Minor notes … Corey Masisak’s weekly column has some information on John Lannan, Collin Balester, and Ross Detwiler. Balester is scheduled to make his first Columbus appearance on Sunday and Detwiler will take the mound for the GCL Nationals nex Thursday.
The Clippers scored eight runs in the top of the first inning on their way to an 11-3 throttling of the Charlotte Knights (box/gamer). Every Clippers starter with the exception of the rehabbing Alex Escobar had at least one hit and scored at least once, and every starter save Escobar and CA Brandon Harper had at least one RBI. RF Abraham Nunez was 2/4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI. Nunez hit a solo shot in the first and followed that up with a two-run homer in the second. LF Mike Restovich was 2/3 with a double, two-run home run, and three runs scored. 2B Melvin Dorta was 4/5 with a double and two RBI. The beneficiary of all of this offense was Joel Hanrahan who picked up the win with five innings of two-hit ball allowing three runs and striking out seven. Notes: Clippers manager John Stearns confirmed his second half rotation will be RHP Joel Hanrahan, LHP Brandon Claussen, RHP Collin Balester, LHP John Lannan, and RHP Emiliano Fruto.
Tonight: Claussen (0-0, 7.71) takes on Charlotte RHP Lance Broadway (5-5, 3.94) at 7:25PM in Columbus
The Harrisburg Senators lost a tough one to the Phillies wasting a solid start by Jim Magrane losing 6-1 in their second half opener in Reading (box/gamer). Magrane allowed only two runs and five hits over seven innings with six strikeouts. Unfortunately for Magrane, the Senators offense left 14 men on base and scored only one run on a solo home run by 1B Josh Whitesell. The Senators were 1/12 with runners in scoring position. Whitesell was 2/5 with that home run and a double, RF Steve Mortimer was 1/2 with three walks, and LF Frank Diaz was 3/5. CF Roger Bernadina returned to Harrisburg going 0/3 with a pair of walks and his 26th stole base of the season.
Tonight: LHP Mike O’Connor (1-2, 3.13) faces off with the Reading Phillies at 7:05PM
The Potomac Nationals rode a four-run fourth inning to an 8-2 win on the road in Wilmington (box). Shairon Martis picked up his eighth win of the season with 5 1/3 innings allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four. Jack Spradlin, Josh Perrault, and Adam Carr provided 3 2/3 innings of two-hit shutout relief to secure the win. Every Potomac batter had at least one hit. The three outfield prospects were at the center of the offense again with CF Justin Maxwell 1/4 with an RBI double; RF Mike Daniel 2/4 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored; and, LF Chris Marrero 1/3 with a solo home run, pair of walks and two runs scored. 1B Brett McMillan had a pair of RBI and CA Devin Ivany had a pair of hits.
Tonight: LHP Justin Jones (4-4, 4.02) takes on the Blue Rocks at 7:05PM in Wilmington
Hagerstown snapped a six-game losing streak against Delmarva with a 9-4 victory on the road last night (box/gamer). 1B Joe Napoli homered for the fourth time in three games (yet another solo shot) to go along with a double. 2B Marcos Cabral was 2/4 with two runs scored and two RBI. DH Patrick Nichols had two RBI. This offense allowed 2007 19th round draft pick Jeff Mandel to win his first professional game. Mandel went five innings allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out six and not walking a batter.
Tonight: LHP Zach Baldwin (3-0, 2.09) wraps up the series against Delmarva at 7:05PM
The Vermont Lake Monsters were swept away in a doubleheader at home against Mahoning Valley getting blasted 11-2 in game one and no-hit in a 7-1 game two loss (box1/box2/gamer). Starting pitcher Cole Kimball struggled in game one allowing six runs on seven hits in only 3 2/3 innings. Reliever Ryan Buchter was worse allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits in only an inning of work. 1B Bill Rhinehart was 2/3 with his 22nd RBI in as many games and RF Aaron Seuss was 1/3 with an RBI in the loss. While the story of game two was the no-hitter, Lake Monsters starter Jordan Zimmermann had an excellent evening pitching five shutout innings allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out nine. Vermont actually led the game entering the final inning (the 7th) 1-0 on a run generated entirely by CF Boomer Whiting. Whiting was hit by a pitch in the third inning, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Relievers Alberto Tavarez and Ryan Harrison surrendered all seven Mahoning Valley runs in a seventh inning that featured six hits and four walks.
Tonight: RHP Adrian Alaniz (2-0, 0.66) wraps up the series with Mahoning Valley at 7:05PM
The GCL Nationals did not play yesterday.
The GCL Nationals visit the GCL Marlins at 12:00PM
The DSL Nationals1 blasted the DSL Padres 14-1 (box). The DSL Nationals had offense up and down the lineup but were led by 19-year old 1B Eduardo Urbina who was 3/4 with a double, home run and five RBI. 20-year old CF Juan Beltre was 2/5 with two runs, and RBI, stolen base, and a double. 17-year old DH Jesus Morales was 2/6 with two runs and two RBI. And, 19-year old MI Yeurys Tejeda was 2/4 with two runs and a stolen base. 20-year old RHSP Jorge Urena held the DSL Padres at bay with seven shutout innings allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out eight.
Today: The DSL Nationals1 and DSL Nationals2 face off at 11:00AM
The DSL Nationals2 scored a run in the bottom of the eleventh inning to defeat the DSL Mets 4-3 (box). 17-year old 2B Hendry Jimenez continued to hit going 2/5 with a run scored. 20-year old LF Samuel Gomez was 2/4 with a double, triple, and run scored. 20-year old SS Francisco Soriano was 0/1 with four walks, two stolen bases and a run scored. 17-year old CF Alejandro Hodge was 3/4 with a stolen base and two RBI. 20-year old RHP Manuel Rivera made the start allowing one run on three hits and four walks over 4 1/3 innings while striking out four. 20-year old RHP Juan Arana picked up the win in relief with two shutout innings striking out two.
Today: The DSL Nationals1 and DSL Nationals2 face off at 11:00AM
#1 by Dick - July 13th, 2007 at 09:36
The Phillies top prospect, Carlos Carrasco, pitched for Reading last night against the Senators.
#2 by Kevin - July 13th, 2007 at 09:49
Shairon Martis is having a decent season.
#3 by Zach - July 13th, 2007 at 10:53
How long until Rhinehart gets promoted? I’m not sure how much left he has to prove in Vermont.
#4 by Pilchard - July 13th, 2007 at 11:00
It’s early but Jordan Zimmerman is dominating for Vermont. 0.73 ERA, 20Ks in 12 innings. Could the Nats be the first MLB team with 2 Zimmermans?
#5 by steve - July 13th, 2007 at 11:46
Is Martis in the level that he should be or is he “rehabbing” and will be moved up soon? I know when we got him from SF he was injured. Was he in A ball there as well?
Also, I just averaged out the ages of the AAA rotation … just under 24. All of which have been in the organization for a year of less except for Balestar … thats fantastic.
#6 by Brian Oliver - July 13th, 2007 at 11:48
Zach – Sometimes it is not as much a matter of proving yourself as it is people in line in front of you. He could the bump to Hagerstown but the Nationals need to either have a guy they are willing to demote or promote or cut. The 1B with the Suns are Joe Napoli and Robby Jacobsen, so it could happen.
I could see Zimmermann getting the bump to Hagerstown soon. Perhaps after another couple of starts in Vermont. Espcially if they get McGeary and/or Smoker under contract necessitating guys getting moved up from the GCL to Vermont.
#7 by Brian Oliver - July 13th, 2007 at 12:07
Martis is right around the proper age for where he is currently placed. If he were to finish the season with a handful of starts in Harrisburg, it might be just about the right amount of development.
#8 by Mjames - July 13th, 2007 at 16:13
You can accuse me of being delusional but maybe we are going to need another A level team with all these prospects. I agree Rhinehart, Zimmerman and Wilhems should be moved up.