Gulf Coast League Nationals Clinch GCL East Division Title
The Washington Nationals Gulf Coast League affiliate captured the GCL East Division title today with a 2-0 win over the GCL Mets, and improved its record to 32-21 (.604). The triumph was the third consecutive shutout victory by the Nationals. The GCL Nationals are the third Washington affiliate this season to clinch a postseason berth. Earlier this year, the Potomac Nationals claimed the Single-A Carolina League Northern Division first-half title and the DSL Nationals I captured the DSL S.D. West crown. It marks the first time since baseball returned to Washington, D.C. in 2005 that three Nationals affiliates will reach the postseason in the same year.
LHP Jack McGeary, who leads the GCL with 64 strikeouts, began the string of three consecutive shutouts by striking out eight in 6.2 innings yesterday against the GCL Dodgers. The southpaw owns a 4.9 strikeout-to-walk ratio (64 strikeouts/ 13 walks) in 12 starts. McGeary, 19, was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.
RHP Marcos Frias followed McGeary's performance by firing his first professional shutout, allowing just three hits in a scheduled 7.0-inning game last night at the GCL Dodgers. Last season, the 19 year-old Frias helped the Dominican Summer League Nationals win the DSL crown.
In today's division-clinching victory, LHP Graham Hicks, RHP Paul Demny and RHP Frederico Tanco combined to pitch 9.0 scoreless innings, striking out 12 and walking none. The 18 year-old Hicks, who was making his pro debut, allowed one hit and struck out two in 2.0 innings. Hicks was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 Draft. Demny, 19, struck out eight in 6.0 innings of relief. Demny, Washington's sixth-round selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, is 4-0 with a 2.50 ERA in 11 GCL appearances (six starts) this season. Tanco struck out two in his lone inning of work to notch the save.
Additionally, 18 year-old SS Esmailyn "Smiley" Gonzalez paces the GCL with a .343 batting average while ranking among the league leaders in runs (2nd, 40), on base-percentage (3rd, .432), hits (t-3rd, 59), OPS (4th, .909), RBI (5th, 31), total bases (t-7th, 82) and slugging percentage (10th, .477).
