GCL Nationals Win & Advance to Championship Series
The Washington Nationals' affiliate in the Gulf Coast League today earned a position in the league's championship series with a 10-5 win over the GCL Twins in the single-elimination semifinals round. The GCL Nationals will be matched against the GCL Phillies in the best-of-three championship series, which will begin tomorrow in Viera, FL.
Left-handed pitching prospects Josh Smoker and Jack McGeary, both 19-year-olds, are scheduled to start the series' first and second games, respectively. Smoker, selected by the Nationals in the sandwich round (31st overall) of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, went 2-1 with a 1.37 ERA in six starts in the GCL this season after starting the year with Single-A Hagerstown. McGeary went 2-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 12 starts and led the GCL with 64 strikeouts. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.
Left fielder Destin Hood, designated hitter Johnathan Ramirez and first baseman Brett Newsome each drove in two runs in today's victory. Shortstop Esmailyn Gonzalez and Hood hit back-to-back doubles during the Nationals' final at-bat, fueling a three-run rally. Right-handed pitcher Patrick Arnold (5-0) earned the win, holding the Twins to two earned runs with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Right-handed reliever Danny Gil tossed 1.1 scoreless innings and picked up his fifth save.
This season marks the first GCL championship series appearance for a Nationals/Expos affiliate since 1996. The GCL Nationals are one of three Washington affiliates that clinched post-season berths this season, joining the Potomac Nationals of the Single-A Carolina League and the DSL Nationals I of the Dominican Summer League. This season marks the first time since baseball returned to The District in 2005 that three of the organization's affiliates have earned post-season spots in the same season.
