The Clippers got to face off against a big name as Curt Schilling made the rehab start for Pawtucket who won the game 5-4 on a bases loaded walk in the tenth (box/gamer). Collin Balester started for the Clippers allowing four runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. Balester walked two and struck out four. Over his four Triple-A starts, Balester is 1-1 with a 4.87ERA, 1.55WHIP, 16 strikeouts and 11 walks over 20 1/3 innings. Chris Booker took the loss in relief allowing one run in two innings with one hit and three walks, including a bases loaded one in the top of the tenth resulting in the final score. 3B Kory Casto was 1/5 with a three-run triple and DH Mike Restovich was 2/5 with a triple and one RBI. 2B Bernie Castro was 2/4 with a run scored and is batting 0.500 (9/18) over his last four games.
Tonight: Columbus hits the road to open a series in Durham at 7:00PM RHP Josh Hall (1-0, 1.80) makes his second Clippers start against the Bulls RHP Jae Seo (5-1, 2.79)
A six-run first inning was all Harrisburg needed as the Senators snapped a five-game losing streak, blasting the Fisher Cats 10-1 (box). Every Harrisburg starter except 1B Josh Whitesell had a hit and either scored a run or drove one in. RF Frank Diaz led the way going 4/5 with two runs scored, a double, home run, and five RBI. Diaz finished a strong July where he hit 290/337/591 with 8 home runs and 20 RBI. 3B Dan Dement was 3/5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. LF Sheldon Fulse and SS Seth Bynum each had two RBI. All of this was more than enough offense for Beltran Perez who combined with Alex Morales and Zech Zinicola to shut down New Hampshire on one run and seven hits. Perez allowed six runs, two walks and four strikeouts over seven shutout innings; Morales one run on one hit in one inning; and, Zinicola pitched a perfect ninth.
Tonight: RHP Jim Magrane (2-8, 4.25) takes on LHP Kurt Isenberg (3-8, 5.83) as the home series against New Hampshire continues at 6:35PM
Marco Estrada’s struggles since his return to Potomac continued as the P-Nats lost a second straight game to Wilmington 7-3 (box/gamer). Estrada fell to 1-2 allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks in only three innings of work. In his four starts since the return from the DL, Estrada is 0-2 with a 7.71ERA and 1.82WHIP. Clint Everts came on in relief and struck out five over three innings of work allowing one run on three hits. DH Mike Daniel was 2/4 with a two-run home run. Daniel batted 385/426/594 in 25 July games with 15 extra-base hits, 16 RBI and 6 stolen bases. CF Justin Maxwell was 0/4 and LF Chris Marrero was 0/3 with a walk. 3B Greg Thissen also homered for the P-Nats.
Tonight: The brief three-game home series wraps up tonight as Potomac LHP Cory VanAllen (1-5, 8.07) matched up with Wilmington RHP Tyler Chambliss (3-2, 4.94) at 7:35PM
2007 draft pick Brad Meyers made his Hagerstown debut yesterday as the Suns edged out Augusta 3-2 (box). The 2007 5th rounder picked up the win with five shutout innings allowing only three hits, one walk, and striking out one. Yader Peralta, Coby Mavroulis, and Josh Wilkie combined on the final four innings of one hit relief allowing two unearned runs. CF Francisco Plasencia was 2/4 with a double and a solo homer and 3B Leonard Davis was 1/3 with a two-run home run for the Suns.
Tonight: Hagerstown plays a doubleheader against Augusta at 6:05PM. RHP Jhonny Nunez (2-6, 3.87) and RHP Erik Arnesen (4-5, 5.18) are the likely starters for the Suns.
After an amazing comeback in a 12-10 slugfest on Monday night, the Lake Monsters got back to what they know best, solid starting pitching as Vermont dumped Hudson Valley 6-1 behind the pitching of Jordan Zimmermann (box/gamer). Zimmermann was perfect for the first three innings and ended his evening giving up only four hits and one walk over six shutout innings with four strikeouts. Zimmermann is now 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA in five starts for Vermont, over 21 2/3 innings, he has struck out 28 and walked six. DH Garrett Bass was 2/4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two stolen bases. LF Boomer Whiting was 2/4 with a run scored and a stolen base. And 2B Jake Rogers and SS Dan Lyons each had two hits and one RBI for Vermont.
Today: RHP Adrian Alaniz (5-0, 0.57) makes the start at 1:05PM against Hudson Valley
Nationals LHP Micah Bowie made a rehab start for the GCL Nationals in a game suspended by rain in the top of the fourth with the GCL Nationals leading 11-0 (box). Bowie pitched three shutout innings allowing only two hits and striking out three. The GCL Nats scored all of their runs in an eleven run third. RF Michael Burgess was 1/2 with a walk, two runs scored, a home run and four RBI. SS Stephe King was 1/3 with a pair of RBI. CF Stephen Englund was 1/2 with one RBI and two runs scored. DH Derek Norris was 2/3 with a double and a solo home run. And 3B Steven Souza was 1/3 with two RBI.
The GCL Nationals are off today.
The DSL Nationals1 did not play yesterday.
Today: The DSL Nationals visit the DSL Padres at 11:00AM
18-year old 1B Juan Urdanetea hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth as the DSL Nationals2 defeated the DSL Padres 4-3 (box). 21-year old RHP Yael Arias made the start allowing three runs on three hits and four walks over five innings while striking out three. 20-year old RHP Ruben de la Rosa evened his record at 3-3 with four innings of two-hit shutout relief, walking two and striking out five. 17-year old 2B Hendry Jimenez was 2/3 with a walk and a run scored. 20-year old RF Samuel Gomez was 2/4 with his first homer of 2007 and two RBI.
The DSL Nationals2 do not play today.
bdrube | 01-Aug-07 at 9:28 am | Permalink
You have forgot to mention the fact that the Nats FINALLY have a first place minor league team.
You go Lake Monsters!
A DC Wonk | 01-Aug-07 at 9:38 am | Permalink
OK, I’m kinda repetitive, but I love Vermont pitching. Here are what we have as starters:
Adrian Alaniz, 23, 5-0, 0.57 ERA, went 6 innings in each of his last three starts (oh, and a 9.00 K/BB ratio!), WHIP 0.57
Glenn Gibson, 19-3/4, 3-0, 0.72 ERA, of his seven appearances, 6 have been for 5 or 6 innings, 6.00 K/BB ratio!, WHIP 0.82
Jordan Zimmermann, 23, 2-1, 2.03 ERA, 3.89 K/BB, WHIP 1.01
Colton Willems, 19 last week, 3-0, 2.36 ERA, too many walks (17 in 34 IP), WHIP 1.48
I’ve asked before about promoting Gibson, and the standard line is that he’s too young. OK, that makes sense. But now that I see the ages, let me ask the same question on Alaniz. How soon will it be time for him to face some better competition?
(And for hitting: Aaron Suess, OF, 22, .361/397/484 and Bill Rhinehart, 1b, 22-1/2, 314/386/431)
Brian Oliver | 01-Aug-07 at 9:44 am | Permalink
DCW - I’ve asked the question.
I think it may be more a function of having the arms behind them to backfill. If there aren’t enough arms in the GCL to roster the replacements in Vermont and still have enough bodies for Viera, it could prohibit upward movement.
Additionally, if you weigh the increase in level of competition between the Sally League and the NY/Penn League at this point in 2007, I’m not so sure the talent level is that much higher (thus the challenge greater) between the two. But I could be wrong
Louis J. | 01-Aug-07 at 9:56 am | Permalink
DC Wonk
Amen on the young pitchers in Vermont. Don’t forget Brad Myers at Hagerstown and Ross Detwiler at GCL. If they can sign Smoker and/or McGreary plus the existing Marrero, Burgess, etc. and 2006/2007 were super drafts (and 2005 wasn’t that bad with Zimmerman, Maxwell and Daniel). With time and patience, the Nationals may soon have one of the best minor league systems. Amen to Kasten, Bowden and the scouts. I’m becoming a believer.
Dick | 01-Aug-07 at 10:10 am | Permalink
Meyers has yet to allow a run in 14 innings!
All of these pitchers (except maybe Willems) throw strikes and don’t walk anybody. I HATE walks (just ask my wife). All of these strike throwers have me excited.
It seems like every day a couple of guys pitch a shutout. Two yesterday, Meyers and Zimmermann!
I still think a lot of these guys are going to quickly pass Balester as a prospect. We’ll see; I do recognize that Balester is younger than Alaniz, Zimmermann and Meyers and is pitching in AAA.
Louis J. | 01-Aug-07 at 10:19 am | Permalink
To anyone>>
I’m interested in some information from someone who saw Aaron Seuss and Caleb Staudt play/pitch at Vermont. They both had very good college careers but at small schools. Since they’re having good years at Vermont, do they have ML potential? What tools (power, arm, defense, speed) does Seuss have? Is Staudt a starter, closer, setup man or short relief and what is his pitch repertiore?
Sorry for the details but anyone can help with the information, I would be appreciative. Thanks.
Greg | 01-Aug-07 at 11:57 am | Permalink
First time poster, long time visitor. Love the site. Was wondering if you could keep us in the loop of when Ross’s start at Potomac happens. Really want to get out there to see it, along with Maxwell, Daniel, and Marrero.
Brian Oliver | 01-Aug-07 at 12:06 pm | Permalink
Greg - Everyone will be made well-aware when Detwiler shifts to Potomac. the Nationals will be publicize that, I’m sure
Paul | 01-Aug-07 at 12:10 pm | Permalink
Another day of positive news from the pitching prospects- checking the box scores to see all the zeros they’ve been posting has become one of my favorite parts of the work day.
It’s great to see the success that the Lake Monsters are having and Vermonters must be noticing because they had their biggest crowd of the season last night.
They might as well keep that rotation together for the rest of the year and bump Gibson/Willems to Hagerstown and Zimmermann/Alaniz to Potomac to start 2008.
chris | 01-Aug-07 at 12:23 pm | Permalink
I was really impressed with Seuss when I saw him twice at Staten Island. He has a quick, compact stroke with good plate discipline. I liked him better than Bass in the games I saw. He made all the regular plays in Right, and showed a good arm on a sac fly where the runner bluffed going to third. Hes going ot have to develop a bit more power to play a corner of spot (only 2 HRs in 122 ABs)
Re the Vermont pitching. I think we could go with a rotation of Gibson, Kimball, Pena, Willems and Matthew Perks (or a rotating 5th starter). With both Zimmerman and Alaniz 23 and high draft picks, I think they need to be pushed.
Like I said before, the Hagerstown team should be stacked next year with Rheinhart, King, Smiley (hopefully), Souza, Seuss/Smolinski, Englund and Burgess with Gibson, Willems, McCoy and hopefully Smoker. I hope they try to keep guys together that they hold in high regard.
John | 01-Aug-07 at 12:36 pm | Permalink
I would think Smoker would start in Vermont, with no pro or college experience.
I wonder if they’d start Seuss and Rhinehert in Potomac. They’ll both be 23. If Smolinski is moved to first and DSL all-star Eduardo Urbina makes a good impression in Viera, there could be a logjam at 1B in Hagerstown.
Chris | 01-Aug-07 at 2:13 pm | Permalink
John- I was hoping Smoker signs soon and gets a couple starts in the GCL this summer.
Good point about Seuss and Rheinhart, they probably would be better in Potomac
John | 01-Aug-07 at 2:18 pm | Permalink
Chris: Didn’t Gibson and Willems have limited innings last year? I could be wrong, but my impression is the Nats take it slow with their prospects. I’d love to see him Hagerstown next year, I’d just be surprised. Either way, I hope he signs and does as well as the other young pitchers.
I’m still crossing my fingers on McGeary, but it doesn’t look good. If they don’t sign him, I hope they can get a good international pitcher like Israel Perez or Carlos Flores.
Tom | 01-Aug-07 at 4:50 pm | Permalink
Has anyone noticed Larry Braodway is now batting .243. That’s over .050 improvement in the last month. And Frankie Diaz is also making up lost ground.
John | 01-Aug-07 at 5:34 pm | Permalink
And Ian Desmond is batting over .300 with four home runs and four doubles in his last eleven games. Hopefully, these are all good signs and not just hot streaks.