The GCL Nationals today defeated the GCL Twins 10-5 (box) in a single elimination game sending the Nationals to the best-of-three championship with the GCL Phillies who defeated the GCL Pirates 7-4.
The Nationals jumped on the GCL Twins early with six runs in the first. 18-year old SS Smiley Gonzalez and 18-year old LF Destin Hood both singled with one out. 21-year old 3B Ronnie Labrie walked to load the bases. 18-year old DH J.P. Ramirez delivered with a two-run single putting the GCL Nats on the scoreboard. After 20-year old RF J.R. Higley was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, 19-year old 2B Steve Lombardozzi singled in a run, 19-year old CA Sandy Leon walked to drive in another, and then Gonzalez walked with the bases loaded to plate the sixth run.
21-year old 1B Brett Newsome drove in the seventh run with a third inning RBI single plating Lombardozzi.
19-year old RHP Patrick Arnold made the start for the GCL Nationals allowing two runs on six hits over 5 2/3IP with six strikeouts to pick up the win. 22-year old RHP Federico Tanco pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief without issue but ran into trouble in the eighth with the Nats leading 7-2, after a walk, single, wild pitch, two ground outs and a hit batter, Tanco was pulled after allowing a run and runners on the corners for 23-year old RHP Danny Gil. Gil proceeded to walk the bases loaded and then allow a two-run single to close the gap to 7-5 before escaping further damage with a flyout.
The Nats wasted no time in getting those runs back as Leon doubled leading off the bottom of the eighth, moved to third on a bunt and scored on a fielder’s choice by 20-year old CF Chris Curran. After a double by Gonzalez, Hood doubled in both Curran and Gonzalez to put the Nats back up by five.
Gil picked up the save sandwiching a single between three groundouts in the ninth.
- Gonzalez 2/4 with a double, RBI & two runs scored
- Hood 2/5 with a double, run & two RBI
- Ramirez 2/5 with a run & two RBI
- Lombardozzi 2/4 with one RBI & two runs
- Leon 1/3 with a double, run & RBI
- Newsome 1/2 with two RBI
UPDATE: From the Nationals …
The GCL Nationals will be matched against the GCL Phillies in the best-of-three championship series, which will begin tomorrow in Viera, FL.
Left-handed pitching prospects Josh Smoker and Jack McGeary, both 19-year-olds, are scheduled to start the series’ first and second games, respectively. Smoker, selected by the Nationals in the sandwich round (31st overall) of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, went 2-1 with a 1.37 ERA in six starts in the GCL this season after starting the year with Single-A Hagerstown. McGeary went 2-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 12 starts and led the GCL with 64 strikeouts. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.
This season marks the first GCL championship series appearance for a Nationals/Expos affiliate since 1996. The GCL Nationals are one of three Washington affiliates that clinched post-season berths this season, joining the Potomac Nationals of the Single-A Carolina League and the DSL Nationals I of the Dominican Summer League. This season marks the first time since baseball returned to The District in 2005 that three of the organization’s affiliates have earned post-season spots in the same season.
Bob L. Head | 28-Aug-08 at 3:25 pm | Permalink
Next up, the GCL Phillies, who bested the Pirates today, 7-4.
J. Cole | 28-Aug-08 at 3:29 pm | Permalink
Go NATS! Should take it with starting 3 of Smoker, McGeary, Demny. But that’s why they play the games.
Ronny | 28-Aug-08 at 4:14 pm | Permalink
Who won the season series between the Phillies and the Nats or did they even play eachother this year?
Brian Oliver | 28-Aug-08 at 4:21 pm | Permalink
The did not play. The GCL Nationals only played the Mets, Marlins, Cardinals and Dodgers.
Greg | 28-Aug-08 at 4:23 pm | Permalink
Liking our chances with those three guys on the bump. Go Nats!
Ronny | 28-Aug-08 at 4:34 pm | Permalink
Okay thanks Brian.
dd | 28-Aug-08 at 6:03 pm | Permalink
The GCL Phillies are a good team with good pitching!
Should be a good series.
The one eye popping difference between the teams: Phillies had 28 HRs this year, Nats had 6! Smoker and the rest need to keep the ball in the park.
Teams are pretty even in offensive and pitching stats.
J. Cole | 28-Aug-08 at 9:25 pm | Permalink
Something wierd going on over at milb.com - read the story on GCL Nats versus Phillies and it said today marked J.R. Ramirez’s professional debut. Seemed like he played in the Dodger’s doubleheader game where the GCL NAts clinched.When I went back to that boxscore it shows Ramirez as DH, but it lists a pitcher Ismael Ramirez as the player when you click the player link. This oitcher dude hit 8 RBI’s or whatever in 2 days? Brian - doyou have any direct sources that definitely say the Ramirez we drafted and gave the $1 million bonus to is the guy who has been playing all along? Has to be a mistake on the part of milb.com
J. Cole | 28-Aug-08 at 9:27 pm | Permalink
Double checked and definitely see JP Ramirez in your “Across the Affiliates” notes. That’s bad on milb.com’s part.
RD | 29-Aug-08 at 12:44 am | Permalink
You gotta love how the kids came out and peformed in the biggest stage yet. A playoff game, do or die, and our kids stepped up.
Smiley had made a lot of noise this year. IMO, he’s in the top four prospects in the organization. At this point, he’s definitely the best pure hitter and the best at getting on base. He may not have the power upside of Burgess or Marrero, but he’s a better hitter overall. I think Burgess and Zimmerman may be ranked ahead of him but I think Smiley is right there with MArrero.
Andrew S. | 29-Aug-08 at 1:00 am | Permalink
I expected Gonzalez to deliver this way. For $1.4 million and in his second year in the league he should have done what he did this year. It would have been dissapointing if he didn’t.
RD | 30-Aug-08 at 1:29 am | Permalink
Being his second year in the league is pretty much irrelevant. Other than knowing the team and the facilities, it’s different. He’s facing different pitchers, and is the same age as most players in the league.
Whether you expect it or not, it’s a great season. And his success should be applauded.
And, for the record, very few people ‘expected’ that type of success. Most were down on him for what he did last year, and he was never included in the top 5-7 prospects in the organization by most. After the season he just had, there is no way he’s outside of the top 6 or 7, and I can’t see how he’d be out of the Top 5. Even if that was expected, it’s great to see him go out and prove it. I expected some success, but definitely not to lead the league in hitting, while continuing the trend of walking more than strking out.