Note: I’ll be heading out of town for the July 4th weekend. Northwestern Arkansas here I come (and yes, I’ll be checking out their minor league team while I’m down there). Back home on Sunday evening. NFA will be quiet in the interim.
Columbus took their second straight from Toledo, defeating the Mud Hens 5-3 (box/gamer). The 21-year old Shairon Martis made the start allowing two runs on six hits and five walks over 5 2/3IP with six strikeouts. 23-year old RHP Zech Zinicola picked up the win with 2/3IP allowing an unearned run on two hits. Brian Sanches picked up his 10th save with a scoreless ninth, striking out two. A rehabbing Austin Kearns was 0/1 with a walk while filling in as the DH. Ed Rogers was 1/2 with a double and two RBI; Dave Wallace was 2/4 with a double & run scored; Pete Orr was 2/4 with a triple & stolen base; and 24-year old Ofilio Castro was 2/4 with a double, run, & RBI. Notes: LHP Matt Chico will have Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. The typical recovery time is anywhere from 12 to 18 months, so the best case scenario is he is back towards the end of the 2009 season, but it seems more likely to expect him back for spring training 2010.
Record: Columbus 47-38, tied for 2nd place IL West (1GB)
Tonight: RHP Marco Estrada (2-1, 3.50) hosts Toledo RHP Aquilino Lopez (0-0, 2.45) at 7:05PM
Harrisburg snapped their losing five-game streak, beating Bowie in walk-off fashion 4-3 (box/gamer).24-year old RHP Craig Stammen allowed only one run on five hits and three walks over his 5IP, while striking out seven. 24-year old RHP Adam Carr saw both ends of the spectrum, the lows of blowing a save in the top of the ninth, but picking up his first 2008 win in Harrisburg. 23-year old 1B Bill Rhinehart was 2/4 with a bases-clearing double that temporarily put the Senators ahead 3-1. 23-year old CF Mike Daniel was 2/5 with a double and two runs scored; 24-year old 3B Leonard Davis was 2/3 with a walk; and 22-year old RF Edgardo Baez was 1/3 with a walk & two stolen bases. Notes: It is expected that 23-year old LHP Justin Jones will be promoted to Harrisburg some time over the next couple of days. No word on who he will replace on the roster.
Record: Harrisburg 45-38, 3rd place EL South (6.5GB)
Tonight: RHP Bobbie Brownlie (6-0, 3.33) hosts Bowie RHP Chorye Spoone (3-3, 4.21) at 6:35PM
The P-Nats were blanked 8-0 by Myrtle Beach in their return to the Pfitz (box/gamer). 22-year old RHP Jhonny Nunez was touched up for five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks over 5 1/3IP though he did strike out nine. The P-Nats managed only four hits on offense, singles by 25-year old 3B Matt Rogelstad and 23-year old SS Dan Lyons; and doubles by 24-year old CF Francisco Plasencia and 23-year old RF Aaron Seuss.
Record: Potomac 9-4, 1st place Carolina North (2 games ahead)
Tonight: LHP Ross Detwiler (5-4, 5.86) hosts Myrtle Beach LHP Scott Diamond (6-1, 2.86) at 7:05PM
Hagerstown did not play on Wednesday.
Record: Hagerstown 8-5, 2nd place Sally North (1GB)
Tonight: RHP Brad Meyers (4-2, 5.88) at West Virginia 7:05PM
Vermont won their seventh straight, winning their first game at State College 7-2 (box/gamer). 19-year old P.J. Dean moved to 2-0 with six shutout innings allowing only one hit and two walks with five strikeouts. 20-year old LHP Steve Light picked up the save with three innings of one-hit relief, allowing two unearned runs. 21-year old 2B Nick Arata was 2/4 with a triple and two runs scored; 20-year old LF Stephen Englund was 1/4 with a solo home run; and 19-year old DH Derek Norris was 1/3 with a homer and three RBI.
Record: Vermont 10-6, 1st place NYP Stedler (2 games ahead)
Tonight: LHP Tommy Milone (1-0, 0.00) at State College 7:05PM
The GCL Nationals were once again postponed by rain.
Record: GCL Nationals 5-3, 2nd place GCL East (1.5GB)
Today: GCL Nationals hosts GCL Marlins 12:00PM
The DSL Nats1 blanked the DSL Padres 3-0 (box). 20-year old LHP Roberto Herrera made his second start of the season, striking out 12 over six two-hit shutout innings. 22-year old RHP Jonathan Molina & 19-year old RHP Wilson Eusebio combined for five strikeouts over three innings of relief. 18-year old CF Eury Perez was 3/4 with one RBI; 20-year old SS Starlin Cespedes was 1/4 with a double & RBI; and 19-year old SS Eleazar Cuevas was 1/3 with a double & RBI.
The DSL Nats2 jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 6-2 win over the DSL Tigers (box). 19-year old RHP Luis Jimenez moved to 3-1 with six innings of work, allowing only an unearned run on three hits while strking out six. 18-year old SS Hendry Jimenez was 2/4 with a double & run scored; 19-year old 3B Earving Fernandez was 2/4 with a run scored; and 20-year old 1B Braulio Garcia & 18-year old RF Joseph Cabreja each had two RBI.
Record: DSL Nats1 25-3, 1st place DSL S.D. West (11 games ahead); DSL Nats2 9-19, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (16GB) Today: DSL Nats2 versus DSL Nats1 at 10:30AM
Chris | 03-Jul-08 at 9:18 am | Permalink
Great PJ Dean start, Monsters are playing very well. Derek Norris is becoming a favorite quickly too
Do the GCL teams make those games up or do they just let it go?
Brian Oliver | 03-Jul-08 at 9:23 am | Permalink
They typically attempt to make them up with doubleheaders. Since the GCL Nationals only play the GCL Mets, Dodgers, Cardinals, & Marlins (the other GCL East teams), it’s easier to make them up.
Chris | 03-Jul-08 at 9:51 am | Permalink
Ah that makes sense, must be nice playing a doubleheader when its 95 degrees
e | 03-Jul-08 at 9:55 am | Permalink
re: Justin Jones getting called up to Harrisburg, perhaps the Senators could send Jack Spradlin back down to Potomac, move Mike Hinckley back to the pen and give Jones Hinckley’s spot in the rotation. I have been very impressed with Jones’ work so far since coming off of his surgery.
Also, man are the DSL Nats1 tearing it up or what? 25-3?! I know they only play three other teams, but still, that’s darned good.
Ronny | 03-Jul-08 at 10:17 am | Permalink
Brian- What is Justin Jones ceiling, are they projecting him to be a top of the rotation starting pitcher or what?
Brian Oliver | 03-Jul-08 at 10:24 am | Permalink
Jones is another in the long lines of possible back of the rotation guys. He’s lefthanded which will allow him more opportunity for success.
Tofu Dog | 03-Jul-08 at 10:27 am | Permalink
Chris, PJ Dean looks very good. Wonder if he gets bumped in all the shuffling that is going on, or they let him stay in Vermont. He is still pretty young.
Mark | 03-Jul-08 at 10:36 am | Permalink
Brian - DSL Nats #2 - Luis Jiminez should read Hendry Jimenez. Luis’ spot in Harrisburg is fairly secure right now!
Mark | 03-Jul-08 at 10:38 am | Permalink
Oh SNAP! There IS a Luis on DSL#2. My bad…
Greg | 03-Jul-08 at 11:08 am | Permalink
Any chance Eury gets bumped to GCL or Vermont? I’m not sure how it works in the DSL…
Brian Oliver | 03-Jul-08 at 11:14 am | Permalink
Greg - It doesn’t happen often but there have been some players who have made the mid-season move from the DSL to the GCL.
Atahualpa Severino and Luis Castillo did it in 2007
Greg | 03-Jul-08 at 11:25 am | Permalink
Interesting…Thanks!!
expo_ram | 03-Jul-08 at 12:19 pm | Permalink
Add Dean and Jones to the list of Willems, Detwiler, Smoker, Zimmermann, McGeary, Alaniz, VanAllen, Carr, Estrada, Mock, Clippard, Balester, Zinicola, Martis, and hopefully Crowe.
Where is Jaime? Hopefully a couple of the DSL1 pitchers could move up too.
A DC Wonk | 03-Jul-08 at 2:21 pm | Permalink
Perhaps add Herrera (from DSL), too?
Anyone know anything about him? Upside potential? He just turned 20 (in May), is that on the older side of DSL?
hartmanbirge | 04-Jul-08 at 2:41 am | Permalink
OK….. before I get excited - does anyone know what the deal is with Jones and Estrada? Obviously they have performed well at their respective levels so that begets the question - what sort of stuff do they have? What is the fastball? How is their command? A guy like Ballestar has practically an unlimited ceiling if he harnesses his fastball. My first take on these two is that they at best are a 5th starter and nothing to get excited about. What am I missing?
Andrew S | 04-Jul-08 at 10:32 am | Permalink
A Major League 5th starter is better than nothing at all. That is why there is promise, because they probably could pitch in the Majors, but be 5th starters.