Joe Ross notes after news he is returning from Triple-A

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

April 07, 2019, 5:06am

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With the news that Joe Ross will arrive today from Fresno to help the Nationals pitching staff, here's a look back at my talk post game with him after a spring start against the N.Y. Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He had two spring starts against the Mets.

He was scheduled to start Monday for the Triple-A Grizzlies but will now help the big club. Ross went 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA in seven games in spring training.

Fresno beat Reno 8-4 Saturday, thanks to a grand slam by center fielder Matt Reynolds, the first grand slam in Triple-A this season. It was also Reynolds' first ever grand slam in nine pro seasons.

Second baseman Jake Noll continues to swing the bat well, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and a stolen base yesterday. Right-hander Austin Voth allowed only two runs on nine hits over five innings. He walked none which is a great sign, and struck out nine.

Right-hander Paolo Espino starts today for the Grizzlies at 4:05 p.m. EDT.

Elsewhere, highlights from affiliates:

Gilbert Lara hit his second homer of the season as low Single-A Hagerstown beat Greensboro 6-5. The third baseman finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

The High Single-A Potomac Nats swept a doubleheader over Fayetteville by identical 5-3 scores. In game two, catcher Alex Dunlap smacked a walk-off three-run homer, erasing a 3-2 deficit.

Double-A Harrisburg swept a doubleheader as well, over Bowie, 6-5 and 4-2. In game one, Drew Ward hit a two-run shot and Michael A. Taylor a solo homer. Ward hit a three-run shot in game two. Rhett Wiseman hit a solo homer and had the game-winning RBI.

Erick Fedde allowed five runs early in game one but then settled down to retire 10 of his final 11 batters.