⚾⚾ The Morning Briefing: Nationals position themselves for series win over Padres
Good Morning Washington Nationals Fan,
Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, May 25, 2023. My name is Haden Raymer writing this morning’s briefing. You can find me on Twitter at @thehadenraymer. Today’s top story is well, the Nationals won last night.
Be sure to follow The Nats Report on Twitter for all the latest headlines and more.
Leading today’s Morning Briefing: Nationals won 5-3 against the San Diego Padres.
A four-run second inning was all the Nationals needed to defeat the Padres last night. Jumpstarted by a Stone Garrett single, the Nationals had four consecutive hits, including a two-run double by Alex Call, capped off by a CJ Abrams walk. A Luis García sacrifice fly scored the fourth run.
Lane Thomas, who set up the runners to be in position to score on the García sac fly, had an RBI double in the fourth to drive in Alex Call, who had advanced to third on a throwing error from Rougned Odor.
Trevor Williams had a solid start, allowing three earned runs over 5.2 innings. He didn’t allow many baserunners, but the two home runs he allowed provided much of the Padres’ offense.
The bullpen did not allow a run. Carl Edwards Jr., Hunter Harvey, and Kyle Finnegan shut down the Padres’ lineup, with only Edwards Jr. allowing a baserunner.
Your Nats Report player of the Game is Alex Call for his 2-4 performance with two runs scored. The Nationals take on the Padres for the final game of the series at 4:05 p.m. on MASN2.
Down on the Farm
The Rochester Red Wings shut out the Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers Triple-A affiliate, 3-0. Former big leaguers were the main story, with pitcher José Ureña throwing four scoreless innings and Nomar Mazara went 2-4 with a home run in the second.
The Harrisburg Senators won on the road 7-4 against the Reading Fightin’ Phils. Robert Hassell III went 2-4 with a walk. Shortstop Jackson Cluff hit a two-run home run and stole a base in the game.
The Wilmington Blue Rocks won a tough 10-9 game against the Hudson Valley Renegades. Top prospect James Wood was a triple short of a cycle. Outfielder Jeremy De La Rosa had three hits himself. Erick Mejia, who is on a rehab assignment, went 3-5 with a walk. Last year’s third-round pick Trey Lipscomb had a productive single, getting two RBIs and then a third on a fielder’s choice later that night.
And look at that, it was a sweep for the Nationals organization, with the Fredricksburg Nationals winning 7-2 over the Salem Red Sox. Daylen Lile, Brady House, and Elijah Green all recorded hits. Green and Lile each stole a base. Jarlin Susana struck out five in four innings of work. This is a hard inning limit the Nationals seem to have put him on.
Links around the League
MLB.com talks about the top of the draft for their upcoming update to the top 200 draft list
Jesse Dougherty wrote about James Wood for the Washington Post ($)
Sharla McBride wrote about Bryce Eldridge, a two-way prospect in the upcoming draft
Keith Law’s first mock draft ($)
And finally, Carl Edwards Jr.’s web gem from last night
