professional.
been there and done that but will not argue the point anymore
Considering the abundance of evidence you presented to support that delusion, I’m not surprised.