Washington Nationals: Minor Leagues - The Week That Was Down on the Farm

Wednesday definitely snuck up on me this week, so today's edition is a little lighter than usual (no Under the Radar). But I'm here for you loyal readers of Federal Baseball so please leave comments on what you want to see more of and less of in this weekly post. If you don't feel like venting your issues in a public forum, please feel free to drop me a line here or check out my blog, The Sports 'Burger. As always, thanks for reading and checking out what's going on down on the farm.

Performance of the Week

Even some of the contestants on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" could correctly guess who our Performance of the Week belongs to in this edition. Could it be anyone other than Syracuse DH Michael Aubrey? This past Saturday night Aubrey had a game for the record books as he clubbed his first four home runs of the season in the Chiefs' 11-0 victory over the Durham Bulls. Hitting out of Syracuse's five hole, the Shreveport, Louisiana native homered in all four of his plate appearances and totaled seven runs batted in. For his efforts, Aubrey was named the International League's Player of the Week.

By the Numbers

Syracuse Chiefs (3-2, 14-22 overall)

Hot: DH Michael Aubrey .500 (7-14), 5 R, 9 RBI, 4 HR
Hot: SP Brad Meyers 7 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 8 K, 0 BB
Not: IF Tug Hulett .118 (2-17), 1 R
Not: OF Gregor Blanco .118 (2-17), 4 R
Not: RP Collin Balester 0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 HR

Harrisburg Senators (1-4, 17-19 overall)

Hot: SP Brad Peacock 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 14 K, 1BB
Hot: C Derek Norris .375 (6-16), 5 R, 3 RBI, 2 2B, 1 HR
Not: RP Pat McCoy 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 H
Not: RP Matt Chico 4 IP, 5 ER, 9 H

Potomac Nationals (3-3, 14-23 overall)

Hot: OF Eury Perez .571 (12-21), 2 R, 4 RBI, 3 2B, 2 SB
Hot: SS Jose Lozada .364 (4-11), 5 R
Hot: RP Marcos Frias 4 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 K
Not: 2B Jeff Kobernus .067 (1-15), 5 K
Not: SS Francisco Soriano .000 (0-11), 4 K
Not: OF J.R. Higley .000 (0-11), 5 K

Hagerstown Suns (5-1, 26-12 overall)

Hot: SP Robbie Ray 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 7 K, 1 BB
Hot: 3B Blake Kelso .370 (10-27), 4 R, 2 RBI, 3 SB
Hot: OF Bryce Harper .320 (8-25), 6 R, 6 RBI, 2 HR, 5 K
Not: OF Wade Moore .056 (1-18), 9 K
Not: 1B Mills Rogers .067 (1-15), 2 RBI, 6 K

Diamond Debuts

IF Matt Antonelli (HAR) - Antonelli, the San Diego Padres' first round selection in 2006, drove all day last Monday and Tuesday from Florida to Harrisburg to join his new ballclub. The infielder made his debut at 2B last Wednesday and played three more games at 3B the rest of the week. He's batting .333 (5-15), with one run batted in, and three runs scored.

RP Hector Nelo (POT) - Released by the Texas Rangers' organization in early April, Nelo made his debut for Potomac last night in relief throwing one inning of no-hit ball with 2 strikeouts.

RP Ryan Mattheus (SYR) - Earning a promotion to Syracuse, Mattheus was called on to start last night's 7th inning holding onto to a 4-3 lead. He allowed a hit, struck a guy out, and walked a batter before his night was done after 1/3 of an inning of work.

SP Tanner Roark (HAR) - One half of the "Guz Two", Roark made his first start of the season for Harrisburg and was knocked around to the tune of 5 runs and 10 hits in only 3.1 innings.

OF Jesus Valdez (SYR) - Despite just being called up earlier in the day, Valdez found himself in the starting lineup in RF for the Chiefs last night. He went hitless in two at-bats, but drove in the tying run on a sacrifice fly.