Nationals Farm Authority

Columbus Clippers (4-3)

Day	Result
4/10	W 1-0
4/11	L 1-4
4/12	L 4-9
4/13	L 5-6
4/14	W 2-1
4/15	W 5-4
4/16	W 7-2

The Clippers’ second week saw some improvement with some solid starting pitching and league average hitting.

Unlike the first week whcih saw the Clippers outsocred by 19 runs, Columbus shrank that to only -1 in week two (25 runs scored; 26 runs allowed). That was primarily the responsibility of the starting pitching. Five of the starts this week put the Clippers in a position where they could win, RHSPs Collin Balester, Garrett Mock, & Tyler Clippard and LHSP Mike O’Connor combined for 27 innings surrendering only 4 runs on 20 hits and 7 walks with 33 strikeouts. Offensively, the team hit a combined 225 and slugged only 347 (bottom third in the International League). The offense is still struggling and hopefully as the bats will warm up along witht he weather.

 Hitter of the week: 2B/3B Pete Orr - Orr played in all seven Clippers games this week hitting only 259 but slugging at a 556 clip with one double, two triples, one home run and nine RBI. Orr split his time between 2B and 3B for Columbus.

 Pitcher of the week: RHRP Collin Balester - Balester made two starts this past week with a 1-0 record, 0.00ERA, and 0.80 WHIP. Over 10 innings of work, he allowed only four hits while striking out eleven.

Least valuable player: IF Rey Olmedo - Olmedo had only three hits on the week, hitting 150 with only one run scored.

Harrisburg Senators (4-3)

Day	Result
4/10	W 3-1
4/11	W 8-4
4/12	L 0-4
4/13	L 4-8
4/14	W 8-2
4/15	W 8-2
4/16	L 4-5

The Senators had an identical 4-3 record on the week with a mixed bag of results on offense and pitching. Their starting pitching was respectable with RHPs Shairon Martis, Josh Hall, Marco Estrada, and Bobby Brownlie. The four were a combined 3-1 with a 2.75ERA and 1.19WHIP over 32 2/3IP. Offensively, Harrisburg was led by four players. CA Luke Montz, 3B Yurendell de Caster, and OFs Justin Maxwell and Jorge Padilla. The four combined to bat 0.357, slug 0.560 and drive in 19 of the Senators 35 runs on the week. Of note, the Senators began running this week stealing a league leading 16 bases in 21 attempts, led by OF Roger Bernadina who was a perfect 5/5.

 Hitter of the week: 1B/DH Justin Maxwell - Maxwell had a much improved second week of the season with an OPS of 1.119, hitting one home run and scoring & driving in six runs. His plate patience also deserves attention as he managed 7 walks in 29 plate appearances.

 Pitcher of the week: RHSP Shairon Martis - 1-0 with a 2.61ERA and 1.26WHIP in two starts. Martis managed only 10 2/3 innings of work in his two starts  with eight strikeouts.

Least valuable player: RHSP Ismael Ramirez - Ramirez was torched for seven runs on nine hits and five walks in his only start this week.

Potomac Nationals (7-0)

Day	Result
4/10	W 3-2
4/11	W 12-5
4/12	W 8-7
4/13	W 9-4
4/14	W 10-4
4/15	W 5-2
4/16	W 4-3

The P-Nats finished the second week of the season on a 10-game winning streak. They are the hottest team in the Carolina League. They are the hottest team in the Nationals organization. They are probably the hottest team in all the minor leagues. Potomac has one close games. Pitcher’s duels. Blowouts. Extra innings. They have combined solid starting pitching with excellent relief pitching and got offense from up and down their lineup in a 7-0 week. Their starting pitching pitched 35 1/3 innings allowing 36 hits and 12 runs with a 32/12 K/BB ratio. Their bullpen has been even better, taking a one inning blow-up by Jack Spradlin out of the equation, they’ve allowed only six runs on 25 hits and 10 walks over 30 2/3 innings of work (1.76ERA and 1.14WHIP) with 27 strikeouts. The relievers combined for 4-0 record with 3 saves. The P-Nats offense has also put up the numbers hitting a league-leading 8 home runs on the week (by eight different players). They also led the league in runs, total bases, and doubles.

 Hitter of the week: IF Matt Rogelstad - Rogelstad is the selection but there were several other worthy candidates. Rogelstad hit 0.417 and slugged 0.708 on the week with four doubles, a home run and four RBI on the week.

[no photo] Pitcher of the week: RHSP Jhonny Nuñez - 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA & 1.30 WHIP. Another hard choice but Nuñez gets the nod here based on two starts (10IP) allowing three runs on eleven hits and two walks with thirteen strikeouts. It just as easily could have gone to LHSP Cory VanAllen (2-0, 0.87ERA and 1.45WHIP over two apperances) or RHSP Jordan Zimmermann (1-0, 1.59ERA and 0.53WHIP over one start)

Least valuable player: RHSP Adrian Alaniz - Alaniz is the choice here given he put up the weakest of the starting performances for the week. He allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks in just four innings of work.

Hagerstown Suns (3-5)

Day	Result
4/10	L 5-7
4/11	ppd rain
4/12	W 2-0; W 8-0
4/13	L 7-9
4/14	L 6-7
4/15	L 2-6; W 5-0
4/16	L 1-10

Hagerstown had a rough week, dropping 5 out of their 8 decisions. The culprit in their struggles was their pitching. Aside from RHSPs Colton Willems and Cole Kimball, the Suns pitching was not very good. The team ERA for the week was 5.28 and they had a collective WHIP of 1.53. A silver lining was the fact the Suns walked only 15 batters while striking out 53 in their 61 1/3 innings of work. On offense, the Suns saw contributions continue from 1B Bill Rhinehart as well as an excellent debut from 3B Steven Souza, who joined Hagerstown when Stephen King was placed on the DL. Souza batted 364/417/545 for the week with a home run and three stolen bases.

 Hitter of the week: 1B Bill Rhinehart. Once again Rhinehart wins the honors. He batted 375 and slugged 542, playing in all eight Suns games this week. He had 1 homer and 4 RBI while providing solid defense at 1B.

 Pitchers of the week: RHSPs Cole Kimball (left) & Colton Willems (right). The two starters from Saturday night’s doubleheader earn the co-honor with a pair of shutouts. The two each picked up a win with a combined 11 innings, surrendering only seven hits and four walks, while striking out eight.

Least valuable player: RF Michael Burgess - The early struggles continued for the 2007 supplemental first round selection. In 24 games, Burgess batted only 0.125 with 10 strikeouts in his 28 plate appearances.