Wednesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | OFF DAY | vs. Syracuse, 11:05 a.m. | Adon (1-3, 5.91) vs. Lucchesi (3-0, 1.95) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 3-2 | @ Bowie, 6:35 p.m. | Ale. Hernandez (0-1, 3.86) vs. McDermott (3-3, 2.70) |
| Wilmington | Lost, 7-6 | @ Asheville, 11:05 a.m. | Theophile (0-1, 6.23) vs. Ullola (0-2, 6.67) |
| Fredericksburg | Won, 7-5; Won, 2-1 (8 inn.) |
vs. Delmarva, 7:05 p.m. | Cornelio (1-2, 5.47) vs. Nuñez (0-1, 3.55) |
Rochester Red Wings, 23-27, T8th place I.L. East, 12½ GB
Rochester has won six of its last seven and faces last-place Syracuse for five more at home, where the Red Wings have been competitive (12-8). Unfortunately, the bats and the bullpen have been covering for atrocious starting pitching (number of starters with an ERA below 5.00 = 1), so enjoy this while it lasts. Still, if they’re able to get to .500, that might be good enough to finish the first half in the top half of the I.L. East.
Bowie 3 Harrisburg 2
• Cuevas (L, 2-1) 5IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 1BB, 5K, E
• Lee 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K, HBP
• Lindsly 2-4
• Valera 1-3, BB
The Senators losing streak extended to four with a 3-2 loss to the BaySox. Michael Cuevas took his first loss with all three Bowie runs allowed on six hits and a walk. He struck out five. Three relievers combined for four scoreless innings, but it was for naught as the bats fell silent with blue-chippers Robert Hassell and James Wood combining to go 0-for-8 with three K’s.
Asheville 7 Wilmington 6
• Luckham 5⅔ IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 3K
• Yankosky 1⅔ IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 0BB, 1K, 2HR
• McKenzie 2-2, R, 2B, 3BB, SB
• De La Rosa 2-4, 2R, 2HR, 4RBI
• Frizzell 1-2, 2R, HR, 3BB, RBI
Manager Mario Lisson decided that Tyler Yankosky hadn’t taken enough abuse in the 8th (3R, 3H), so he trotted him out in the 9th and [Pyle]surprise, surprise[/Pyle] Asheville got to him for two more runs, turning a 6-2 lead into a 7-6 loss. The Martinez-esque managing took away a possible win from Kyle Luckham, who let in two runs (one earned) on four hits over five and 2/3rds without a walk. The Blue Rocks took advantage of the cozy confines of McCormick Field to hit three HRs, and drew eight walks to mask a 1-for-10 mark with RISP and nine runners left on base.
Fredericksburg 7 Delmarva 5 – COMP.
• Lord 6IP, 10H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 8K, HBP
• Denaburg (W, 1-1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K, WP
• K. Rodriguez 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Green 3-4, 3B, 2RBI, 0K
• Witt 2-2, 3R, 2BB, HR, 3RBI
• House 2-4, R
In the completion, the FredNats scored in each of their last four “ups,” taking the lead for good in the 8th on Paul Witt’s two-run HR for a 7-5 win. Brad Lord picked up where he left off and wobbled through six innings, allowing all five Shorebird runs on ten hits and three walks while striking out eight. Mason Denaburg got the win as the pitcher of record as he managed to get three outs on eight strikes out of 17 pitches thrown. Kevin Rodriguez worked around a hit in the 9th to pick up the save. Elijah Green led the Fredericksburg hit column with two singles and a triple while Witt also singled and drew two walks, scoring three runs and driving in three.
Fredericksburg 2 Delmarva 1 – GM. 2
• Bennett 5⅔ IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 9K, HBP, WP
• Marquez (W, 3-0) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Boisserie 2-3, R, 2B, HR, RBI
• Pettigrew 2-3, RBI
In the nightcap, Fredericksburg erased a 1-0 deficit on Branden Boisserie’s fourth HR and ended it on their first AB of extras for a 2-1 win that officially extended their win streak to five games (unofficially, six). Jake Bennett struck out nine for third time in nine starts, allowing the Delmarva run on four hits and no walks over five and 2/3rds innings. Franklin Marquez got the win with a scoreless 8th while Marquis Grissom Jr. bridged the two with four outs from four batters faced. Boisserie also doubled and went 2-for-3, a mark matched by Zion Pettigrew with his game-winning single in the bottom of the 8th. Roster moves: LHP Sean Doolittle MLB rehab transferred from Wilmington; RHP Matt Merrill assigned from Wilmington for MiLB rehab; C Geraldi Diaz activated from 7-Day I.L.; C Jose Colmenares reassigned to the FCL.
Sure is dumb that Bennett is still at Low A.
Any opinion on Brad Lord being stretched out as a spot swing guy slash starter ??
I was at the ROC game on Monday. It was painful to watch, not only all the hits and walks but also 5 HBP between both teams 3 by Syracuse and 2 by ROC. 1 wild pitch and actually a second WP but the ball came right back to the catcher in the batters box ! The HR were nice particularly with the wind blowing in.
Good to see Frizzell, de la Rosa, and McKenzie finding some semblance of a groove. Frizzell has responded to the demotion in the best way possible.
There’s no rush with Bennett, but I agree that it’s curious to leave him in a league where he’s pretty clearly dominant. Perhaps he’s been working on a third pitch or something. Perhaps they don’t want to push him too hard since he didn’t pitch at all last summer after being drafted. There are a lot of little things that we’ll never know.
Let’s be honest, Bennett should have started at Wilmington if he was a legit 2nd rounder.
As for him sitting last year until the instruxs, that will probably have to be the way with these college pitchers, their coaches have overused most of them.
Bennett needs to be moved up ASAP. I mean, what the hell?
Green seems to have refound his stride at the plate. He’ll likely always be a big K guy, but as long as he’s hitting, we can live with the rest. Would like to see Brady House moved up along with Bennett.
Serious question: Why do minor league teams play 11:00 games? Can’t be good for attendance, especially when school is in session. Is it for the scouts and big league observers?
The 11am games are used as a field trip day for local school kids. Many teams advertise it as an education day.
In Asheville, they have a kids special for the 11am games, load up the school buses and give ’em all tix. Keeps it during school time.
It’s a great day to skip the game unless you want to be sitting in the middle of 4000+ kids singing SpongeBob SquarePants! Haha
Two early Ws from the 11 am games, highlighted by some promising starts from the talented but erratic duo of Joan Adon and Rodney Theopile.
Nice work from both bullpens, too. Surely there is some middle relief of the future to be culled for the big team from all this.