Nationals Farm Authority

Columbus lost two out of three games versus Ottawa over the weekend, but the story was Brandon Watson who established a new International League record with hits in 43 consecutive games. Watson managed two hits on both Friday and Saturday and a single hit on Sunday breaking a 95-year old record by Jack Lelivelt. From the Columbus Dispatch:

Watson’s streak is tied for eighth overall in the minor-league record books with Eddie Marshall (1935), Howie Bendell (1947) and Orlando Moreno (1961). The longest minor-league streak belongs to Joe Wilhoit, who in 1919 hit safely in 69 straight games with the Wichita Witches of the Western League. Joe DiMaggio is second with a 61-game streak he put together with the San Francisco Seals during the 1933 Pacific Coast League season.

Friday night was rehab night for the Clippers with Jason Bergmann and Luis Ayala starting off the game before Emiliano Fruto took over getting the loss in a 4-1 decision (box) to the Lynx. Bergmann pitched three shutout innings allowing two hits and striking out one. Ayala had one inning of one walk relief. Regulary scheduled starter Fruto allowed all four runs on six hits in four innings of work. Aside from the aforementioned Brandon Watson who was 2/4, the only offense from the Clippers was provided by first baseman Larry Broadway who was 1/3 with a solo home run accounting for the only Columbus run.

Tim Redding had his fourth straight solid start for Columbus on Saturday night helping the Clippers to a 5-4 win (box). Redding picked up his ninth win of the season allowing four runs on six hits in six innings, while striking out three. Jermaine Van Buren, Arnie Munoz, and Chris Booker pitched three shutout innings of relief completing the victory. Booker picked up his organization leading 19th save. Shortstop Manny Alexander was the hero on offense, going 3/4 with two runs and three RBI including a two-run home run.

The Clippers battled back from an early six run deficit taking an 8-6 lead in the eighth inning before blowing the lead an eventually the game 9-8 in 11 innings (box). Columbus churned through seven pitchers in the eleven innings with starter Felix Diaz lasting only two innings, allowing five tuns on six hits. Chris Booker blew the two run lead in the bottom of the ninth allowing a game-tying two-run home run and Alex Morales took the loss allowing back-to-back-to-back singles in the bottom of the eleventh. Outfielder Mike Restovich had a three-run home run in the loss.

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Rehabbing pitchers were also the story in Harrisburg on Friday night as Mike O’Connor and Jerome Williams pitched the first seven innings of a 4-3 (box) Senators loss to the Binghamton Mets in eleven innings. O’Connor went the first four allowing one run on five hits while striking out four. Williams went the next three allowing two unearned runs on two hits while striking out three. Reliever Jon Albaladejo took the loss surrendering an eleventh inning run on a triple and then a single. Third baseman Brandon Larson had a solo home run in the defeat.

The Senators blew a solid start by John Lannan, allowing three ninth inning runs in a 3-2 loss (box). Lannan pitched six innings allowing no runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six, cruising through the first four innings allowing only a hit batsman. He pitched himself out of trouble in the fifth and sixth leaving the game witha 1-0 lead. Zech Zinicola added two innings of one hit/one walk relief turning the game over to Brett Campbell in the ninth. After the leadoff hitter reached on an error, Campbell served up a two-run homer to the Mets Caleb Stewart. After allowing two of the next three batters to reach, Campbell was relieved by Gerald Plexico who allowed one inherited runner to score before retiring the side. Centerfielder Roger Bernadina had four hits in the loss.

The Senators salvaged the Sunday game battling back for two ninth inning runs to send the game to extras before walking off with a 7-6 victory (box) in eleven innings. Aside from the fourth inning, staring pitcher Collin Balester turned in a solid outing with a final line of six innings with four runs on three hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. It was in the fourth inning that Balester allowed all of his hits and runs, without that fourth, Balester allowed only two baserunners in five innings with neither getting any farther than second base. First baseman Josh Whitesell had a three-run home run, but the offensive hero was right fielder Steve Mortimer who tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run single and won it for Harrisburg with a walkoff single in the eleventh.

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The P-Nats wrapped up the first half of the Carolina League season taking two out of three games in Frederick.

Rehab night extended itself to the P-Nats on Friday night with John Patterson having a very shaky appearance allowing three runs on three hits and three walks in only 2 1/3 innings of work. Regularly scheduled starter Justin Jones took over and settled the game down with 5 2/3 innings of five hit, no run relief picking up a 12-3 victory (box). Clint Everts had a much better second relief appearance retiring the side in the ninth on only one hit. There were heroes on offense up and down the lineup with only shortstop Ian Desmond not getting a hit. Designated hitter Brian Peacock (2/5 with 3 runs) and right fielder Edgardo Baez (3/4 with 2 runs) each had a home run and three RBI. First baseman Brett McMillan had a home run among his two hits, two runs and two RBI.

Cory VanAllen made his Carolina League debut on Saturday in a game the P-Nats let slip away in extra innings, 9-8 (box). VanAllen allowed four runs on six hits in five innings of work, racking up five strikeouts. With the game tied at five after nine, the P-Nats put three runs on the board in the top of the tenth inning before reliever Gene Yost gave up four runs on three hits and three walks in the botom of the inning. Right fielder Edgardo Baez had two hits and three RBI in the loss.

The P-Nats finished the first half on a winning note, taking the rubber match 6-3 (box) in fourteen innings. Starter Craig Stammen pitched a solid six innings allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits. He only walked one but also only struck out two. Reliever Greg Bunn allowed the game-tying run in the seventh inning, finishing with 1 2/3 innings allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four. Eddy Baeza,  Jack Spradlin, and Clint Everts pitched the final 6 1/3 innings of shutout relief allowing only three hits and striking out five. Center fielder Mike Daniel drove in the winning run in the top of the fourteenth. Daniel finished the game 3/5 with two runs scored, two RBI, and a stolen base. Left fielder Marcos Yepez had four hits and scored three times.

Note: As previously mentioned, outfielder Justin Maxwell was placed on the DL on Friday. Additionally, outfielder Chris Marrero did not play at all over the weekend. No official reason was provided.

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Hagerstown also wrapped up their first half winning two of three games.

After blowing the lead in the top of the ninth, the Suns scratched out a run in the bottom of the frame, winning the game 9-8 (box). Yunior Novoa pitched the first 5 1/3 innings allowing two runs on five hits while walking four and stiking out three. Hagerstown relief was the problem with Josh Wilkie and Aaron Jackson allowing nine hits and six runs in only 3 2/3 innings of work. Fortunately for Hagerstown, the Suns punished Legends pitching as well. Left fielder Marvin Lowrance led the way with a home run, two runs, and three RBI. Center fielder Francisco Plasencia drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly.

Yader Peralta and Zach Baldwin combined on a two-hit shutout on Saturday, defeating Lexongton 5-0 (box). peralta went the first 5 2/3, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four. Baldwin pitched the final 3 1/3, allowing also allowing only one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Catcher Patrick Nichols provided all of the offense the Suns needed with a second inning grand slam.

The Suns could not take the final game with the relief pitching failing in an 8-4 loss (box). Starter Don Levinski held his own in his five innings of work, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks. Relievers Dan Pfau and Chris Lugo then allowed six runs on five hits and six walks in the final four innings. Catcher Jhonathan Solano had two hits and two RBI in the loss.