• AFL Update: Monday afternoon in Peoria, Arizona's Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria's second-favorite team, the Javelinas beat the visiting Scottsdale Scorpions 7-4. Washington Nationals' prospects Derek Norris, catching and batting sixth, Mike Burgess playing right and batting seventh, and Stephen Lombardozzi at short and hitting ninth, were all in the lineup. Norris, the Nats' '07 4th Round pick, was 1 for 4 with a two-run double in the fourth, but he struck out twice, the second time with the bases loaded and the Scorpions trailing 6-4 in the seventh. Mike Burgess, an '07 1st Round pick, was 0 for 4, striking out once. Lombardozzi, the Nationals' 19th Round pick in 2008, was hitless as well, striking out once and stranding two as he went 0 for 4. No Nationals on the mound Monday. Tuesday it's back to Scottsdale where the Scorpions and Javelinas meet again. Wednesday it's Bryce Harper's fifth AFL game...
• Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico Update:
In a 2-0 loss to the Senadores de San Juan last night, Nats' infielder Danny Espinosa was 1 for 4 with a double to lift his batting average up to .300 after 30 at bats for the Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico. Espinosa's fellow National, Chris Marrero, went 1 for 3 with a walk and a K, and the 22-year-old '06 1st Round pick improved his winter slash line to .310/.344/.379 after collecting his 9th hit in 29 at bats. Marrero now has a hit in all seven games he's played for Ponce. Espinosa (.300/.364/.367) has hit in six of seven games, and doubled in each of his last two outings for the 2-5 Leones.
• DWL Update: Nats' right-hander Yunesky Maya is now (2-0) in two starts for the Leones de Escogido after they beat Aguilas Cibaenas 5-1 in Maya's second Dominican Winter League outing on Saturday night. The 29-year-old right-hander who was called the Nationals' first significant international signing when he inked a 4-year/$8M dollar deal this past July, gave up 5 hits and 1 ER in 5.0 IP over which he walked 2 and struck out 6. In his two DWL starts, Maya's collected 12 K's while walking just 3 batters and surrendering 8 hits and the 1 ER he gave up in Saturday's game on back-to-back singles and an RBI groundout that drove in the only run Aguilas Cibaenas would score before Maya put the next two batters down swinging. One note, however, Aguilas Cibaenas was running all over Maya, stealing three bases on the pitcher, though it's hard to tell if they were off the pitcher or catcher from a box score, so take it FWIW.