Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Won, 7-4 | @ Buffalo, 6:05 p.m. | Ureña (0-1, 7.88) vs. Mellon (0-0, 8.10) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 4-2 | vs. Erie, 6 p.m. | Cuevas (1-0, 5.13) vs. Flores (2-2, 6.15) |
| Wilmington | Lost, 7-3 | @ Jersey Shore, 6:05 p.m. | Luckham (0-0, 2.30) vs. Osterberg (0-2, 4.71) |
| Fredericksburg | Lost, 3-1 | vs. Columbia, 7:05 p.m. | Susana (0-2, 5.17) vs. Mozzicato (0-2, 2.45) |
Rochester 7 Buffalo 4
• Espino 1⅔ IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 0K, WP
• Reyes (W, 2-0) 2⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 1K, 3-0 IR-S
• Weems (SV, 4) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Martin 1-3, R, 2BB, 2RBI
• Mazara 1-2, R, 3BB
• Kieboom 1-3, R, 2B
The Red Wings lost a 2-1 lead then broke out for five in the 3rd as they returned the favor and beat the Bison, 7-4. Paolo Espino got knocked from the box in the 2nd after giving up four runs, six hits, and two walks. O.G. Luis Reyes stranded three then put up two goose eggs to get the win. Four more relievers combined for five scoreless, with Jordan Weems setting the side down in order in the 9th for his fourth save. Derek Hill’s three-run HR highlighted the offense, which drew 10 walks (three by Nomar Mazara), enabling Rochester to score seven runs on seven hits. Roster moves: C Kevin Plawecki released; C Ivan Murzi activated from Development List; UT Jake Alu recalled to Washington.
Erie 4 Harrisburg 2
• Troop (L, 2-3) 5IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 4K, HR
• Peguero 2IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 3K
• Hassell 1-3, 2BB, CS
• Lindsly 2-4, 2B, RBI
Erie jumped out to another early lead with three runs in the 2nd, but Harrisburg’s offense sputtered Forrest Gump pause again, collecting just six hits in a 4-2 loss. Alex Troop took the loss while giving up those three runs on three hits (one HR) and four walks over five innings. Robert Hassell reached base with a single and two of the eight walks while Brady Lindsly doubled in Jackson Cluff in the 9th to highlight the Sens’ offense.
Jersey Shore 7 Wilmington 3
• Saenz (L, 1-2) 5IP, 6H, 7R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K, HR, HBP
• Gomez 2IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 2K
• De La Rosa 2-4, R, RBI, SB
• Wood 2-4, R, E
• 2-11 RISP; 10 LOB
Four Blue Rocks errors led to five unearned runs as Jersey Shore evened the series with a 7-3 triumph. Dustin Saenz saw his streak of starts with one run or none stopped at four as he was charged with all seven runs on six hits, including a three-run HR, and two walks. He struck out two and hit a batter. The trio of Jacob Young, James Wood, and Jeremy De La Rosa each went 2-for-4 to lead the eight-hit, five-walk offense.
Roster moves: SS Erick Mejia assigned from Rochester for MiLB rehab.
Columbia 3 Fredericksburg 1
• Bennett (L, 1-3) 4IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 9K, HR, 86-54 PIT-K
• Lord 3IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 2K, HBP, WP
• Witt 3-4
• Thomas 2-5, R, 2B
• 0-11 RISP; 10 LOB
Fredericksburg got a run in the 1st on a leadoff double by Johnathan Thomas and an error and then couldn’t push across a run over the next eight hits and eight innings as they fell to Columbia, 3-1. Jake Bennett tied his career high with nine whiffs but also gave up two runs on a home run and five hits total over four innings. He needed 86 pitches to get those 12 outs, 54 of which were strikes. 25-y.o. Paul Witt singled three times while Thomas also singled to lead the FredNats hit column of nine. Roster moves: RHP Marquis Grissom Jr. activated from 7-Day I.L.; LHP Pablo Aldonis placed on the 7-Day I.L.
Dustin Saenz may have been charged with 7 runs but only 2 were earned and his ERA is a sterling 2.43. Harrisburg is in his future.
Speaking of Harrisburg, James Wood has an OPS of .911
New AAA catcher a nice fit
On City Island, the walks and three run HR were Troop’s downfall.
Denaburg with a clean inning yesterday but not overly impressive, two hard hit outs plus a borderline called strike three. it has to be seen to be believed just how fast he is working. he is either being told “don’t think, just throw” or he just doesn’t give a $h!t.
Saenz had some bad luck in the second as the error on Wood was a joke, he caught a fly ball and was transferring the ball to hold the runner and dropped it. they called the batter safe, two ejections ensued. his stuff is much like Troop and Knowles (among others) if he’s just a little off he gets hit or walks too many
another reclamation project heading to Rochester as Franmil Reyes will join Mazara, Hill and Adams. I guess some MLB experience in AAA is good insurance (as well an indictment of the upper level prospects).
Just for the sake of clarification
When does The Complex season begin ?
Post draft ?
FCL start: June 5
Draft: July 9
Seems like a few players ready to move up in org, what’s realistic expectation changes start being made?
Last year, it wasn’t until mid July . I’m hoping this year it’ll be after the first half, which is still roughly a month away.
It’s been commented on how the Nationals are one of or perhaps THE slowest franchise in promoting players.
It’s nice that we’re beginning to see exceptions to the rule (Alu and Ferrer last year, Willingham this year), but man, there’s a bunch of players currently wasting time repeating a level (Millas, Infante, Vega, House, Lawson, Boissiere, Alvarez, Knowles, Schaller, Agostini, Ogando)