Nationals Farm Authority

It was a good night up and down the Nationals organization as five Nationals teams won six games on Tuesday evening (including one very unique win by Potomac).

After a 17-innings affair on Monday, Columbus got just what it needed from RHP Jason Bergmann who went eight strong innings, resting the Clippers bullpen in an 8-1 victory over Indianapolis (box).  Bergmann allowed only one unearned run on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts for his first Triple-A win of the season. CF Ryan Langerhans was 2/3 with a double, home run, three runs, and five RBI. RF Tommy Murphy (double, triple & two runs), 2B Pete Orr (triple, stolen base & three runs), and 3B Yurendell de Caster each had two hits for the Clippers. Langerhans two-run first inning double was all the offense Columbus would eventually need, but the Clippers scored again in the first, twice in third, and one each in innings four, six, and eight.

Today: RHP Dennis Tankersley (0-1, 4.00) wraps up the series in Indianapolis and RHP Ty Taubenheim (2-3, 6.75) at 11:00AM

RHP Marco Estrada went six strong innings, striking out three in the Senators 6-2 win (box/gamer). Estrada allowed only one run on four hits and three walks to even his record at 2-2. Harrisburg manufactured their runs on sacrifice flies, ground outs, and a bases loaded walk. LF Mike Daniel, 2B William Bergolla, and CF Roger Bernadina each had a pair of hits for the Senators. Bergolla had two RBI. Justin Maxwell was 1/4 (ignore the positions, they are incorrect). Luis Jimenez was 1/4 with a home run and three RBI. Notes: Hat top to Geoff Morrow of the Patriot News who pointed out the Altoona gamer which touches on the improvements in Harrisburg.

Today: RHP Tristan Crawford (0-0, 18.00) plays a morning game in Altoona against RHP Josh Hill (2-1, 2.91) at 10:35AM

A rainout on Monday meant the P-Nats were scheduled to play two seven-inning games on Tuesday night and both games were notable in their own right. In the first game, LHP Cory VanAllen and RHP Adam Carr held Winston-Salem to only two base runners in a 1-0 shutout (box). But the big story was game two where the P-Nats were held hitless yet still won the game 3-2 on a combinations of an error, passed ball, three walks, and hustle by LF Dee Brown (box/gamer).

VanAllen was dominant in his start holding the Warthogs to only a double in his seven innings of work, striking out four. The 23-year old lefty is now 3-0 with a 0.66 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over his first five starts with 19 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings of work. Carr picked up his second win of the season with one inning of work with two strikeouts. Potomac could manage only six hits of their own but made the most of them in the bottom of the eighth and final inning. With two outs, RF Steve Doetsch walked and went to second on an infield single by SS Michael Martinez. Doetsch then scored the game-winning run on a walkoff single to center by a rehabbing Elijah Dukes. Dukes was 2/4, hitting leadoff and playing left field. CA Paul Lo Duca also made a rehab start, finishing 0/3.

As notable as the first game was, the second game stile the headlines. Warthogs starter Matt Zaleski held the P-Nats hitless through five innings before turning it over to his bullpen who pitched the final two innings without allowing a hit. The story would have been interesting enough with just a no-hitter, but the sixth inning made the game even moreso. The P-Nats entered the inning down 2-0, CA Brian Peacock reached on an error leading off the inning, followed by walks to both DH Elijah Dukes and 2B Jemel Spearman to load the bases. After a strikeout by 1B Chris Marrero, the P-Nats cut the lead in half on a passed ball. Winston-Salem intentionally walked 3B Leonard Davis to reload the bases and set up a double play. But a bases loaded walk to RF Edgardo baez tied the game at 2-2 setting the stage for Brown. Brown grounded the ball to third base in a potential double play ball, but Brown beat it out allowing Spearman to score the game winning run. LHP Ross Detwiler made the start and had a somewhat improved outing from his last start. He went five innings allowing two runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Detwiler was strong through his first three innings, allowing only one walk and two hits. The fourth inning saw both of his runs on four singles. He worked out of a self-created jam in the fifth, after walking the bases loaded, he got a double play ending the threat. LHP Yunior Novoa and RHP Zech Zinicola pitched the final two shutout innings allowing only one hit. Novoa picked up his first win of the season and Zinicola his second save.

Tonight: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (2-1, 2.21) looks for the series sweep against Winston-Salem and RHP John Ely (0-2, 2.88)at 7:05PM in Woodbridge

Strong defense, pitching and hitting led Hagerstown to a 7-1 win over West Virginia (box/gamer). RHP Colton Willems evened his record at 2-2 allowing only a solo home run among his three hits. Willems went six strong innings, striking out four without walking a batter. RHPs Kyle Gunderson and Edulin Abreu finished it off with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing only one base runner and striking out three. SS Dan Lyons was 2/5 with a triple and solo homer. 1B Bill Rhinehart (one run & one RBI), LF Aaron Seuss (two runs), and RF Michael Burgess (one run & one RBI) each had a pair of hits for the Suns. 3B Steve Souza went 1/4 with two RBI and 2B Jake Smolinski was 1/4 with a double and a run scored.

Today: RHP Brad Peacock (0-1, 6.87) takes the mound for Hagerstown this afternoon against West Virginia RHP Rob Bryson (0-1, 6.23) at 1:05PM

The Washington Post has an article on the decision one high school baseball player faces as the draft approaches, as well as a listing of some other local high schoolers who might be drafted in June.