Jordan, Martinson and Cole shine in Nats minor league wins

The high Single-A Potomac Nationals clinched the first-half division crown with a 8-0 win at Frederick. Jason Martinson hit three homers with four RBIs. He has 11 homers on the season. Right-hander A.J. Cole went seven innings, scattered four hits, no runs, two walks and struck out 10. He fired 92 pitches, 60 for strikes. Cole is now 4-2 with a 4.16 ERA. He has won three consecutive starts. It is looking pretty good for Taylor Jordan. He is the early leader for the organization's minor league pitcher of the year award with seven wins in 12 starts. Double-A Harrisburg rolled past Richmond 9-0. The right-hander Jordan with the complete game shutout, nine innings, five hits, no runs, one walk and 11 strikeouts. He fired 112 pitches, 81 for strikes. Jordan also helped his own cause at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three runs, a walk and his first RBI of the season. He is now 5-0 with a 0.66 ERA for Harrisburg. He hasn't allowed a run since June 2. Jordan has 18 strikeouts the past two starts. Jordan has two complete-game shutouts in his last three starts. Harrisburg pitching coach Paul Menhart said Jordan was able to use "deception mixed in with excellent feel for all" of his pitches. That is a stunning 21 strikeouts between the 21-year-old Cole and the 24-year-old Jordan, a pair of right-handed prospects that are setting up bright futures with consistent pitching at the upper A and AA levels. The two are both from the sunshine state, born a mere 64 miles apart. Cole is from Winter Springs and Jordan from Merritt Island.