⚾⚾ The Morning Briefing: Nationals avoid sweep to Atlanta Braves
Nats avoid being swept by the Braves thanks to a five-run sixth inning on Sunday.
Good Morning Washington Nationals Fan,
Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, May 31, 2023. My name is Haden Raymer and this is your morning briefing. Apologies for the small layoff there at the end of last week. Turns out moving keeps you pretty busy. There’s a lot to catch up on so let’s dive straight into it.
Be sure to follow The Nats Report on Twitter for all the latest headlines and more.
Leading today’s Morning Briefing: Nationals avoid sweep to Atlanta Braves
Despite a four-walk performance in game one, Josiah Gray only allowed one run and two hits over five innings. The Nats took the lead in the first thanks to hits from Lane Thomas and Luis García. Lane Thomas scored again in the sixth on a Joey Meneses double. Kyle Finnegan blew the save in the bottom of the eighth, although one of the runs given up was unearned. They lost 3-2.
The Nats again took the lead early, thanks this time to a Thomas triple and García sac fly. MacKenzie Gore gave up two home runs in his start but didn’t walk many, which is a positive development. Stone Garrett homered but it did not matter in the 6-4 loss.
The Nats didn’t score first in game three and thanks to a five-run sixth inning they avoided the sweep in a 6-2 victory. Trevor Williams had a solid start after giving up two runs in the bottom of the first. Jeimer Candelario and Dom Smith both homered, with Smith’s being the farthest of his career.
Smith is your Nats Report Player of the Game thanks to that home run. The Nationals continue their road trip and take on the Houston Astros on Tuesday. The game starts at 8:10 p.m. on MASN.
Brady House promoted to High-A
Top 100 prospect Brady House was promoted to the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Friday.
Source: Brady House and Trey Lipscomb are both moving up a level, House to high A and Lipscomb to AA. House, one of the Nationals' top prospects, slashed 297/.369/.500 with low-A Fredericksburg.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse)
Jun 9, 2023
House was tearing it up in Fredricksburg and now moves to one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in baseball. To make space, third-rounder in last year’s draft Trey Lipscomb was promoted to Double-A. He was disappointing offensively at Wilmington, but there is hope that that was because of just of pitcher-friendly the level was.
Erasmo Ramirez and Joe La Sorsa swap teams
On Thursday the Nationals claimed Rays left-handed reliever Joe La Sorsa. That same day they released Erasmo Ramirez. Since then it is reported that Ramirez is signing a minor league deal with his former club, the Tampa Bay Rays. Weird.
Click here to read more about La Sorsa.
Down on the Farm
The Rochester Red Wings lost every game against the Worchester Red Sox this weekend including a 5-2 loss yesterday. Joan Adon had a quality start and Victor Robles appeared as a DH in his rehab assignment.
The Harrisburg Senators lost 6-4 to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Robert Hassell III homered. Blake Rutherford continues to be one of the best AA hitters. Sean Doolittle finished the game.
The Wilmington Blue Rocks lost 6-3 to the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Jared McKenzie and Jeremy De La Rosa each had two knocks, including doubles for both of them.
The FredNats won 4-0 against the Charleston RiverDogs. The victory came off of five hits. Johnathon Thomas and Geraldi Diaz each homered.
Links around the league
Andrew Golden talks to Elijah Green about trusting the process
Andrew Golden on Brady House and his promotion
TalkNats sat down with potential draft pick Dylan Crews
