Right-hander Marco Estrada gets called up to The Show
The Nationals are expected to call up right-handed pitcher Marco Estrada from Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday to join the team in Philadelphia.
Estrada, a starter in the Minors, will work out of the bullpen, filling the void left by Luis Ayala, who was traded to the NY Mets on Sunday.
Estrada, a sixth-round pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, went 3-3 with a 3.58 ERA in 12 starts for the Clippers this year. Prior to being promoted to Columbus, Estrada was 6-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 13 starts for Double-A Harrisburg of the Eastern League.
In 139 2/3 innings this season, Estrada struck out 119 batters and surrendered just eight home runs. The 6-foot right-hander has three pitches: an 88-92 MPH fastball, a decent changeup and a sharp-breaking curveball, his best pitch.
In his last four starts for Columbus, Estrada gave up two earned runs in 24 1/3 innings, an eye-popping 0.74 ERA, but didn't have a win to show for his efforts; he was 0-2.
Triple-A Columbus International League West Division
62-65, 3rd place, 17 games behind
The Clippers' tail spin continues. They have lost seven straight games to fall 17 games out of first in the division, essentially ending any hopes of postseason play.
Sunday's 7-5 loss to first-place Louisville was another tough set-back for Columbus. Leading 3-0 entering the seventh, the bullpen allowed four runs in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth, wasting a great outing by Tyler Clippard. Clippard tossed a one-hitter in six innings and struck out seven.
The Clippers wrap-up their 4-game series with the Bats Monday night, before hosting Richmond for a 4-game set on Tuesday. Roger Bernadina continues to swing a hot bat. In 33 games with Columbus, he's hitting .331 with five doubles, two triples, three home runs and 13 RBI.
Double-A Harrisburg Senators Eastern League Southern Division
68-61, 3rd place, 7 games out of first
The Senators went 2-5 this past week and have dropped three straight games. They lost 1 ½ games in the standings to Akron.
After getting swept by Portland over the weekend, the Senators have Monday off before heading east to play a 3-game series with Trenton.
On Sunday, Harrisburg lost on a walk-off single, the second time in the series Portland ended the game in the bottom of the ninth. The Senators wasted a solid outing from Justin Jones. Jones gave up two runs, one earned, and struck out 10 in six innings of work. Adam Carr, who suffered the loss, loaded the bases on two doubles and an intentional walk before allowing the game-winning hit.
Single-A Potomac Nationals Carolina League Northern Division
30-26, 1st place, 3 game lead (2nd half)
The P-Nats lost a game in the standing by going 2-4 this past week, but they remain in first place in the division.
Potomac split their 4-game series with Myrtle Beach by winning Sunday 3-0. Erik Arnesen pitched 6 2/3 innings of six-hit shutout ball before turning the game over to the bullpen. He walked one and struck out four to earn his third win of the season. Josh Wilkie pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his fifth save of the year.
Potomac begins a three game series at Kinston on Monday night.
Single-A Hagerstown Suns South Atlantic League Northern Division
21-35, 6th place, 17 games out of first (2nd Half)
The Suns dropped their fifth straight game on Sunday, a 6-0 loss to Columbus. The loss drops the Suns down to sixth place, 17 games out of first in the Northern Division.
During their five-game skid, Hagerstown has been outscored 31-12. The Suns look to salvage a win against Columbus in the series finale Monday night.
With only 14 games remaining on the season, things are looking bleak for Hagerstown with regards to the postseason.
Short-Season Single-A Vermont Lake Monsters
New York-Penn League Stedler Division
23-34, 4th place, 9 games back
The Lake Monsters dropped to last in the division by going 2-6 last week, including five straight losses.
Shortstop Danny Espinosa is 5-6 (.833) in his first two games for the Lake Monsters. Vermont has three days off before beginning another three-game series with Staten Island. The Yankees swept the three games at home and they meet again Thursday at Centennial Field.
Gulf Coast League Nationals
Gulf Coast League East Division
28-19, 2nd Place, ½ game behind
The Nationals went 5-1 last week and picked up a game on the first-place Dodgers. The Nationals have won two straight games including a 6-3 win over the Marlins on Sunday.
Jack McGeary pitched another gem, but settled for a no-decision. McGeary tossed seven innings of two hit, one-run ball while striking out 10 without walking a batter. In his last two starts, McGeary has allowed four runs in 13 innings with 13 strikeouts. He picked up his first professional victory on August 12, allowing two runs on five hits. The left-hander has made 11 pro starts, going 1-2 with a 4.75 ERA. He has 56 strikeouts in 53 innings.
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