Syracuse edged Lehigh Valley 3-2 (box). RF Kevin Mench was 2/4 with a run scored and a walk; SS Pete Orr was 1/4 with a walk; CF Roger Bernadina was 1/3 with a run, RBI & two walks; 2B Seth Bynum was 1/4 with a walk; and 1B Chris Duncan was 1/3 with a run, RBI & walk (all totaled, the Chiefs walked nine times). RHP J.D. Martin made the start, allowing a run on four hits and two walks over 5IP while striking out five. LHP Doug Slaten picked up the win in relief, striking out five over two shutout innings and RHP Zech Zinicola earned his first save of the season with two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and one walk.
Today: Syracuse RHP Andrew Kown (0-1, 1.04) at Lehigh Valley RHP Nate Bump (1-0, 2.08) 7:05PM
LHP Aaron Thompson and RHP Drew Storen combined on a five hitter as Harrisburg defeated Reading 2-1 (box/gamer). Thompson struck out seven and walked one over seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits. Storen pitched the final two innings for his second save, giving up a run on one hit (a solo homer) while striking out three. SS Danny Espinosa came off of the DL and went 1/3 with a double and run scored; RF Jesus Valdez was 2/4; LF Bill Rhinehart was 1/3 with a run scored; and 1B Chris Marrero was 1/3.
Today: Reading RHP Michael Cisco (1-0, 3.00) at Harrisburg LHP Tom Milone (0-0, 3.38) 7PM
Potomac fell to Frederick 8-5 (box/gamer). RHP Marcos Frias allowed four runs on five hits and three walks over 6IP and LHP Clayton Dill was knocked around for four of his own on just four hits and one walk over 1 1/3IP. LHP Ricardo Pecina pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings (though he did allow two inherited runners too score). 2B Stephen Lombardozzi was 0/4 with a run scored; RF Michael Burgess was 2/4 with a walk & run scored; SS Jose Lozada was 1/4 with a double; and 1B Tyler Moore, DH Dan Nelson, and CF Francisco Plasencia each had one RBI. Notes: Lots of injury updates from InsideNoVa.com. The Nats are taking their before letting CA Derek Norris return from his left wrist injury, OF Boomer Whiting separated his non-throwing shoulder, OF Nick Moresi has an oblique strain, and OF Nick Arata is battling thumb & shoulder problems (no word on Robinson Fabian).
Today: Fredrick RHP Ryan O’Shea (0-2, 12.15) at Potomac RHP Brad Peacock (0-1, 5.23) 10:30AM
Hagerstown’s four-game winning streak was snapped when Delmarva scored in the bottom of the eleventh of a 3-2 loss (box/gamer). LHP Josh Smoker rebounded from two poor outings to allow just one run on four hits and two walks over 5IP while striking out six. RHP Colton Willems gave up a run on three hits and two walks over 2 2/3IP while striking out two. And LHP Glenn Gibson took the loss, allowing a run on a hit in 1 1/3 innings of relief. 2B Jeff Kobernus was 0/5; RF Destin Hood was 1/1 (no word on why he removed early); RF Marcus Jones was 1/4 with a run scored; LF JP Ramirez was 2/4 with a double & run scored; and CF Eury Perez was 1/4 with a stolen base & RBI.
Today: Hagerstown RHP Trevor Holder (0-1, 4.15) at Lakewood Joe Blanton (rehab start) 6:35PM
#1 by cjrugger - April 20th, 2010 at 07:42
Nice starts from Thompson and Smoker
#2 by Positively Half St. - April 20th, 2010 at 08:20
At what point does Kevin Mench enter the right field conversation for the Nationals? After burning out, and time in Japan, the man is still only 32. I am not hoping Maxwell fails, but I do believe Mench is proving he should be part of the conversation.
#3 by Sue Dinem - April 20th, 2010 at 08:38
Last Night In Woodbridge: http://bit.ly/95lUvQ
#4 by Ric - April 20th, 2010 at 09:21
Smoker’s first outing actually was pretty good, except for one inning in which bad defense contributed to his problems. Here’s hoping he keeps it up.
#5 by Kike - April 20th, 2010 at 10:48
Good to see JP being one of the top hitters in Hagerstown, just like he was in Vermont…
#6 by hoo - April 20th, 2010 at 11:08
Smoker and Jack McGeary seem to be restarting their careers in Hagerstown. A promising development on the farm.
I’m hoping that Maxwell stays up when Morse returns as Taveras goes to Syracuse. I’d rather give Maxwell a good run instead of Mench. Even though Maxwell isn’t hitting, he’s drawing a bunch of walks and still has good power. He’s no longer as lost as he was in spring training.
#7 by markfd - April 20th, 2010 at 11:43
Any further word on why Destin Hood left after only 1 AB???
#8 by peric - April 20th, 2010 at 12:01
Nice article about your favorite pitcher Josh Wilkie by Byron Kerr of MASN. Speaks about the Chief’s new pitching coach Greg Booker.
#9 by DJ - April 20th, 2010 at 12:15
Any update on Destin Hood?
#10 by Fan - April 20th, 2010 at 13:11
Destin Hood was taken out for sliding into second base…taking a hit away from the batter before him, .trying to get more info
#11 by Mark - April 20th, 2010 at 13:12
Doug Slaten is rockin’ the free world with a 0.00 ERA in Syracuse w/ 10 K’s in 7.2 IP. At age 30, it seems he should see some time very soon, with Bruney and Burnett not exactly making batters nervous. Of course he’s not on the 40 MR, but he should be!
#12 by chima - April 20th, 2010 at 13:13
everyone back on the smoker wagon…..
#13 by Souldrummer - April 20th, 2010 at 18:14
I would hope that Mench is not going to make it DC. Just like Corey Patterson was insurance against the worst happening with the big club let’s just be glad that he’s some decent organizational depth. If Maxwell’s not embarssing himself, they have to keep him up here to see if he can fulfill half of the RF platoon. The organization is ultimately going to show more loyalty to a homegrown “prospect” with a little bit more upside. Willy Taveras just isn’t a major leaguer and belongs in AAA. Nice that he had an out of body experience and got us a win earlier this year. Let’s take that as performing above expectations and put him back in AAA before he fully regresses to mean.