Washington Nationals Minor League Report: April 5
From staff and wire reports:
Fresno (AAA): The Fresno Grizzlies (1-1) dropped their first game of the 2019 campaign despite registering double-digit hits (10) against the Reno Aces (1-1) on Friday night. Brandon Snyder led the charge with two hits and three RBI, which included a two-run rocket over the left field wall in the sixth inning, his first hit with Fresno. Alec Keller had a multi-hit night and Carter Kieboom picked up his first Triple-A hit, a double down the left field line.
Reno hammered three longballs. Caleb Joseph (3rd inning), Yasmany Tomas (2-run, 6th) and Tim Locastro (7th) provided the pop. Tomas and Kevin Cron combined for five RBI.
Brady Dragmire (0-1) suffered the loss for Fresno while Robby Scott (1-0) earned the decision for Reno. Jimmie Sherfyshut the door in the ninth, retiring the side in order for his first save of the season.
Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Washington Nationals)
• 1B Brandon Snyder (2-4, HR, 3 RBI)
• RHP Scott Copeland (ND, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)
• First Triple-A hits: SS Carter Kieboom (double) & 3B Jake Noll (RBI single)
Top Performers: Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• LF Yasmany Tomas (2-4, HR, 3 RBI)
• 1B Kevin Cron (2-4, double, 2 RBI, 2 runs)
• Solo homers: C Caleb Joseph & CF Tim Locastro
On That Fres-Note: If the Chukchansi Park press box seemed a bit quieter this evening, it was for good reason. Grizzlies’ broadcaster Doug Greenwald, in his 17th season with the franchise, missed tonight’s game to attend the San Francisco Giants’ home opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oracle Park; the Giants honored Doug’s father, the late Hank Greenwald, their long-time radio voice who also called games for the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics during his career. For one night, the younger Greenwald will be re-united with 2018 Fresno manager Rodney Linares, now Tampa Bay’s third base coach. It’s the first Grizzlies game Doug has missed since he filled in on the Giants’ radio broadcast on June 14, 2015 in San Francisco against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the first home game he’s missed since 2007.
Harrisburg (AA Eastern): Postponed.
Potomac (High-A Carolina League): Constant rain has postponed Friday night’s matchup between the Potomac Nationals (0-1) and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-0) at Northwest Federal Field at Pfitzner Stadium.
Friday night’s game vs. Fayetteville will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, April 6th at Northwest Federal Field, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 5:00pm.
Both games are scheduled for seven innings.
Hagerstown (Low-A South Atlantic): Pitching was no problem for the Hagerstown Suns, but the bats were not able to score a run in a 6-0 loss to the Greensboro Grasshoppers at First National Bank Field Friday night.
Tim Cate (0-1) was excellent in his 2019 debut, fanning seven in 4.2 innings of work. The lefty did not allow an earned run, however, two errors in the fifth led to four runs crossing the plate for the Greensboro Grasshoppers (2-0).
Chase Lambert opened up the fifth for Greensboro, knocking a one out single to left. Lolo Sanchez laid down a bunt to advance Lambert to second. The scoring opened on a routine grounder to shortstop Jose Sanchez. His throw went wide to allow Fabricio Macias to reach safely with two away as Lambert reached home. WIth Macias at second following a stolen base, Connor Kaiser bounced the ball to third. Gilbert Lara fielded the ball cleanly, but then tossed it errantly to first to allow Macias to score and give Greensboro a 2-0 lead.
After lifting Cate for Ryan Tapani, Brett Kinneman hit a triple, to score Kaiser and Mason Martin and put Greensboro in front 4-0.
Tapani finished the game for Hagerstown (0-2). He spun 3.1 innings allowing four hits and two earned runs.
Osvaldo Bido (1-0) started the game on the right foot for the ‘Hoppers. The 23-year-old tossed five innings of one hit baseball while wringing up three Suns batters.
Greensboro followed by receiving two scoreless innings of relief work from Joe Jacques and Nicholas Economos to shut the door on Hagerstown.
The Suns will be back in action tonight against the Grasshoppers at First National Bank Field with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. RHP Jake Irvin (0-0, 0.00 ERA) takes the hill for Hagerstown, while Greensboro sends RHP Alex Manasa (0-0, 0.00 ERA) out.
Top photo: Hagerstown Suns
