Note: I am going to be out of town this weekend, so the daily updates will go on a two-day hiatus and return on Monday morning.
Former Clipper Brandon Watson returned to Columbus to haunt his former team as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs won only their fourth game of the season, 5-3 (box/gamer). RHP Garrett Mock started for Columbus, taking the loss, allowing four runs (two earned … though the two unearned runs were the result of Mock’s own error) on seven hits. Mock did not walk a batter and struck out four. RHP Craig Stammen made his first appearance for Columbus, allowing one run on one hit in two innings of work; and, RHP Chris Schroder continued his strong work with one shutout inning of relief with a pair of strikeouts. CA Javi Herrera was 1/4 with a solo home run and CF Ryan Langerhans was 1/4 with a double and RBI in the losing effort. Notes: IF Tony Batista was released prior to last night’s game. Taking his place on the roster was OF Alex Escobar who came off of the DL (hamstring) and started in RF last night, finishing 1/4 with a run scored. OF Elijah Dukes will join the Clippers on an injury rehabilitation assignment.
Tonight: RHP Collin Balester (1-2, 4.24) looks to get Columbus back on track against Lehigh Valley and RHP Ron Chiavacci (1-2, 3.95) at 7:25PM
Harrisburg rode solid pitching from RHP Bobby Brownlie and three home runs to a three-game sweep of the Altoona Curve on Thursday (box/gamer). Brownlie allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings of work to move to 4-0 on the season. The Senators bullpen was a bit shaky but held the Curve to only one run on three hits and three walks over the final three innings to preserve the win. RF Jorge Padilla (1/4) got the offense started with a two-run home run in the top of the second. Not to be outdone, LF Justin Maxwell (1/4) added to the Harrisburg lead with three-run home run, five batters later. CA Luke Montz continued his hot start, going 2/3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. 3B Ofilio Castro was 2/3 with a double and a run scored.
Tonight: The Senators return to City Island with RHP Shairon Martis (1-0, 2.73) taking the mound against Reading LHP Josh Outman (1-2, 3.16) at 6:05PM
Once again, the P-Nats received strong pitching which helped offset a struggling offense. RHPs Adrian Alaniz, Josh Wilkie, & Adam Carr and LHP Jack Spradlin held the Frederick Keys to only four hits and two walks over ten innings as the P-Nats edged the Keys 2-1 (box/gamer). Alaniz had his third straight start without allowing an earned run. Over six innings of work he allowed one unearned run on only two hits and two walks while striking out eight. The lone run scored when Frederick’s Chris Amador reached on an error by SS Seth Bynum, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by CA Brian Peacock and then scored on a groundout. Spradlin and Wilkie went the next 2 2/3 innings of shut out relief allowing only two baserunners. RHP Adam Carr picked up the win by getting the P-Nats out of trouble in the ninth, striking out the Keys Billy Rowell with runners on second and third and two outs. He then pitched a perfect tenth setting the stage for the P-Nats win. Potomac walked off with their win on a throwing error by Frederick RP Ryan Ouellette. 3B Leonard Davis led off the bottom of the tenth with a double. When RF Edgardo Baez laid down his sacrifice bunt, Ouellette threw the ball away allowing Davis to score from second base for the win. Davis was 2/4 with a pair of doubles and one RBI and 1B Chris Marrero was 2/3 with am walk and run scored. Davis and Marrero’s four hits were the only ones allowed by Keys pitching.
Tonight: RHP Jhonny Nuñez (0-3, 5.11) looks to extend the Potomac winning streak to five games against Fredrick and RHP Brandon Erbe (3-1, 2.73) at 7:05PM
The Suns fell behind early and could not manage a comeback in their 6-2 loss to West Virginia (box/gamer). RHP Hassan Pena came off of the DL (tired arm) and took the loss allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk over three innings of work, striking out three. Errors by 3B Steve Souza and 2B Jake Smolinski in the top of the second gave the Power five outs and led to the two unearned runs. LHP Atahaulpa Severino allowed a run on three hits and two walks over his two innings of work and RHP Erik Arnesen allowed two runs in an extended relief appearance. Over his four innings of work, he allowed four hits and a walk while striking out one. 1B Bill Rhinehart was 3/4 with a double and one RBI. DH Tim Pahuta was 1/3 with a walk and a solo home run. And Souza and Smolinski each finished 1/4.
Tonight: Hagerstown looks to split their four-game series with West Virginia at 6:35PM. Pitchers TBD.
Nate | 02-May-08 at 10:26 am | Permalink
Time off? A personal life? No sir, I don’t like it. Not one bit.
Brian Oliver | 02-May-08 at 10:32 am | Permalink
Just wait until next week. A longer break is on deck.
Wooden U. Lykteneau | 02-May-08 at 1:19 pm | Permalink
Pinch-hitting for Brian, let me comment that Marrero may be coming out of his funk, with two pulled hits and a walk last night in Woodbridge. Perviously, it seemed that he was unable (or unwilling) to not go to RCF and teams were playing him accordingly.
John | 02-May-08 at 1:26 pm | Permalink
Totally random and off topic, but Burgess has nine outfield assists already. Six at second, one at third, and two at home.
BristowNats | 03-May-08 at 10:42 am | Permalink
I saw on ballparkdigest.com that the O’s are looking for a High A FSL team. Does this mean they are looking toi get out of the Carolina League or do I have my levels confused again?
Tom | 03-May-08 at 1:36 pm | Permalink
Tony Batista was released Thursday.
Suns Fan | 04-May-08 at 9:16 pm | Permalink
Frederick is good for the Orioles. They draw pretty well. The stadium is reasonable. The city of Frederick just dumped a million into a stadium remodeling. I wouldn’t see why they’d want to move.
That said, what I fear happening is the Os moving to the Florida League. Potomac going to the Sally League and the Suns moving down to Frederick. The Frederick Politicians would be pissed. They have a double A stadium down there, and to go to low A would irritate them. But it could be a reality. Mandalay and the City of Hagerstown have a contract that should keep Mandalay’s Sally franchise in Hagerstown through 2009 (a condition of the infield rebuild). Hagerstown’s Municipal elections are in May of 2009, and a new administration (here the City Council, not the Mayor, has the most clout) will take office then.
My guess is that the outcome of those elections will determine whether the Suns stay here or not. There is one piece of good news though: they’re going to be demolishing the hospital in 2010, and that is prime, prime real estate for a new stadium/downtown redevelopment project. The bad news: the County Commission–which passed a hotel motel tax specifically to aid in the construction of a new stadium–ended up using that tax to cover operating expenses. Their elections are not until 2010. Still, I think a public/private partnership with the city has a chance of working. It’d be difficult to pass though. And if people were advocating for it: push Little League. Allow the Little League to have its championship game there. Did I say push Little League?