SYRACUSE (AAA): Off day.
HARRISBURG (AA): On a cold Sunday afternoon, the Senators bats never warmed up in a 6-3 loss to the Altoona Curve. The Senators fell to 2-1 with the loss but still took the three-game series from Altoona after winning the first two games.
After scoring 20 runs on 27 hits the first two games of the series, the Senators only mustered three hits in the loss. Rafael Bautista, Stephen Perez and Chris Bostick each had one hit in the loss. Bautista walked twice to give him eight walks in the first three games. Shawn Pleffner drove in two runs with a pair of groundouts. Pleffner now has seven RBIs in the first three games.
Reynaldo Lopez started for the Senators and went five innings in his first double-A start. He allowed five hits and four runs. Robert Fish appeared in his first game with the Senators and first game in two years, going an inning. Nick Lee finished up, tossing the final two frames for the Senators.
The season opening now six-game road trip continues on Monday night in Binghamton with a 6:35 p.m. start. RHP Austen Williams takes the hill for the Senators. It’ll be Williams' Double-A debut. The Senators home opener is Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. against the Reading Fightin Phils.
POTOMAC (HIGH-A): The Nationals (3-0 Overall, 3-0 Road) swept the Wilmington Blue Rocks (0-3 Overall, 0-3 Home) on a chilly day in the clubs’ 2016 season opening series courtesy of a 9-4 Red, White, and Blue victory on Sunday afternoon at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
After rain and light snow postponed Friday night’s contest, the Game Three series finale of what was supposed to be a four-game set featured home runs by Drew Ward, Jose Marmolejos, and Osvaldo Abreu and the Carolina League debut for Nationals Erick Fedde.
Fedde, who received a no decision, peppered the strike zone throughout his first career P-Nats’ outing. Fedde threw 86 pitches and 61 strikes over the course of 4 1/3 innings in which he allowed three runs (two earned) on seven singles and one double. The Washington Nationals’ 2014 1st round draft pick (#18 overall selection) fanned seven hitters and walked just one while showcasing his electric fastball, low 80s slider, and developing changeup. Fedde’s fastball, slider, and off-speed pitch were consistently located at the bottom of the strike zone throughout his debut.
A four-run 6th inning for the Nationals off eventual losing pitcher Mark McCoy (0-1) made the series finale a 7-3 game.
The P-Nats tallied individual runs in the 7th and 8th innings thanks to Abreu’s four-bagger and an RBI triple ripped to the right field corner by Andrew Stevenson.
Derek Self worked two scoreless, no-hit innings in the 7th and 8th before Justin Thomas finished the game in a non-save situation.
The P-Nats now travel to Lynchburg, Virginia, to prepare for a three-game series with the Lynchburg Hillcats (Cleveland Indians).
Game One at Lynchburg City Stadium Monday will feature a 6:30pm first pitch. The Nationals will send Boone Whiting (0-0, 0.00) to the mound to hurl against Hillcats LHP Sean Brady (0-0, 0.00) in the set opener.
HAGERSTOWN (LOW-A): The Suns dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the Delmarva Shorebirds at Municipal Stadium by scores of 7-4 and 3-0.
In the early game, Jefry Rodriguez (L, 0-1) had a tough go of it, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on five hits and four walks over 3 1/3 innings, striking out three.
Victor Robles went 2 for 3 with a triple and run scored, Max Schrock was 2 for 3 with a double and two runs, and Ryan Ripken drove in two runs in a 2 for 3 day.
The second game was a makeup from the rainout on Friday. Delmarva jumped on Suns starter Joan Baez (L, 0-1) for three runs on four hits and four walk, with all the runs scoring in the first two innings. Matthew Corwnover pitched three innings of shutout relief.
Kelvin Gutierrez was 2 for 3 with a triple, while Rhett Wiseman, Jorge Tillero and Ian Sagdal all had singles.
Hagerstown hosts Lakewood for a three-game series starting on Monday at 6:05 p.m.