Bryce Harper walk-off highlights historic night in Nationals' system

Aug. 12, 2011. A pretty good night in the Nationals' system. Every team, from low Single-A to high Single-A was victorious with the biggest of prospects delivering, from Bryce Harper to Brad Peacock and even Stephen Strasburg. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris was in Woodbridge, Va., to watch Strasburg's performance. He took away a tremendous amount of pride for the organization following a successful night across the board. "Absolutely," Harris said. "Wins and losses are not the end all be all in the minor leagues, but when development and success tie together it is a great thing. I am very proud of our staff and players." While Strasburg was hurling three shut out innings here, Harper crushed a dramatic two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. The come-from-behind homer lifted the Double-A Harrisburg Senators past the Trenton Thunder, 3-2. With one out, Harper knocked a 3-2 pitch out of Metro Bank Park, his first home run at home in Double-A, third of the season for Harrisburg and 17th overall in his rookie campaign. Danny Rosenbaum was in shut down mode himself, going seven innings allowing two runs, only one earned with nine strikeouts. Pat McCoy and Hassan Pena combined for two scoreless innings to set the stage for Harper's stunning swing. At the Triple-A level, Peacock kept Scranton at bay with 5 2/3 innings, seven hits, one walk and nine strikeouts. He has won three straight decisions with Syracuse and the Chiefs won, 7-4. Chris Marrero had a double, RBI and two runs scored and is batting .307. Corey Brown and Jeff Frazier each had two RBIs. Steve Lombardozzi, who is leading off, had a triple and run scored, his average at .326. Elsewhere, low Single-A Hagerstown trumped Delmarva, 6-1. At high Single-A, Potomac edged Myrtle Beach 1-0 after Strasburg left the game. In short-season Single-A, Auburn slammed Staten Island, 12-3. Okay, GCL Cardinals edged GCL Nationals, 8-5, but, oh what a night. And Livan Hernandez dropped two RBIs on the first-place Phillies while pitching a gem as the Nationals beat Philadelphia, 4-2. Not a bad Friday night, not bad at all.