Nats Minor League roundup: Draft picks begin

For the Washington Nationals minor league system, three teams played last night, three teams did not play.  Last night featured the return of Short A Auburn and Rookie League Gulf Coast Nationals.

Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) won 11-7 last night.  Xavier Paul hit his 6th home run and went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI.  Brett Carroll also added three hits, a double, and 2 runs scored.  Carlos Rivero and Jim Negrych each had two hits.  Yunesky Maya got racked for 6 hits and 5 runs over 6 innings.  Atahaulpha Severino (2-0) blew the save for Maya, but picked up the win.   Christian Garcia picked up his first AAA save, giving him a total of 8 on the season.  Garcia has appeared in 4 games since being promoted to AAA, and has not allowed a run in 5 innings.  Garcia was promoted after posting 7 saves in Harrisburg and an impressive 1.35 ERA.

Harrisburg (AA), Potomac (A), and Hagerstown (A) did not play last night.

Auburn Doubledays (Short A) won their season opener 6-5.  Second round pick Tony Renda was 1 for 5 in his Nats debut.  4th round pick Brandon Miller smacked his first home run and went 1-4.  Wander Ramos and Stephen Perez each had two hits.  Perez, the Nats 8th rounder, hit his first home run and drove in 4 runs. Medina Silvo threw 5 innings and allowed 2 hits, 0 runs, and fanned 7 batters  Cody Davis picked up his first save.

The Gulf Coast Nationals won their season opener 6-1.  Adalberto Mieses threw 4 innings and allowed 1 run on 4 hits.  Adam Carr and Josh Smoker each threw two scoreless innings.  Eury Perez was 3 for 5 with a run and Narcisco Mesa and Tony Nix each drive in 2 runs.