Columbus won a back and forth game, jumping out to a 3-0 lead before allowing Indianapolis to tie it up before rallying for a 6-4 victory on Wednesday morning (box). RHP Dennis Tankersley pitched five innings allowing three runs on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts. CF Ryan Langerhans continued his hot week with two more hits and one more home run. He finished 2/3 with two RBI. Over his last ten games, Langerhans is batting 0.314 with two home runs and ten RBI. Garrett Guzman delivered a two-run pinch hit triple to drive in the final two Clippers runs. 2B Pete Orr was 2/5 with a triple and two runs scored.
Tonight: Columbus returns home with RHP Garrett Mock (1-0, 4.74) faces off with Lehigh Valley and LHP Brian Mazone (2-3, 3.09) at 7:05PM
Strong pitching and timely hitting helped the Senators to a second win in Altoona 6-2 on Wednesday morning (box/gamer). RHP Tristan Crawford pitched five strong innings, allowing only one run on five hits without walking a batter. RHPs Tim Bittner & Jim Ed Warden combined on the final four innings allowing a lone run on two hits without walking a batter and striking out four. CF Roger Bernadina was the star on offense, going 3/4 with three runs scored, two RBI, two stolen bases and a home run. Bernadina finished April 320/377/433 with two home runs, eleven RBI and 12/13 stolen bases. 1B Andrew Lefave and RF Justin Maxwell each had one hit and one RBI.
Today: RHP Bobby Brownlie (3-0, 2.79) and the Senators look for the sweep in Altoona aginst the Curve and LHP Corey Hamman (0-3, 4.61) at 10:35AM
The Potomac Nationals have scored only five runs in their three games against Winston-Salem but fortunately for the P-Nats, their pitching was up to the task allowing only two runs, capped off by a second 1-0 shutout on Wednesday (box/gamer). RHP Jordan Zimmermann was back to his dominating self, allowing only three base runners over seven innings of work while striking out a season high nine batters, including his final three hitters of the evening. Zimmermann finished his month of April 3-1 with a 1.65ERA. RHPs Carlos Martinez & Zech Zinicola finished off the Warthogs with two innings where they allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two. Zinicola tallied his third save of the season. NOTES: Barry Svrluga mentioned in his Washington Post chat yesterday that LHP Cory VanAllen had been promoted to Harrisburg, I do not doubt it but there has been no official release to that effect. There has also been no release of who would replace VanAllen in Potomac.
Tonight: RHP Adrian Alaniz (2-0, 2.70) takes the mound as Potomac opens a home series with Frederick & RHP Kyle Schmidt (1-0, 4.50) at 7:05PM
Hagerstown fell behind 3-0 early, tried to comeback but an error-laden six run fifth proved impossible to overcome as the Suns dropped a 9-5 decision to the West Virginia Power (box/gamer). RHP Brad Peacock finished a forgettable April allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings. RHP Luis Atilano was hittable in his 3 2/3 innings allowing six hits but was let down by his defense as all three of his runs were unearned. Steve Souza split time between 3B and SS, went 1/3 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. 2B Jake Smolinski was 2/4 with a double, CF Stephen Englund was 2/4 with a run scored, and CA Travis Reagan was 1/4 with a double and two RBI.
Tonight: RHP Hassan Pena (1-1, 3.00) returns from the DL to start the third game of the series against West Virginia & RHP Roque Mercedes (0-1, 8.06) at 6:35PM
eric | 01-May-08 at 8:30 am | Permalink
The rumor mill at Nationals Journal has Zimmermann also moving up to AA. Does this sound premature and when will the team likely announce the moves?
Chris | 01-May-08 at 8:56 am | Permalink
Get Myers up to Potomac
Brian Oliver | 01-May-08 at 9:12 am | Permalink
There has still been no official release on either VanAllen or Zimmermann. Harrisburg plays at 10:35AM today and there is no word in the game notes I just received.
Tom | 01-May-08 at 9:57 am | Permalink
There is no rush to move starters who just pitched. They won’t be playing today.
Pilchard | 01-May-08 at 10:22 am | Permalink
Brian,
How surprised are you by Cory Van Allen’s start to the 2008 season? I looked at his 2007 stats in Hagerstown on baseball cube, and his BB/K ratio really stood out (6/51). That said, he gave up a lot of hits per IP. Does he have plus stuff or is he just on a good run right now?
Brian Oliver | 01-May-08 at 10:58 am | Permalink
VanAllen is an interesting guy.
He looks like a guy with a ceiling of a #3 or 4 SP.
He has a 87-90 ish FB with an a solid CB and CU.
If he can maintain a 6K/IP pace as he progresses while maintaining a 3/1 K/BB ratio he could be a nice find for the Nationals
Ric | 01-May-08 at 11:16 am | Permalink
VanAllen was a highly regarded HS prospect, drafted 3d round in 2003, who went to college at Baylor. He “underperformed” slightly from expectations, but was still highly regarded (ranked #144 overall by BA in 2006). The BA write-up said he had good velocity and possessed the “raw ingredients”, but needed to develop his secondary pitches and refine his control.
Hopefully, he is reaching his potential and will be another nice surprise in the system.
Tofu Dog | 01-May-08 at 12:57 pm | Permalink
It seems a bit early to move Zimmermann and where do both he and VanAllen go in the rotation. Josh Hall has run out of gas and chances maybe but I cannot see anyone else who could be bumped easily from the existing Harrisburg rotation. That said, with Van Allen, Zimmermann, and Martis the rotation there is pretty impressive. Does this mean that Smoker and Meyers are ready to pitch somewhere?