Nats minor report: Detwiler pitches 4, Swynenberg sizzles
Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) won 5-4 last night. Jeff Mandel only went 3 innings, allowing 7 hits and 4 runs. Jesse English (3-1) provided three shutout innings of relief to earn the win. Josh Wilkie earned his 3rd AAA save, pitching a scoreless ninth. Jason Botts remains on an absolute tear, going 2-3 with a double, 2 runs and an RBI. He has a 6 game hitting streak and is 13 for 24 during that stretch. Over his last 10 games, Botts is hitting .510. Overall, Botts average has climbed to .333. Seth Bynum was also 2 for 3 with a double and a run.
Harrisburg Senators (AA) won 3-2. Ross Detwiler threw 4 innings allowing 8 hits and 2 runs. Rafael Martin (3-1) earned the win and threw 2 scoreless innings. Zechry Zinicola earned his 9th save, pitching the final inning, allowing 2 walks, but striking out 2 and allowing 0 runs. Danny Espinosa had the hot bat, going 2 for 4 with a triple and his 10th home run. He drove in all three Senator runs. Jesus Valdez was 2-3.
Potomac Nationals (A) got shutout 2-0. Evan Bronson pitched 7 innings allowing 9 hits and 2 runs and took the loss. The Nationals offense scattered 7 hits, two coming from Steve Lombardozzi and Brian Peacock.
Hagerstown Suns (A) lost 7-3. Despite a solid start by Graham Hicks (1-1), who also took the loss, the Suns bullpen got rocked. Hicks pitched 5.1 innings allowing just 1 run on 4 hits while recording 7 strikeouts. Kyle Morrison and Wanel Vasquez pitched a combined 2.2 innings of relief and allowed 6 runs. Justin Bloxom his hit 8th home run for the Suns.
Vermont Lake Monsters (Short A) won, but it took 15 innings, a 3-2 win. How about 2009 draftee Matt Swyneneberg’s red hot start. He threw 6 innings, allowed 4 hits, 0 runs, and struck out 6. In 4 starts now, he is 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA. In 22 innings, he has allowed just 1 run, scattered 11 hits and struck out 13. I hear Hagerstown calling. Shane Zellers (1-0) picked up the win, throwing a scoreless 15th inning. David Frietas was 2 for 4 and raised his batting average to .367. Marcus Jones knocked in Cole Leonida in the 15th for the game winner.
GCL Nationals (Rookie) lost 6-4. Roberto Perez was 2 for 4 on the night. Mike Gallo blew the save and took the loss, allowing 4 runs over 1 inning.
