Across the Affiliates 06/04/08
These are going to be a bit shorter over the next couple of days as I’ll be focusing more on the draft …
RHP Collin Balester moved to 6-3 on the season, allowing only one run in a 5-1 victory in Syracuse (box/gamer). Over 5 1/3IP, he struck out six and gave up only two hits and did not walk a batter. RF Pete Orr (double and a run scored) and DH Alex Escobar (run & RBI) each had three hits for the Clippers. 1B Larry Broadway went 2/4 with two RBI; he has seven RBI over his last five games.
Record: Columbus 33-27, 3rd place in the IL West (4GB)
Tonight: RHP Tyler Clippard (4-4, 3.53) at Syracuse LHP John Parrish (7-0, 3.18) at 7:00PM
Harrisburg won a rain-shortened game, pounding out eleven hits over just six innings to defeat Binghamton 8-3 (box/gamer). RHP Jordan Zimmermann surrendered three runs on four hits and three walks over just four innings. His pitch count (80) led to his removal in the fifth allowing RHP Levale Speigner to pick up the win with two shutout innings of relief. 1B Luis Jimenez and CA Luke Montz each had a home run and three RBI for the Senators. Montz was 2/3 with a double, two-run homer, and two runs scored while Jimenez was 1/3 with a three-run shot. CF Roger Bernadina was 2/4 with a run and his 18th stolen base of the season and RF Mike Daniel was 2/3 with a double. Notes: There has been no word on who will replace CA Pat Nichols in Harrisburg; the game story reports that SS Ian Desmond missed his third straight game with a sore wrist.
Record: Harrisburg 34-22, 1st place in the EL South (1.5 games ahead)
Tonight: LHP Mike Hinckley (2-0, 5.02) versus Binghamton RHP Bobby Parnell (4-3, 4.78) at 6:35PM
The Potomac Nationals and Lynchburg Hillcats had their game suspended in the middle of the second inning thanks to a deluge of rain in the Hill City. The game will be resumed on Wednesday as part of a doubleheader. At the time of the suspension, the P-Nats were trailing Lynchburg 4-1.
Record: Potomac 34-22, 1st place in Carolina North (5 games ahead)
Tonight: The first game will be concluded beginning at 6:05PM [no word on the pitchers] followed by the regularly scheduled game between LHP Ross Detwiler (4-2, 5.09) facing Lynchburg (pitcher TBD)
Hagerstown took advantage of an extra out in the top of the seventh, allowing CA Sean Rooney’s two-run double to provide the difference in a 5-3 win in Lakewood (box/gamer). RF Michael Burgess (1/5 with a double and two runs) struck out with two outs, but the pitch got away from the catcher extending the inning and allowing Rooney (2/3 with double, run and two RBI) to play the role of hero. SS Dan Lyons and 1B Tim Pahuta were each 2/5 with a double. RHP Brad Meyers started for Hagerstown allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk over five innings pitched while striking out six. RHP Erik Arnesen picked up the win with 1 1/3 scoreless IP while RHP Edulin Abreu got his fourth save of the season with a scoreless ninth, striking out two.
Record: Hagerstown 28-29, 5th place in Sally North (5.5GB)
Tonight: LHP Josh Smoker (0-1, 12.00) wraps up the series in Lakewood at 7:05PM
The DSL Nats #1 remained undefeated after beating the DSL Padres 7-1 (box). RHP Armado de los Santos struck out nine batters over five shutout innings to pick up the win. He allowed only three hits and one walk. RF Angelberth Montilla was 2/4 with a double, solo home run, stolen base and four RBI. DH Danny Taveras was 0/4 with a run and RBI. He also stole two bases, giving him six in three games. CF Eury Perez was 2/3 with a run and stolen base.
Record: DSL Nats #1 3-0, 1st place DSL S.D. West (1.5 games ahead)
Today: DSL Nats #1 at DSL Nats #2 10:30AM
The DSL Nats #2 won their first game of the season defeating the DSL Tigers 8-6 (box). RHP Luis Jimenez allowed two runs on four hits and one walk over four innings pitched while striking out four. He did not factor in the decision. RHP Joaquin Santamaria picked up the win with 1 2/3 innings of one-hit shutout relief, walking and striking out three. RHP Derlyn Tejada picked up the save with a scoreless 1 2/3IP. DH Hector Benzant was 3/3 with two walks, two runs and two RBI. 1B Jose Altuve was 2/5 with a double and three RBI. And, 2B Hendry Jimenez was 3/4 with a triple, stolen base and four runs scored.
Record: DSL Nats #2 1-2, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (2GB)
Today: DSL Nats #1 at DSL Nats #2 10:30AM
How many teams are in DSL? Just 4, it seems…
There are just four teams in their division. Each team only plays the other three teams all regular season. Dominican Summer League is split into five divisions. Travel dictates the unusual groupings and schedules.
What is the reasoning behind the pitch counts. Balester only threw 70 pitches last night and all of the young pitchers are on reduced counts, but how does an arm go from throwing so many fewer pitches in the minors to 100-120 in the majors. Or do we have a system-wide predilection for reduced pitch counts and “well-utilized” bullpens.
That I do not know nor understand. You would hope that by the time they get to Triple-A the Nats would want them to get stretched out to 100+ pitches
David Wallace is in Columbus, ahead of Luke Montz. Is Wallace a prospect at all?
I love Dominican names- they seem to have inspiration from many cultures, but local spellings.
Who will pitch for Perez next turn when he inevitably goes on the DL for the Nats?
Wallace is more of an organizational type guy. I understand people’s interest in promoting Montz but I don’t necessarily see that much value added in Triple-A. He’s going to face quality competition in Double-A and it was mentioned in the comments yesterday, working with former major league catcher John Stearns is an added benefit he’d lose.
I would not say he shouldn’t be promoted. Just that I don’t believe the Nationals view it as a slight to him that he has not been promoted.
Any of you guys with draft questions, Kevin Goldstein is having a chat over at Baseball Prospectus at 4. The more Nats questions we get in the better shot we have at getting Nats ?’s answered.
As far as who takes Perez’s next start I think if no one is ready Bascik will prolly be called up. The most likely suspect i see getting a call up is Mock tho.
Is this Hinckley’s first start this year? Are the Nats switching him back to starter or is it a “one-off” start?
Clippard has had some nice outings recently too and might figure in the mix.
Any word on Balester’s pitching hand? He was taken out of the game last night after he reached and stopped a ball hit back to the mound with his bare pitching hand. Scott Leo said he looked like he was in a lot of pain.
I see Montz’ only future as a Nat is to be the first backup for Florez once Lo Duca and Nieves are gone. I would try him at Columbus ball next year, dump Lo Duca and put him on the 40 Man Roster behind Nieves. The only other future for Montz is to trade him. But Florez is set as every days catcher for the next 5-7 years at least.
Tom
from Clippers Media
Clippers pitcher Collin Balester left Tuesday’s game in the sixth inning after knocking down a batted bat with his throwing hand. Syracuse’s Pedro Lopez chopped a ball back towards the mound and Balester stuck out his hand to catch it. Balester was able to knock the ball to the ground and throw to first, but he immediately fell to the ground in pain.
After the game, Balester said he was fine. The hand was briefly numb, but Balester said all the pain was gone shortly after in incident. He was examined by trainer Mike Quinn and Balester is expected to make his next scheduled start. Balester allowed only one run in his 5.1 innings of work in the Clippers 5-1 victory.