Nationals Farm Authority

The Nationals have made a couple more moves, one pretty significant:

• LHP Josh Smoker was sent down to the GCL from Hagerstown; RHP Zach Segovia was promoted from the GCL to Hagerstown
• OF Garrett Bass was promoted from the GCL to Hagerstown, replacing Aaron Seuss

Columbus took two out of three from Indianapolis over the weekend, losing 5-2 on Friday (box/gamer) before winning 13-1 on Saturday (box/gamer) and 6-5 on Sunday (box/gamer).

• Friday:  Shairon Martis allowed three runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts; Yurendell de Caster was 1/4 with a home run and two RBI
• Saturday: Tommy Murphy was 3/5 with a double, two runs & two RBI; A rehabbing Austin Kearns was 3/4 with a triple and two RBI; Ryan Langerhans was 2/4 witha double, triple, two RBI & three runs; Rey Olmedo was 3/5 with a double & two runs; Marco Estrada was 1/2 with a walk and three RBI and threw six shutout innings allowing six hits while striking out three
• Sunday: Mike Bacsik, Zech Zinicola and Brian Sanches combined to allow only one run on two hits over the final 4 2/3 innings; Rehabbing Austin Kearns was 2/4 with a doubble, homer and four RBI; Jorge Padilla was 3/5; Ryan Langerhans was 2/4 with a double and two RBI

Record: Columbus 45-37, tied for 2nd place IL West (2GB)

Tonight: RHP Tyler Clippard (4-5, 3.69) versus Toledo RHP Lauren Gagnier (2-2, 5.04) at 7:05PM

Harrisburg was swept in Erie, losing 2-1 on Friday (box/gamer), 5-3 on Saturday (box/gamer), and 11-5 on Sunday (box/gamer).

• Friday: Luis Jimenez was 3/3 with a solo home run; Roger Bernadina was 2/4; Craig Stammen allowed two runs on three hits and three walks over 7IP with two strikeouts
• Saturday: Andrew Lefave was 2/2 wuth two doubles and one RBI; Marcos Yepez & Luis Jimenez each had one RBI; Adam Carr pitched a scoreless inning of relief allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one
• Sunday: Jordan Zimmermann allowed eight runs on nine hits and three walks over 4 1/3IP; Luis Jimenez was 2/4 with a solo homer; Ofilio Castro was 1/3 with a double and two RBI

Record: Harrisburg 44-36, 3rd place EL South (4.5GB)

Tonight: RHP Adrian Alaniz (0-0, 2.65) versus Bowie RHP Jason Berken (5-3, 4.28) at 6:35PM

Potomac took one of their final two games in Myrtle Beach, winning 6-4 on Friday (box/gamer) before losing 12-6 on Saturday (box/gamer); they then opened their series in Kinston with a 6-1 loss on Sunday (box/gamer).

• Friday: Bill Rhinehart was 3/3 with a walk and two runs scored; Brian Finegan & Francisco Plasencia were each 2/4 with one RBI & one run scored; Jhonny Nunez threw five innings allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five; Martin Beno picked up his fifth save despite allowing an unearned run on three walks and an error in the ninth
• Saturday: Bill Rhinehart was 2/5 with a double and run scored; Dee Brown was 2/4 witht wo doubles and one RBI; Brian Peacock was 2/4 with a solo homer; Leonard Davis was 2/5 with a solo homer; Brian Finegan was 1/5 with a solo homer; Ross Detwiler had an ugly outing, walking seven and ollowing three runs on two hits over 3IP with four strikeouts; Alex Morales joined the P-Nats from Harrisburg, allowing three runs on one hit and two walks in an inning of work
• Sunday: Jeff Mandel allowed five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five over 5 1/3IP; Dee Brown was 2/4 with a solo homer

Record: Potomac 7-3, 1st place Carolina North (3 games ahead)

Tonight: RHP Luis Atilano (0-0, ) at Kinston RHP Carlton Smith (5-4, ) 7:00PM

Hagerstown earned a split of their two-game series with Delmarva, winning 7-6 on Friday (box/gamer) and then swept a two-game series with Lake County, winning 6-4 on Saturday (box/gamer) and 4-3 on Sunday (box/gamer).

• Friday: Brad Meyers picked up the win despite allowing five runs on eight hits over 6 2/3IP; Edulin Abreu picked up the save with 2 1/3 innings of relief, allowing a run on three hits with three strikeouts; Stephen King (1/4) & Tim Pahuta (1/3) each had two RBI; Michael Burgess was 1/3 with a double & two runs scored; a rehabbing Austin Kearns was 1/1 with two walks, one run and one RBI; Aaron Seuss was 2/4 with a run; Sean Rooney was 2/2 with a run
• Saturday: Tim Pahuta was 1/4 with a double & three RBI; Michael Burgess was 1/4 with a double & run scored; Erik Arnesen allowed two runs on sixhits and one walks over 5IP with six strikeouts; Kyle Gunderson picked up his fourth save getting the final two outs
• Sunday: Boomer Whiting was 1/3 with a double & two RBI; Michael Burgess was 1/4 with a stolen base and one RBI; Kyle Gunderson picked up his fifth save getting the final two outs

Record: Hagerstown 8-3, 1st place Sally North (1 game ahead)

Tonight: RHP Cole Kimball (3-3, 6.14) versus Lakewood at 7:05PM

Vermont completed a three-game sweep of Lowell with a 2-1 win on Friday (box/gamer) and a 5-1 win on Saturday (box/gamer); and then taking the series opener in Tri-City 11-4 on Sunday (box/gamer).

• Friday: Nick Arata was 1/2 with two walks, one RBI, one run, & three SB; Derek Norris was 1/3 with adouble & one RBI; Tyler Moore was 2/3 with one run; Ricardo Pecina started struck out two, allowing a run on four hits and two walks over 3 1/3IP; Tom Milone picked up the win with three shutout innings of relief, allowing only two hits and striking out one; David Slovak picked up his second save with a scoreless ninth
• Saturday: Tyler Moore and Jose Lozada were each 1/4 with a homer & two RBI; Michael Guerrero was 3/4 with one runs & one RBI; Jesus Valdez was 2/4; Brad Peacock allowed only one run on two hits and two walks over 5IP with six strikeouts; Steve Light picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief, surrendering one hit and two walks while striking out a pair
• Sunday: Tyler Moore was 2/5 with a three-run homer; Steve Souza was 1/4 with a solo homer & two runs scored; Michael Guerrero was 2/4 with a home run, two runs & two RBI; Jesus Valdez was 3/5 with a double, two RBI & three runs scored; Randy Matias made the start, going four scoreless innings allowing only one hit and four walks while striking out seven; Jose Pinales picked up the win, though he allowed two runs (one earned) on three gits and two walks over 3IP

Record: Vermont 7-6, 1st place NYP Stedler (0.5 games ahead)

Tonight: LHP Will Atwood (0-0, 0.00) at Tri-City 7:00PM

The GCL Nationals defeated the GCL Mets 5-3 on Friday (box) and the GCL Marlins 6-5 on Saturday (box). They did not play on Sunday.

• Friday: Jack McGeary allowed two runs on five hits over 5IP striking out six; Zach Segovia picked up the win allowing one run on two hits over 2IP; Brett Sellers was 2/4 with a double; Francisco Soriano was 0/3 with two runs scored; Ronnie Labrie (1/4), Chris Curran (0/4), Dan Killian (0/4), & Yhonson Lopez (0/3) each had one RBI
• Saturday: J.P. Padron was 2/4 with one run & one RBI; Brett Sellers was 1/3 with a double & two runs scored; Yeurys Tejeda was 1/3 with a double & one RBI; former catcher Wilfri Pena made the start allowing one hit over two scoreless innnings of work; Mason Smith picked up the win with two scoreless innings of his own, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out two

Record: GCL National 4-3, 2nd place GCL East (1.5GB)

Today: GCL Nationals host the GCL Cardinals at 12:00PM

The DSL Nationals1 blanked the DSL Padres 8-0 on Friday (box) while the DSL Nationals2 lost to the DSL Tigers 4-3 (box). On Saturday, the DSL Nationals 1 defeated their DSL Nationals 2 counterparts 3-1 on Saturday (box). Neither team played on Sunday.

• Friday (DSL1): Osvaldo Rodriguez threw 5 1/3 shut out innings allowing only two hits and three walks while striking out twelve; Jonathan Molina struck out four over 2 2/3 hitless IP; Eury Perez was 1/5 with a stolen base, run and three RBI; Eduardo Urbina was 1/4 with two RBI; Samuel Gomez, Alexander Romero, & Danny Taveras each scored twice
• Friday (DSL2): Raudy Almonte threw only 2/3 of an inning allowing two unearned runs on two hits and one walk; Rafael Castillo threw 6 1/3 innings of one-hit shtout relief, striking out two
• Saturday (DSL1): Juan Martinez struck out seven over 6IP allowing only one run on four hits and two walks; Ruben De La Rosa picked up his fourth save with 1 1/3 shutout innings, striking out three; Samuel Gomez was 1/3 with a walk and two runs scored; Eduardo Urbina  was 1/4 with one RBI
• Saturday (DSL2): Manuel Rivera allowed two runs (one earned) over 6IP, walking one and striking out six; Jose Altuve was 1/4 with a run scored; Joseph Cabreja was 1/4 with a double; Elvin Cuello was 2/3

Record: DSL Nats1 22-3, 1st place DSL S.D. West (8 games ahead); DSL Nats2 7-18, tied for 3rd place DSL S.D. West (15GB)

Today: DSL Nationals1 at DSL Padres; DSL Nationals2 at DSL Tigers; both at 10:30AM

Here is what I know:

• Moving from the GCL Nationals to Vermont is SS Dani Arias
• Moving from Vermont to Hagerstown is SS Jose Lozada
• Moving from Hagerstown to Potomac are SS Dan Lyons and OF Aaron Seuss
• Moving from Potomac to Harrisburg are OF Edgardo Baez, 1B Bill Rhinehart, and 3B Leonard Davis
• Moving from Harrisburg to Potomac is 1B/OF Andrew Lefave
• Moving from Harrisburg to Columbus are CA Luke Montz and IF Ofilio Castro
• Moving from Columbus to Harrisburg is CA Javi Herrera

Still no word who is heading to Hagerstown to replace Seuss. The Big Board has been updated.

Latest from the Nationals …

The Washington Nationals today announced they have agreed to terms with two players selected in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, right fielder J.R. Higley (ninth round) and right-handed pitcher Christopher Kelley (24th round). To date, they have now agreed to terms with 23 players from this year’s Draft. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden, Vice President of Baseball Operations and Assistant General Manager Mike Rizzo, and Director of Scouting Dana Brown made this joint announcement.

Higley was signed out of Community College while Kelley was a college senior.

I’m not sure why the Nationals have not officially announced the signing of 44th round 1B J.P. Padron who has already been playing for the GCL Nats. That would bring them to 24 signed players (two high schoolers, five from community/junior college, & seventeen from college).

Garrett Mock had a middling start as the Clippers dropped a 7-4 decision to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (box/gamer). Though he struck out six, Mock allowed four runs on five hits and two walks and per the radio play-by-play sounded uncomfortable on the mound from the first inning. Zech Zinicola took the loss surrendering two runs on two hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings of work. Tommy Murphy was 1/4 with a home run & two RBI; Jorge Padilla was 2/4 with two runs scored; and Ed Rogers was 2/4.

Record: Columbus 43-36, tied for 2nd place IL West (3GB)

Tonight: RHP Shairon Martis (0-0, 7.20) versus Indianapolis RHP Jason Davis (4-7, 4.57) at 7:25PM

Mike Hinckley picked up his fourth win of the season with a huge assist to his defense who turned five double plays, as the Senators took their series in Reading with a 6-2 victory (box/feature/gamer). Hinckley allowed only one run on seven hits and three walks over 5 2/3IP. Marcos Yepez had the big blow with a bases clearing double in the second. Yepez finished 2/4 with four RBI. Devin Ivany was 1/3 with a solo home run and two runs scored. Garrett Guzman & Ofilio Castro were each 2/5 with two runs scored.

Record: Harrisburg 44-33, 2nd place EL South (2.5GB)

Tonight: RHP Craig Stammen (0-0, 2.84) at Erie LHP Luke French (4-7, 4.79) 7:05PM

Potomac got their second half off with a win as Justin Jones and two relievers pitched the P-Nats to a 5-2 win in Myrtle Beach (box/gamer). Jones moved to 2-1 on the season allowing only one run on five hits and three walks over six innings, striking out three. Luis Atilano & Josh Wilkie threw the final three innings of relief, giving up only an unearned run on two hits and a walk with Wilkie tallying his second save. Michael Martinez was 2/5 with two runs scored; Matt Rogelstad was 2/4 with one run; and Leonard Davis (1/3), Dee Brown (0/3), & Francisco Plasencia (1/4) each had an RBI for the P-Nats.

Record: Potomac 6-1, 1st place Carolina North (3 games ahead)

Tonight: RHP Jhonny Nunez (1-6, 5.23) at Myrtle Beach RHP Ryne Reynoso (6-5, ) at 7:05PM

Hagerstown struggled mightily in front of a large contingent of Nationals management as the Suns fell 11-5 to Delmarva (box/gamer). Josh Smoker was knocked around for seven runs (six earned) on seven hits (including two home runs) and a walk over four innings of work. Austin Kearns made his first rehab appearance as the Suns DH, finishing 0/2 with a walk and a run scored. Aaron Seuss was 3/4 with a double and run scored; Sean Rooney was 3/5 with one RBI; and, Jake Rogers hit a pinch two-run home run.

Record: Hagerstown 5-3, tied for 1st place Sally North (1 game ahead)

Tonight: RHP Brad Meyers (3-2, 5.74) versus Delmarva RHP Luis Noel (7-2, 2.68) at 7:05PM

Steve Souza led the way on offense as the Monsters defeated Lowell 6-1 (box/gamer). Souza was 3/3 with a double, two homers, & five RBI. Jose Lozada was 3/4 with a double, stolen base, & one run; Nick Arata was 2/4 with two runs; and Jesus Valdez was 2/4 with a double. PJ Dean picked up his first win of the season with six shutout innings, striking out two, and allowing four hits without walking a batter.

Record: Vermont 4-6, 4th place NYP Stedler (2GB)

Tonight: LHP Ricardo Pecina (0-0, 0.00) versus Lowell at 7:05PM

The Thursday GCL Nationals/GCL Dodgers box score has not been updated online as of 7:30AM.

Record: GCL Nationals 2-2, 4th place GCL East (1GB)

Today: GCL Nationals versus GCL Mets 12:00PM

The DSL Nationals 1 defeated the DSL Tigers 4-1 (box). Roberto Herrera allowed one run on one hit and two walks over three innings with two strikeouts. Jose Taveras picked up the win with four shutout innings of one-hit relief, striking out two. Ruben De La Rosa picked up the save with 1 1/3IP, striking out two. Eduardo Urbina was 1/3 with a triple, run, RBI and two stolen bases. Adrian Sanchez 1/4 with a double and RBI. Eury Perez was 1/3 with a walk and a run scored.

Luis Jimenez struck out eleven over six innings as the DSL Nationals 2 defeated the DSL Padres 8-1 (box). Jimenez allowed one run on three hits and only one walk. Francisco Mojica picked up a save with three innings of shutout relief, giving up two hits and one walk while striking out five. Hendry Jimenez was 1/2 with one RBI and two runs scored; Braulio Garcia was 2/4 with a run; and Joseph Cabreja was 1/3 with a double and two runs scored.

Record: DSL Nats1 20-3, 1st place DSL S.D. West (6 games ahead); DSL Nats2 7-16, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (13GB)

Today: DSL Nats1 @ DSL Padres; DSL Nats2 @ DSL Tigers; both at 10:30AM

The 2008 Futures Game roster was announced today and the Nationals have one representative. RHP Shairon Martis who has pitched for the Harrisburg Senators and now the Columbus Clippers was selected as a member of the World team.

The 21-year old native of Curacao is a combined 4-4 with a 4.18ERA in 15 minor league starts (14 in Harrisburg; 1 in Columbus). He has 65 strikeouts and 29 walks in 79 2/3IP.

This Week’s Top Headline

• BY GOLLY, BAEZ!: Potomac OF Edgardo Baez was named the Single-A California/Carolina League All-Star Game MVP, after hitting an opposite-field solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning that lifted the Carolina League to a 3-1 victory at BB&T Coastal Field in Myrtle Beach, SC on Tuesday night…Baez’s blast snapped a 1-1 tie and proved to be the game-winning run…the 21-year-old is the second Washington prospect to be named his league’s All-Star Game MVP, joining INF Bill Rhinehart who earned MVP honors representing Hagerstown at the Single-A South Atlantic League All-Star Game last week…Baez leads the Carolina League with 52 RBI and ranks among league leaders in doubles (t-3rd, 22), home runs (t-4th, 12), slugging percentage (4th, .527) and total bases (5th, 128).

Triple-A Columbus Clippers

• 43-35, 2nd Place, 2.0 Games Back
• COLLIN’S MAULIN’: RHP Collin Balester is 8-1 in 10 starts beginning May 2…the 22-year-old has allowed 2 earned runs or less in his last 5 starting assignments, going 4-0 with a 2.85 ERA (9 ER/28.1 IP) in that span…Balester, selected in the 4th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, is 9-3 with a 4.00 ERA in 15 starts overall…his win total is tied for 2nd in the International League…per Baseball America, the Huntington Beach, CA native entered the season rated as the No. 3 prospect in the Washington system.

Double-A Harrisburg Senators

• 43-33, 2nd Place, 2.5 Games Back
• LOOK, IT’S HIM…IT’S ZIMM!: RHP Jordan Zimmermann owns a 2.01 ERA (5 ER/22.1 IP) and a .164 (13-for-70) batting average against in his last 4 starts…he has allowed 3 earned runs or less in 8 of his 9 starts with the Senators since being promoted from Potomac on May 4…the 22-year-old went 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA (5 ER/27.1 IP) 5 games (4 starts) with the P-Nats…overall, he is a combined 5-2 with a 2.64 ERA and a .194 BAA in 14 appearances (13 starts) with Harrisburg and Potomac…Zimmermann was a second-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.
• SETH NOTICE: INF Seth Bynum has hammered Double-A pitching since being promoted to Harrisburg on June 4…in 20 games with the Senators, he’s batted .322 (19-for-59) with 5 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs, 8 RBI and a .394 on-base percentage…the 27-year-old began the season with Single-A Potomac, where he hit .266 (47-for-177) with 13 doubles, 6 home runs and 30 RBI in 50 games…Bynum was signed as a non-draft free agent in May 2004 out of Indiana University.

Single-A Potomac Nationals

• First Half: 42-28, First Place, 7.0 Games Ahead
• Second Half: 5-1, First Place, 3.0 Games Back
• HE MUST BE A LEO: According to Zodiac lure, Leos love attention and will do anything to get it…this month, INF Leonard Davis has received plenty of attention, swinging one of the hottest bats in the minors at a .447 (34-for-76) clip with 7 doubles, a triple, 5 home runs and 14 RBI in 23 games…Davis has a .512 on-base percentage and .763 slugging percentage in June, while crossing the plate 27 times in 23 contests…the only player in all of the minors who has a higher June batting average is Triple-A Albuquerque (Marlins) OF John Gall at .477…additionally, he has hit safely in 26 of his last 29 games, going 43-for-100 (.430) with 6 homers and 21 RBI in for the season…overall, Davis has batted .342 with 13 home runs and 35 RBI in 59 games…he is 2nd in the Carolina League in batting average and home runs…selected by the Nationals in the 8th round of the 2004 Draft out of Fresno City College (CA), the 24-year-old is playing his 5th season in professional baseball.

Single-A Hagerstown Suns

• First Half: 34-35, 5th Place, 6.5 Games Back
• Second Half: 5-2, T-First Place, 0.0 Games Back
• WILL-EMS POWER: RHP Colton Willems is 1-0 with a 0.87 ERA (2 ER/20.2 IP) in his last 3 outings…including 6.0 innings of one-run ball on Tuesday vs. Lake County (Indians), the 19-year old is 2-1 with a 1.91 ERA (8 ER/37.2 IP) in 6 starts beginning May 26…Willems, selected in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, began the season rated as the No.9 prospect in the Washington chain according to Baseball America.
• THE CAT WITH THE BAT: That Sun out in left field (Aaron Seuss), he’s playing great ball…with doubles and homers, always answers the call…in this month alone, hitting .299 (20-for-67)…numbers like that will keep him off the pine…2 homers this month, that makes 10 for the year…13 RBI (in June), as he shifts to high gear…streaks he can do, with hits in 6 straight…has hits in all except 3 in his last 28 (games)…one’s rarely enough, he prefers to take 2 (22 doubles this season)…not bad for the kid from Cal Baptist U…a 27th rounder in 2007…for the Suns of H-town he’s been a gift sent from heaven.
• EVEN STEPHEN: INF Stephen King has hit safely in 38 of 46 games overall, batting .314 with 14 doubles, 4 homers and 24 RBI…King, a 3rd round selection from the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, is 19-for-57 (.333) with 2 homers and 21 RBI with RISP…after striking out in 38% (64 K/169 AB) of his at-bats through the first 46 games last season, he has improved his strikeout rate, fanning just 20% (38 K/188 AB) of the time in 46 games this season.

Short-Season Single-A Vermont Lake Monsters

• 3-6, 4th Place, 2.0 Games Back
• SHOWING HIS FEATHERS: RHP Brad Peacock tossed 7.0 innings of one-run ball, striking out 6 and walking one in his most recent start Sunday vs. Lowell (Red Sox)…the 20-year-old, selected in the 41st round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a .154 batting average against in 2 starts with the Lake Monsters.

Gulf Coast League Nationals

• 2-2, T-3rd Place, 1.0 Game Back
• ALL SMILES: Including a 2-for-4 game with a 3-run triple yesterday at GCL Cardinals, INF Smiley Gonzalez has posted multi-hit and multi-RBI efforts in 3 of 4 games to begin the season…overall, he is batting .444 with 2 doubles a triple and a team-leading 7 RBI…the 18-year-old signed with the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent July 2, 2006.

Tyler Clippard was unusually wild but relievers Mike Bacsik and Jim Ed Warden settled things down in a 5-1 win against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (box/gamer). Clippard allowed only one run on four hits in his four innings of work but walked five. Bacsik picked up the win with three shutout innings allowing one-hit and striking out four and Warden closed it out with two shutout innings of his own. Yurendell de Caster was 2/4 with two RBI; Tommy Murphy was 2/4 with two runs; and Alex Escobar was 2/4 with a double, run, & RBI.

Record: Columbus 43-35, tied for 2nd place IL West (2GB)

Today: RHP Garrett Mock (4-2, 3.12) at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (pitcher TBD) 1:30PM

Adrian Alaniz had a solid start scattering three runs, seven hits, and two walks over five innings, but Reading broke a seventh inning tie en route to a 5-3 win (box/blog/gamer). Seth Bynum was 3/3 with a double, run and RBI. And, Devin Ivany had a pinch two-run home run.

Record: Harrisburg 43-33, tied for 2nd place EL South (2.5GB)

Tonight: LHP Mike Hinckley (3-2, 5.04) at Reading LHP Fabio Castro (4-0, 4.91) 7:05PM [Live on MASN tonight]

Potomac did not play on Wednesday. They return to action this evening.

Record: Potomac 5-1, 1st place Carolina North (3 games ahead)

Tonight: LHP Justin Jones (1-1, 1.42) at Myrtle Beach (pitcher TBD) 7:05PM

Cole Kimball made his second straight impressive start as the Suns downed the BlueClaws 5-1 (box/gamer). Kimball moved to 3-3 on the season, allowing only one run on three hits over seven innings of  work while striking out six. Dan Lyons was 2/4 with a double run, & RBI; Boomer Whiting was 1/4 with a double, run, & two RBI; and Aaron Seuss & Michael Burgess were each 1/4 with a double & RBI.

Record: Hagerstown 5-2, tied for 1st place Sally North (1 game ahead)

Tonight: LHP Josh Smoker (0-3, 10.93) versus Delmarva (pitcher TBD) 7:05PM

Vermont’s rally fell short on Wednesday in an 8-6 loss to Tri-City (box/gamer). Nick Arata was 1/4 with a triple, run and two RBI. Steve Souza was 1/4 with a double and two RBI. Tyler Moore was 2/4 with a run and RBI. Pat McCoy struck out eight over five innings but allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits and one walk, falling to 0-2 on the season.

Record: Vermont 3-6, 4th place NYP Stedler (3GB)

Tonight: RHP PJ Dean (0-0, 1.50) versus Lowell (pitcher TBD) 7:05PM

The GCL Nationals were outslugged by the GCL Cardinals in a 10-8 defeat (box). Smiley Gonzalez was 2/4 with a triple, two runs and three RBI. Dan Killian was 1/4 with two RBI. JP Padron made his professional debut going 1/4 with one RBI. Yeurys Tejeda was 1/4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Paul Demny made his professional debut, allowing an unearned run on one hit over two innings while striking out three. Former DSLers Marcos Frias & Federico Tanco were touched up for nine runs on eleven hits over six innings though a slew of GCL Nats errors led to only three of the runs being earned.

Record: GCL Nationals 2-2, tied for 3rd place GCL East (1GB)

Tonight: GCL Nationals versus GCL Dodgers at 7:00PM

The DSL Nats1 just keep on the offensive onslaught blasting their DSL Nats2 counterparts 18-5 (box). The DSL Nationals1 have now scored 168 runs in their first 22 games, hitting a collective 272/383/392 with a league leading 14 home runs, 130 RBI, and 72 SB. Not to be outdone, the DSL Nats1 pitching has allowed only 51 runs over their first twenty-two games, this is the third fewest (though it is to be noted that the two teams ahead of them, the DSL Athletics 1 & 2 have allowed 30 & 34 runs in 9 & 11 games respectively). The DSL Nats1 team ERA is a league-leading 1.70, fourth best WHIP of 1.12, and a league-leading 213 strikeouts.

Back to yesterday’s game …

Jose Santana moved to 3-0 on the season, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over seven innings of work for the Nats1. Luis Ortega made the start for the Nats2, surrendering six runs (five earned) on seven hits and four walks over six innings. The Nats2 bullpen was torched for twelve runs (nine earned) on six hits, eight walks, and a hit batter.

Nats1 highlights on offense … Danny Taveras was 1/2 with a run, RBI, three runs, and three stolen bases (19 on the season) … Adrian Sanchez was 2/5 with one stolen base, two runs & three RBI … Samuel Gomez was 1/3 with a triple, two run & three RBI … Eduardo Urbina was 2/5 with one RBI & two runs … Ferdinand Willans was 2/4 with two doubles, one run & one RBI

Nats2 highlights on offense … Elvin Cuello was 1/4 with a home run and two RBI … Franklin Felida was 2/4 with a solo home run …  Braulio Garcia was 2/4 with a home run & two RBI … Andruth Ramirez was 2/4 with a pair of doubles

Record: DSL Nationals 1 19-3, 1st place DSL S.D. West (5.5 games ahead); DSL Nationals 2 6-16, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (13GB)

Today: DSL Nationals 1 versus DSL Tigers; DSL Nationals 2 versus DSL Padres 10:30AM

From a quick scan of the GCL Nationals box score, the Nationals have signed 2008 44th round draft pick 1B JP Padron, a college senior from Rice University. That signing brings the total signed to 22 players from the 2008 draft.

Additionally, I have added a new link to left-hand side of the page. It’s the NFA Draft Track, which provides you the status of every pick the Nationals have made since 2005.

• Players highlighted in green were signed and are still members of the organization
• Players highlighted in red were drafted but not signed by the Nationals. I have done my best to track where these players are
• Players highlighted in dark blue were signed and either released, retired, or traded
• I have not highlighted the players from the 2008 draft who have yet to sign

As with the NFA Big Board, I will try and update this weekly.

Enjoy.

RHP Collin Balester won his ninth game of the season as the Clippers defeated the Yankees 4-2 (box/gamer). Balester allowed two runs on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Balester is now a perfect 4-0 in June with a 2.82 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 22 2/3IP, striking out nineteen. RHPs Levale Speigner, Zech Zinicola, and Brian Sanches pitched the final three scoreless innings of relief giving up a combined three hits and striking out five. Sanches was credited with his eighth save of the season. LF Tommy Murphy was 2/3 with a triple, one run, one RBI, and three stolen bases; RF Jorge Padilla was 2/5 with one run and one stolen base; and 1B Larry Broadway & 3B Yurendell de Caster each had a solo home run for Columbus.

Record: Columbus 42-35, 3rd place IL West (3GB)

Tonight: RHP Tyler Clippard (4-5, 3.78) at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RHP Dan McCutchen (1-5, 4.34) 7:00PM

Harrisburg took an early lead, saw it disappear late but rallied and held on for a 7-6 win in Reading (box/gamer). The Senators were led by 2B William Bergolla (2/4) who homered for his second straight game and drove in four runs (Patriot News feature on Bergolla). CA Luke Montz was 3/5 with a double; RF Garrett Guzman was 2/5 with a triple, one run, & two RBI; and SS Seth Bynum was 2/3 with a double & run scored. RHP Jordan Zimmermann pitched six solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts, but got a no-decision. RHP Tristan Crawford blew a save and picked up the win despite allowing two runs in one inning and RHP Adam Carr got his second save in Harrisburg despite allowing two runs on three hits in his two innings of work.

Record: Harrisburg 43-32, 2nd place EL South (2.5GB)

Tonight: RHP Adrian Alaniz (0-0, 1.50) at Reading RHP Kip Bouknight (3-8, 6.28) 7:05PM

Two All-Star Games for Nationals affiliates. Two MVP awards for Nationals players. OF Edgardo Baez broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the eighth with an opposite field solo home run spurring the Carolina League to a 3-1 win over the California League (box/MiLB gamer/local gamer). Baez was 1/1 with his home run. 2B Matt Rogelstad started for the Carolina League and was 0/2. RHP Josh Wilkie pitched a perfect third inning with two strikeouts.

Record: Potomac 5-1, 1st place Carolina North (3 games ahead)

Tonight: No game scheduled. Potomac resumes the second half tomorrow in Myrtle Beach

Hagerstown blew an early 7-1 lead, falling behind 8-7 in the top of the ninth. They managed to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth and won the game on a Lakewood error in the bottom of the twelfth 9-8 (box/gamer). 1B Tim Pahuta was 3/6 with a home run and four RBI. CA Sean Rooney was 2/6 with a double and two RBI. RF Michael Burgess was 2/5 with a double and RBI. RHP Colton Willems had his second straight solid start in the second half, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over six innings with one strikeout. RHP Ryan Harrison picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out three. Notes: OF Austin Kearns will join the Suns on a rehab assignment beginning on Thursday.

Record: Vermont 3-5, tied for 3rd place NYP Stedler (2GB)

Tonight: LHP Pat McCoy (0-1, 14.73) versus Tri-City at 7:05PM

RHP Steven Stewart walked in the eventual game-winning run as Tri-City edged Vermont 3-2 in ten innings (box/gamer). Stewart gave up one run on one hit, two walks, and one hit batter in his one inning of work. LHP Will Atwood made the start, allowing only one hit in his two innings of work, striking out one. Newly acquired LHP Kevin Light allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over three innings with three strikeouts. And RHP David Slovak struck out four over two one-hit scoreless innings of relief. CF Michael Guerrero was 2/4 with a double and run; RF Jesus Valdez was 1/4 with one RBI; and 1B Tyler Moore was 1/4 with one RBI.

Record: Columbus 42-35, 3rd place IL West (3GB)

Tonight: RHP Tyler Clippard (4-5, 3.78) at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RHP Dan McCutchen (1-5, 4.34) 7:00PM

The GCL Nationals did not play on Tuesday.

Record: GCL Nationals 2-1, 2nd place GCL East (0.5GB)

Today: GCL Nationals at GCL Cardinals at 12:00PM

The DSL Nats1 edged the DSL Padres 3-2 in ten innings (box). DH Danny Taveras was 1/3 with a walks and run scored; RF Angelberth Montilla was 1/4; and 3B Starlin Cespedes was 1/4 with a double & RBI, accounting for all DSL Nats1 hits. RHP Armado De Los Santos pitched six strong innings allowing only one run on six hits and three walks, while striking out five.

The DSL Nats2 had a 6-5 lead entering the eighth but allowed five unanswered runs, losing 10-6 to the DSL Tigers (box). RHP Wanel Vazquez started, allowing three unearned runs on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts. RHP Derlyn Tejada took the loss allowing five runs on five hits and one walk over two innings. 2B Hendry Jimenez was 2/5 with a double, run & two stolen bases (his 9th & 10th of the season). SS Elvin Cuello was 1/4 with two RBI. DH Earving Fernandez  was 2/3 with a double & two runs scored.

Record: DSL Nats1 18-3, 1st place DSL S.D. West (5 games ahead); DSL Nats2 6-15, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (12GB)

Today: DSL Nats1 versus DSL Nats2 at 10:30AM