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Rough Start For Nationals' Prospect Sammy Solis In First AFL Loss

A rough first inning for Washington Nationals' prospect Sammy Solis led to a short outing in Arizona, where Solis and the Mesa Solar Sox lost on Saturday afternoon. Several Nats' prospects were in action in HoHoKam Park...

Allan Henry-US PRESSWIRE

Sammy Solis gave up more runs (3 ER) in the first inning today in HoHoKam Park than he had in 12 2/3 IP over his first three starts in Arizona Fall League action (2 ER). The Washington Nationals' 25-year-old, 2010 2nd Round pick surrendered four straight hits, two one-out singles, an RBI double, a two-run grounder and a walk before he got an inning-ending double play to end a 31-pitch first against the Surprise Saguaros.

Solis followed that up with an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 second, but a scoreless, 20-pitch third in which he allowed a one-out single and a two-out ground-rule double ended the left-hander's day: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 Ks, 61 P, 40 S, 6/0 GO/FO. The Saguaros added three runs in the fifth in what ended up a 6-1 loss for the Mesa Solar Sox, who fell to 10-5 and Solis, who is (3-1) with a 2.87 ERA after four starts.

Robert Benincasa was the only other Nats' prospect on the mound Saturday. The 23-year-old right-hander drafted out of Florida State in the 7th Round of the 2012 Draft threw a nine-pitch, six-strike, 1-2-3 top of the ninth. Nationals' outfield prospect Brian Goodwin, 22, singled with two out in the fifth, but struck out twice and was 1 for 4 overall in the loss. 2011 5th Round pick Matt Skole was 0 for 2 with a walk and two Ks. Steve Souza, Jr. was 1 for 3 with a K, but the 25-year-old outfielder was caught stealing after singling with two down in the fourth.

Benincasa has a 4.50 ERA, two walks and five Ks in 6.0 AFL IP. Goodwin is 13 for 42 (.302/.348/.349) with two doubles, two walks and 12 Ks in 10 games. Skole has more walks (10) than Ks (7) so far this fall, and his 0 for 2 game today left him 5 for 25 with a double and two home runs in eight games. Souza is 8 for 20 after his 1 for 3 day in the loss with a double, five walks and four Ks in six games.

Solis has a 2.87 ERA, five walks (2.87 BB/9) and 16 Ks (9.19 K/9) after four starts and 15 2/3 IP at the start of his third stint in the Arizona Fall League.

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