➡️ The Future: Minor Leagues Team updates

Good Morning, and welcome to The Future.

There is a lot of news around the Washington Nationals Minor leagues, so let's get right to it. Here is what is happening around the Washington Nationals minor leagues for August 16, 2024.

Our Friday Editions will be a look back at the previous night's action and a forward-looking preview of the weekend's matchups.

Rochester Red Wings - Triple-A Affiliate

Rochester Red Wings: 4 - Syracuse Mets: 2 
W: Medina (7-2; 3.21 ERA)
L: Orze (4-1; 3.56 ERA)
S: Ri. Garica (17; 3.88 ERA)

Brady House continued his hot streak, launching two home runs last night – his second and third in the last three games. The first, a two-run shot, left his bat at a blistering 98.4 MPH, while the solo bomb traveled 407 feet. The third baseman finished the night 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. House has been particularly dominant against Syracuse this season, racking up eight extra-base hits (four home runs, four doubles) in just six games. He's batting a robust .360 (nine hits in 25 at-bats) against the Mets affiliate. Tonight marked House’s first multi-home run game in Triple-A and the second of his career overall.

Carlos Romero was the definition of dominant on the mound tonight, tossing two hitless innings of relief. He struck out one batter and walked another, earning his second hitless outing. Romero has shown impressive control, allowing just one earned run in his first four appearances with Rochester.

Rico Garcia solidified his position as the International League’s save leader, notching his 17th of the season. Despite allowing a hit and walking two batters, Garcia struck out three to preserve the shutout in the ninth inning. He's the first Red Wing to reach 17 saves since Anthony Slama accomplished the feat in 2010.

Jackson Cluff extended his hitting streak to three games with a single last night and stole his 16th base of the season. His .356 on-base percentage ranks sixth among Red Wings with at least 150 at-bats. Remarkably, Cluff is a perfect 16-for-16 in stolen base attempts this season, leading all of Triple-A without being caught stealing.

Up tonight:

The Rochester Red Wings will continue to host the Syracuse Mets. The Red Wings are sending LHP Andrew Alvarez, who enters the game with a 6-5 record and a 3.73 ERA.

Harrisburg Senators - Double-A Affiliate

Harrisburg Senators: 8 - 5 Richmond Flying Squirrels
W: Guasch (1-0; 0.00 ERA)
L: Corry (2-2; 5.47 ERA)
SV: Sinclair (4; 2.23 ERA)

On Thursday night, the Harrisburg Senators rallied from a 5-2 deficit to defeat the Richmond Flying Squirrels 8-5 at FNB Field.

A three-run home run by Yohandy Morales in the bottom of the sixth inning tied the game at 5-5. The Senators took the lead in the seventh and added insurance runs in the eighth to secure the victory.

Key players included Yohandy Morales, who went 2-for-3 with a game-tying three-run home run, his second in as many games. Dérmis Garcia drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the seventh inning. J.T. Arruda extended his hitting streak to six games with a 1-for-3 performance, including an RBI double. Tyler Stuart pitched five innings, allowing two runs while striking out five. Daison Acosta escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning without allowing a run. Jack Sinclair earned his fourth save with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out the side.

The Senators overcame a sluggish start, leaving 13 runners on base and enduring a three-hour and eleven-minute game, the longest nine-inning contest of the season. The game featured a combined 13 walks and seven hit batters.

Up tonight:

The Harrisburg Senators will continue their series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels tonight in Harrisburg. The Senators will send RHP Rodney Theophile with a 5-6 record with an ERA of 3.68. Richmond Flying Squirrels will send LHP John Michael Bertrand to the mound with a record of 6-7 with a 4.31 ERA.

Wilmington Blue Rocks - High-A Affiliate

Wilmington Blue Rocks: 5 - Brooklyn Cyclones: 8
W: Moreno (3-1, 5.28 ERA)
L: Huff (3-1, 5.10 ERA)

The Wilmington Blue Rocks suffered a setback on Wednesday, dropping an 8-5 decision to the Brooklyn Cyclones. Despite taking an early lead, the Blue Rocks were unable to contain the Cyclones' offensive surge.

The game began promisingly for the Blue Rocks, who took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a bases-loaded walk. However, Brooklyn quickly responded with a pair of doubles in the top of the second to tie the game.

Wilmington regained the lead in the third inning on a solo home run by T.J. White. But the Cyclones once again answered, tying the game at 2-2 in the fourth.

The floodgates opened in the top of the sixth inning for Brooklyn. A three-run home run by Omar De Los Santos, coupled with additional extra-base hits, propelled the Cyclones to an 8-2 advantage.

The Blue Rocks mounted a late rally, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Robert Hassell III contributed a sacrifice fly, while Joe Naranjo and Maxwell Romero Jr. drove in runs with singles. Despite their efforts, the deficit proved too large to overcome.

Riley Cornelio started for the Blue Rocks and pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs. Chance Huff struggled in relief, while Moises Diaz and Mason Denaburg provided scoreless innings.

Up tonight:

The Blue Rocks will continue the series against the Cyclones, with the first pitch at 6:35 p.m. EDT. The Blue Rocks will send RHP Riley Cornelio to the mound with a 6-10 record and a 6.01 ERA.

Fredericksburg Nationals - Low-A Affiliate

Fredericksburg Nationals: 4 - Salem Red Sox: 3
W: RHP Matthew Bollenbacher (1-1; 2.61 ERA)
L: RHP Royman Blanco (8-4; 3.21 ERA)
SV: RHP Anthony Arguelles (7)

Last night, the Fredericksburg Nationals suffered a 6-4 defeat to the Salem Red Sox, plagued by six costly errors. The loss drops the Fredericksburg Nationals to 28-17, while Salem improves to 25-20.

Fredericksburg Nationals took an early lead thanks to a Caleb Farmer solo home run in the second inning, but Salem responded with runs in the first and fourth innings.

The game turned in the sixth inning when the Fredericksburg Nationals defense committed multiple errors, allowing Salem to score three runs. While Nate Ochoa's two-run single in the eighth brought the Fredericksburg Nationals within striking distance, the Red Sox added an insurance run in the ninth to seal the victory.

Michael Sansone earned the win for Salem, while Bryan Sanchez took the loss for Fredericksburg. Trennor O'Donnell recorded his first save of the season.

Up tonight:

The Fredericksburg Nationals will continue their series against the Salem Red Sox tonight in Fredericksburg. The Fredericksburg Nationals will send RHP Travis Sthele with a 5-6 record and a 5.13 ERA and face RHP Cole Tolbert with a 0-1 record and a 4.50 ERA.

Join us daily as we deliver a concise and informative roundup of the most important news and developments from the Nationals farm system. We've covered you, from top prospect performances to injury updates, roster moves, and game recaps. From the Fredericksburg Nationals up to the Rochester Red Wings.

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