Three minor league starters allow just one run apiece in wins

I heard a lot of buzz from the Nationals coaching staff about Phillips Valdez during the work up to the regular season. Right now, the right-hander is on a roll and pitching the way he was predicted to be able to during spring training.

Valdez has won four of his last five decisions after last night's Double-A Harrisburg's 6-1 win at Binghamton. The 23-year-old Dominican allowed one run on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. He tossed 100 pitches, 63 for strikes.

He left the bases loaded and allowed his only run in the seventh. Valdez has dropped his ERA 2.62 points since July 9.

He has gone seven innings in three consecutive starts, surrendering a total of five earned runs in that span.

Drew Ward and Isaac Ballou each crushed two-run shots in the win.

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs downed the Buffalo Bisons 6-1, thanks to seven innings from right-hander Austin Voth (rhymes with "both"). Voth allowed one run on six hits, just like Valdez, with three walks and four strikeouts.

Matt Grace, recovering from an injury, returned to pitch a scoreless eighth and Rafael Martin pitched a scoreless ninth.

Matt Skole and Caleb Ramsey hit solo shots and Jason Martinson had two RBIs.

Voth is 6-7 with a 3.45 ERA. He has gone at least six innings in three of his last four starts and won for the first time since July 15.

Right-hander Boone Whiting returned to high Single-A Potomac and put together a 4-1 win over Lynchburg. Whiting had five starts with Double-A Harrisburg and has now won six of his last nine outings for the P-Nats.

The 26-year-old from Centenary surrendered just one-run one seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks. He is 9-2 with a 3.30 ERA for Potomac in 13 starts.