By every typical measure but one, the 2013 edition of the Potomac Nationals was the best ever in Woodbridge. They won both halves, rather handily — the first by six games, the second by nine games. They allowed the fewest runs, scored the second-most runs, had second-best defense, stole the most bases, etc. Unlike last …
The Mesa Solar Sox scored in each of the first four innings as they stopped a two-game slide with a 7-4 win over the Scottsdale Scorpions Brian Goodwin (pictured) was the sole National to appear in the game. He singled and scored in the 1st inning and drove in a run with a two-out safety …
In addition to the news that longtime Nationals farmhand Chris Marrero has been outrighted to Syracuse, the latest transaction post from Baseball America has been released, revealing the following signings: • RHP Hector Guance • IF Adrian Sanchez (re-signed) As was the case with the previous (presumably Dominican) signing last week (OF Telmito Agustin), there …
Matt Purke tossed five scoreless innings but came away with a no-decision as the Solar Sox were stung in extras, 2-1 by the red-hot Scorpions. Purke allowed just a one-out walk in the 1st and leadoff single in the 3rd — erasing both baserunners with double-play balls to face the minimum of 15 batters for …
Adrian Nieto scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 7th, but the Solar Sox ‘pen faltered in the bottom half as they lost to the Saguaros, 4-2. Nieto continues to swing a hot bat as a righthanded batter, going 1-for-2 with a run scored from the left side of the batter’s box and …
Sammy Solis won his third straight start as Mesa snapped a two-game skid with a
9-6 win over Surprise.
Solis allowed one run on six hits over five innings, giving up a walk and striking out four. He threw 73 pitches, 47 for strikes.
Brian Goodwin also appeared in the game, but went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. He batted second and played center field but had no putouts or assists.
With the win, the Solar Sox improve to 8-2-1 in the AFL East and lead the second-place Scorpions by 3½ games. They rematch against the Saguaros in Peoria this afternoon.
With three of the five winter leagues now playing — the Australian and Puerto Rican Leagues and start up next Thursday and Friday respectively — it’s time for our semi-weekly peek at how the notable minor-leaguers are doing, starting of course with the boys in the AFL: BATTERS PLAYER LG G AB R H 2B …
The Salt River Rafters scored seven times in the 9th as they handed the Mesa Solar Sox their second straight loss, 8-2.
Four Nats played in the contest…
…Brian Goodwin led off and played CF, going 1-for-4 with a stolen base and making two putouts on defense.
…Steve Souza drew a pair of walks, stole a base and scored a run, but also struck out twice to go 0-for-2. Defensively, he was in LF and caught two flyballs.
…Richie Mirowski gave up a run on two hits and struck out one in the top of the 7th, and was in line for the win thanks to the Solar Sox scoring twice in the bottom half of the inning.
…Robert Benincasa gave up a hit and struck out in one in the 8th, earning his first AFL hold.
With the loss, Mesa falls to 7-2-1 but still leads the AFL East by 3½ games.
After battling back from deficits of 3-0 and 9-5, the Solar Sox were finally eclipsed with two runs in the 9th for an 11-9 loss to the Sagauros. Matt Skole took a day off from the field but saw plenty of first base as the 24-year-old singled once and walked three times while batting from …
Thankfully, the focus of these season reviews is on the players, as a team, on the field. Because otherwise the Hagerstown Suns have become — in today’s parlance — a hot mess. Between the prolonged stadium debate and the threats to move the team to Winchester and Fredericksburg, it’s hard not to interpret that the …