News and Notes on the Nationals Minors since 2009
Daniel Johnson (pictured) got the Vlad Guerrero Sr. treatment in the 10th as he held the free runner at third base in the top of the 10th to hold the score at 3-3 and set up the Rafters’ 4-3 win over the Sagauros in the bottom of the 10th. Not coincidentally, Johnson threw a runner …
Both Washington representatives made it into the AFL Fall Stars, which the West won over the East, 7-6.
Carter Kieboom (pictured) batted sixth and was the starting shortstop, where he made three assists in four defensive innings. At the plate, he was 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Ben Braymer came on with two outs in the 4th and issued back-to-back walks before getting a strikeout to end the inning and strand a runner. He threw 17 pitches, seven for strikes.
The Rafters have an easy schedule this week, with four of their five games at home and no day games after a night game. Barring a collapse—they lead the AFL East by 3½ with nine games left—Salt River will face AFL West-leading Peoria in Scottsdale on the 17th.
The Saguaro pitchers weren’t a surprise to the Rafters, who paddled them for eight hits over seven innings in an 8-3 win. Tres Barrera, Jake Noll (pictured), and Daniel Johnson were in the starting lineup at C, 1B, and CF respectively. • Barrera went 0-for-3 with a run scored and sac-fly RBI. He committed an …
No Luis Reyes—maybe today, AFL’s not so good about probables—but two Nationals appeared in the Rafters’ 14-3 demolition of the Desert Dogs.
• Daniel Johnson (pictured) reached base four times and scored four times as he went 3-for-4 with three singles while playing left field. He also stole two bases and had two putouts.
• Carter Kieboom came back to earth with an 0-for-4 afternoon but played error-free at second base and turned a double play for the assist among his three putouts.
Salt River visits Surprise this afternoon to close out Week 4 of the AFL. Tomorrow is the Fall Stars Game, which will be televised. If you enjoy broadcasters reading off their media notes, it’ll be televised on the MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com.
Salt River rallied to tie it at 6-6 with a run in the 9th, then collapsed in the 10th as the Rafter relievers gave up six runs in a 12-6 loss to the Mesa Solar Sox.
Carter Kieboom (pictured) extended his hit streak to five games with a another three-hit game, as he singled twice, doubled once, and scored twice. Alas, he also committed two errors while playing second base, so Daniel Murphy returning for his favorite promotion at Nationals Park in 2019 may still be possible.
Tres Barrera also made the start at catcher and reached base twice with a double and a walk. He did not throw out the only baserunner who attempted to steal against the Rafters battery.
The loss dropped Salt River to 11-8 but they still lead the AFL East by two games. Luis Reyes is expected to make his fifth start this afternoon at Glendale.
After three-run call-and-answer in the 3rd, the Rafters piled on 11 runs in a 14-4 demolition of the Solar Sox yesterday afternoon. Three position players appeared in the game. Jake Noll was the starting DH and was 0-for-3 but hit two sacrifice flies. Daniel Johnson went 1-for-5 with an RBI. He had no defensive chances …
Salt River wasted no time getting back on the wat..er, winning track as they dropped five in the 1st, capped off by an Earl weaver special from Jake Noll (pictured above), and cruised to a 12-3 win over Mesa. Noll, who also singled in the 3rd, drove in four total to hit safely in his …
Luis Reyes reverted to his first-AFL-start form as he was lit up for six runs in the 2nd, which proved to be the difference in Salt River’s 11-6 loss to Peoria. Reyes coughed up two homers and six hits total while retiring four of 11 batters faced. He walked one and struck out none while …
Just one Nats farmhand got into yesterday’s AFL game, which Salt River won, 9-2. Jake Noll (pictured during warmups) batted third and played third base and pushed his batting average onto the Interstate (.120) with a two-run double while going 1-for-5 with a run scored. The win improved the Rafters to 9-6 and sole possession …
After just one player appeared in Wednesday’s game, six Nationals appeared in yesterday’s AFL contest, which the Rafters lost 6-5. Daniel Johnson led off and played right field but was 0-for-4 with a strikeout. He fielded both balls hit his way, making one putout. Carter Kieboom slid back over to short but reached based twice …