Nationals GCL team falls one win shy of title
The Nationals Gulf Coast League team lost to the Phillies GCL squad 9-0 in seven innings in the third and deciding game of the championship on Sunday in Viera, Florida.
What was a great year wrapped up in a dreadful way to end the 2008 season. In the loss, the Nationals committed four errors, two in the first inning, that led to the Phillies taking a 3-0 lead and never looking back.
Nationals starter Marcos Frias' throwing error on the first play of the game, allowed the Phillies Harold Garcia to end up on second and set the table for an ugly first inning. On the next play, Frias made another throwing error on a sac bunt allowing Garcia to score.
Two outs later, Frias gave up a 2-run homer and the Nationals trailed 3-0. In the third, third baseman Ronnie Labrie's error set up yet another unearned run and the Phillies led 4-0.
Frias was pulled at the end of the fourth and was tagged with the loss. He gave up four unearned runs in four innings. Frias struck out two and didn't walk a batter.
The Nationals loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, off starter Reginal Simon, but they couldn't score. Simon, who allowed one runner past first base after the first inning, earned the win by tossing six shutout innings of three-hit ball.
Reliever Danny Gil was tagged with four more runs on five hits in an inning of work. Shortstop Esmailyn "Smiley" Gonzalez had two hits in game three and finished the postseason with a .437 average.
After taking the first game 5-1, the Nationals lost game two 5-4. The game was suspended, on Saturday, in the fourth, due to rain with the Phillies leading 5-1. When play resumed Sunday, the Phillies held on for the 5-4 victory and forced game three.
Jack McGeary suffered the loss in game two, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings. McGeary allowed six straight hits in the fourth inning, with the big blow being a two-run double off the bat of Sebastian Valle.
The Nationals, who scored two in the seventh to make it 5-3, saw their comeback fall short in the ninth. With two outs, Smiley Gonzalez reached on an error and moved to second when Destin Hood walked. Gonzalez scored on a single by Ronnie Labrie to make it 5-4. Both runners advanced on a throwing error.
The Phillies intentionally walked Johnathan Ramirez to load the bases, but pinch-hitter Adrian Nieto grounded out to the pitcher to end the game, forcing the winner-take-all third game.
The Nationals got three hits each from third baseman Labrie and designated hitter Ramirez and out-hit the Phillies 12-8, but it wasn't enough.
Triple-A Columbus International League West Division
69-72, 3rd place, 18 games behind
The Clippers, who won 7-3 over Toledo on Sunday, finished the week with a 3-4 record and wrap-up the regular season tonight against the Mud Hens at Cooper Stadium.
With a win today, the Clippers will win the three-game series and finish the season on a positive note.
Double-A Harrisburg Senators Eastern League Southern Division
72-69, 3rd place, 12 games behind
The Senators, who went 2-4 for the second consecutive week, have dropped two straight games. The Senators and Baysox finish the season Monday at 1:05 p.m. at Commerce Bank Park. Harrisburg LHP Justin Jones, 2-5, 5.26 ERA faces Bowie RHP Zach Clark 4-1, 2.67 ERA.
Single-A Potomac Nationals Carolina League Northern Division
36-33, 1st place, 2 game lead (2nd half)
The P-Nats have clinched the second half title and head to the playoffs. The Carolina League playoffs have been announced and first half Northern Division champion Potomac will host the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the first two games of the Division Series on September 3 and 4 starting at 7:05 p.m. at Pfitzner Stadium. Game three and, if necessary, game four of the Division Series will be played at Frawley Stadium.
Single-A Hagerstown Suns South Atlantic League Northern Division
27-42, 6th place, 17 games out of first (2nd Half)
The Suns went 3-4 last week and have won their last three, including a 7-5 victory over Lake County on Sunday. The Suns and Captains will play the final game of the 2008 regular season on Monday at 2:05 p.m. at Municipal Stadium.
Even though this season didn't go the way Hagerstown would have liked, they can finish with a four-game winning streak.
Short-Season Single-A Vermont Lake Monsters
New York-Penn League Stedler Division
29-39, 3rd place, 9 games back
The Lake Monsters, who went 4-3 last week, have seven games remaining, including a doubleheader on Monday with Oneonta. The Lake Monsters may add Washington Nationals first baseman Dmtri Young to their roster as he joined the team on Sunday evening at Tri-City. Young, who is currently getting himself back into playing shape after going on the disabled list in July trying to get his diabetes under control, would be the first current Major Leaguer to play for Vermont on a rehab assignment in the team's 15-year history.
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