SS Pete Orr drove in RF Kevin Mench as the Chiefs rallied to walk off with a season-opening 8-7 win over Lehigh Valley (box/gamer). Orr was 3/4 with a double, stolen base, three runs scored and the game-winning RBI. 2B Seth Bynum was 1/4with a two-run homer and three total RBI. LF Roger Bernadina was 2/5 with a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth which tied the game 7-7. CA Carlos Maldonado was 2/4 with a double, run & RBI. RHP JD Martin made the start going 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out a pair. He was also 2/3 at the plate with a triple and two RBI. LHP Atahualpa Severino was knocked around for three runs on three hits and one walk in just 1/3 of an inning.
Today: Lehigh Valley at Syracuse LHP Scott Olsen (NR) 2PM
A four-run fifth inning by Altoona led to Harrisburg’s 5-1 loss to open the season (box/gamer). Mandel allowed three of those runs to take the loss. Over 4 1/3 innings, he gave up four total runs on five hits and two walks, though he did strike out six. RHP Erik Arnesen was solid in his two innings of relief, striking out four and allowing just one hit and no runs. The Senators managed only two hits on offense, singles by 1B Chris Marrero and 2B Pedro Lopez. SS Danny Espinosa had one stolen base.
Today: LHP Aaron Thompson (NR) at Altoona 6:30PM
Potomac’s home opener with Salem was suspended by the strong thunderstorms that passed through the area last night (box). The Red Sox held a 2-1 lead in the second inning. The game will be completed this afternoon with the regularly scheduled Friday game (now only seven innings) to follow Note: CA Derek Norris did not play due to a nerve irritation in his wrist.
Note: Salem at Potomac (pitchers TBD) 5:30PM
LHP Danny Rosenbaum was great in his start, allowing only two hits over 5 1/3 shutout innings, striking out seven in a 1-0 win for the Suns (box/gamer). The game was called (and official) in the sixth inning due to rain. LHP Mitchell Clegg picked up the save in his 2/3 of an inning of work. CF Eury Perez was 1/3 with a stolen base as the leadoff hitter. 2B Francisco Soriano was 1/2 with a double, scoring the game’s only run. 3B Steve Souza was 1/2 with a double and the game’s only RBI. And, RF Destin Hood was 2/2.
Today: Hickory at Hagerstown LHP Josh Smoker (NR) 6:35PM
#1 by Positively Half St. - April 9th, 2010 at 07:12
Fantastic. I look forward to reading these all year. Do you think it might be possible to get readings on the speed of Scott Olsen’s pitches tonight at Syracuse? I am still amazed they sent him down, but if he continues the progression he had in the spring, I guess he might not be down for long.
#2 by ScottW - April 9th, 2010 at 07:25
As I started reading Across the Affiliates, it reminded me how fortunate we are to have this website. I would not have the time to hit each website to try and glean the important information in the summary. Also the Big Board and Draft Track are great reference.
Brian, thanks again.
#3 by cjrugger - April 9th, 2010 at 07:46
Ahhhh, I missed you across the affiliates. good to see you again
#4 by Andrew F. - April 9th, 2010 at 08:15
Ahhhhh, so good to have these back. The season has truly started now!
#5 by Greg - April 9th, 2010 at 09:01
Agreed. Running through the box scores is painful and less insightful. This is always the first website I go to every morning.
#6 by Souldrummer - April 9th, 2010 at 09:11
Arnesen is being converted to a reliever now because of the rest of the starting pitching depth? Nice to see him have a strong opening outing. Is he someone who could project to a potential reliever for the Nats next year?
#7 by Andrew F. - April 9th, 2010 at 09:23
Some color on Rosenbaum? Is this just an older, college arm dominating the low levels, or is there something to watch here?
#8 by Gavin B - April 9th, 2010 at 09:35
Goddamn do I love me some Across the Affiliates! I feel… alive again.
#9 by e - April 9th, 2010 at 10:03
Across the Affiliates is back! I am SO HAPPY! A BIG thank you to Brian for keeping this up so that we all have something to look forward to each morning!
#10 by cass - April 9th, 2010 at 10:27
Quick question for Harrisburg fans:
In terms of cheers, are the Senators ever called the Nats like the old Washington Senators were, or are they always referrred to as the Senators?
#11 by Moe Greene - April 9th, 2010 at 10:29
With Across the Affiliates finally back, the season has officially begun. Thanks, Brian.
#12 by peric - April 9th, 2010 at 10:51
I hope the Chiefs will manage to win their division this year. They seem to have the pitching to do it. Its too bad Seth Bynum didn’t take up catching. Then perhaps he would be up with the big club?
#13 by @notrizzo - April 9th, 2010 at 11:11
Across the Affiliates is back! This must be what it’s like to walk again after being in a wheelchair.
#14 by Pilchard - April 9th, 2010 at 11:42
Just read the Baseball America write-up on Rosenbaum in the Prospect Handbook, and BA said that the Nats really like him, and the team compares him to John Lannan (crafty lefty that knows how to pitch). Sounded like as long as Rosenbaum has success, he will be promoted swiftly. They also mentioned that his future could be as a left-handed reliever.
The fact that the Nats starter him in the opener, tells me that that the Nats think that the organization thinks highly of him.
#15 by PoPs 58 - April 9th, 2010 at 11:53
Yesterday afternoon I was at the Syracuse game and noticed as I watched the radar gun that starter, JD Martin was averaging 89 mph and topping 91. Gee; I’d consider that average to above average volsity, wouldn’t you?? The kid can hit too!!!!
#16 by Wally - April 9th, 2010 at 12:02
Is there anything to be concerned about with Norris? I assume it is the same wrist that he had surgery on. Is this the first time that he has had soreness?
#17 by cjrugger - April 9th, 2010 at 12:17
Pops- Um no, unfortunatly 89 is no longer considered avg velocity
#18 by cass - April 9th, 2010 at 12:48
One interesting note about Mandel’s start: he struck out the side in the 1st inning on exactly 9 pitches, 8 swining strikes and 1 called strike. I believe those ultra-perfect innings have only happened a handful of times in the majors.
#19 by Andrew F. - April 9th, 2010 at 12:57
Kilgore said it’s that wrist, but that the organization wants to make sure it’s 100% and that they are not rushing anything.
Frankly, that concerns me. Not gonna lie.
#20 by Sue Dinem - April 9th, 2010 at 14:46
Daski from the Potomac News is reporting that Norris will be out 2-4 games and that the injury occurred during spring training.
In other news from last night’s washout, Boomer Whiting is continuing his switch-hitting experiment. With only four outs recorded, the only impression I got of Fabian is that he throws awfully hard for a guy so tall and skinny (listed at 6-3/152; could actually be 6-5/170).
#21 by Jake - April 9th, 2010 at 16:09
Andrew F, he is something to watch. Danny Rosenbaum has got John Lannan potential. Hes got a great work ethic and hes one of the hardest throwing lefties in the organization. He throws harder than Scott Olsen
#22 by Cole - April 9th, 2010 at 16:44
ESPN 3 (http://espn.go.com/espn3/roadblock?id=9364) will be showing Strasburg on Sunday.
#23 by Souldrummer - April 9th, 2010 at 18:17
I heard ESPNews will be showing Strasburg as well.
#24 by Souldrummer - April 9th, 2010 at 18:20
Just curious about folks opinion on this. Now that we are starting to get a reservoir of pitching in the minors, are there any guys that you think are tradable for helping to address the RF situation for the big club? People have mentioned names like Spillburgh (sp?) in Seattle as a potential target. I keep hoping Olsen will pitch better than he did today (4R 8 H in 6.14SO 1BB) so that we can trade him for another team looking for a lefty starter. With Lannan in the rotation and Detweiler, I’d be willing to trade Olsen for a team willing to have the same hope that we did.
#25 by gmo - April 9th, 2010 at 18:30
Cass: 1. Since I’ve been covering the team in 2006, I’ve never heard anybody refer to the Senators at the “Nats.” 2. Mandel actually threw 15 pitches in the first inning. He went to a full count against Hernandez before striking him out.
#26 by gmo - April 9th, 2010 at 18:31
And had 1-2 counts on the next two batters.
#27 by Brian Oliver - April 9th, 2010 at 20:56
Thanks for the compliments folks
I really appreciate it
#28 by Paul - April 9th, 2010 at 21:21
he also struck out two more in the second inning. Senators had the bases loaded in the ninth with one out and didnt score
#29 by Sue Dinem - April 10th, 2010 at 08:58
Folks interested News & Notes from Friday night’s games: http://bit.ly/aSf5uR
(Yours truly does the Potomac section, our foreign correspondent does the rest ;-)