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Norfolk 5 Louisville (Reds) 10
With (LHP) T.J. McFarland subtracted from the roster due to a likely impending call-up, (LHP) Nick Additon made a spot start in his stead. It went as such things typically go: 5 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 2 BBs, 1 HBP, 5 ER, and 2 Ks. (RHP) Tim Alderson then decided to tack on 5 more ER of his own over 2.2 IP.
(SS) Ivan de Jesus knocked a double and a triple while driving in 3. (2B) Steve Lombardozzi smacked two singles in 4 plate appearances and initiated a 5-6-3 double play in the field. (OF) Henry Urruita was placed on the D.L.
Bowie 1 Altoona (Pirates) 6
(LHP) Anthony Vasquez also made a spot start for the organization. This one for Bowie, owing to the fact that 2/5ths of the Baysox rotation are currently on the D.L. Vasquez put together a solid outing, going 6 IP and K'ing 7 while allowing 3 hits, 4 BBs, 1 HBP and 1 unearned run. (LHP) Jason Gurka, who has performed quite well up to this point, let the game get away in the 7th thanks to a bunch of infield singles. 2 bunts to (3B) Garabez Rosa led to infield singles, who also threw the ball away on one of the bunt attempts to earn an Error. 3 runs would score in the 7th, and 2 more would be added on in the 8th before this game was done with.
(1B) Christian Walker had another 2 hit night. That makes 15 out of 30 games where he has now done so. (CF) Dariel Alvarez took and 0 for 4. ( C ) Michael Ohlman sat the bench for a 2nd night in a row.
Frederick 0 Potomac (Nats) 4
(RHP) Jesse Beal may have been making his 5th start, but it may as well have been a spot start seeing as he has gone just 3 IP in each of them for whatever reason. 3 innings, 3 hits, 2 ER allowed and no walks or Ks. (RHP) Mark Blackmar pitched 5 innings in relief and yielded all 4 runs (only 2 of them Earned).
(CF) Glynn Davis is trapped in A-ball, owing to a bit of a centerfield depth logjam (Julio Borbon in AAA, Dariel Alvarez in AA, Davis in A+). Davis managed 2 hits on the night. that makes 13 out of 26 games for him to have done so, matching Christian Walker's pace with Bowie. I wonder if Alvarez could get moved up to play a corner OF spot in AAA, thus freeing up Bowie's CF for Davis?
Delmarva 3 Charleston (Yankees) 4
Hunter Harvey, as usual, did not disappoint. He flat out dominated over 5 of his 6 innings of work. And the one inning he did get into trouble did not result so much from any shortcomings of his as a pitcher, but rather as a result of some bad luck and poor defensive play (partly his). 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 1 HBP, 4 R (0 ER), and 6 Ks. 8 groundouts to just 1 flyout. He threw 85 pitches, 57 for strikes.
I was able to watch this game via MiLB.tv. Harvey cruised through the first 4 innings, working his fastball around the zone and snapping off a number of beautiful curveballs. He entered the 5th inning around 50 pitches before exiting around 75. A HBP opened the inning, followed by a SB and Harvey's only BB of the night. The next batter laid down a very good sac bunt towards 3B. Harvey cut off the charging 3Bman (probably unnecessarily) and grabbed the ball, but dropped it on the transfer from his glove to hand. Bases now loaded, Harvey shows some serious fortitude and goes right after the next hitter, striking him out on 3 pitches. He induces the next batter to hit an easy grounder to 3B. But (3B) Drew Dosch, unable to turn a possible inning ending double play, goes to Home with the ball. The runner would have been out, but the throw was spiked and the catcher could not handle it. 1 run in, bases still loaded. No matter to Hunter. He goes and Ks the next hitter on a flat out nasty curve ball. But, yet again, luck betrayed him as the Catcher (once again) could not handle the bounce. The ball skipped away and the runner from 3rd came in to score the 2nd run of the inning. The next hitter, fellow 1st Round selection and hulking human Aaron Judge would loop a weak single the opposite way into RF to score 2 more, but would be thrown out at 2nd thinking the throw would come into the plate. Despite the long inning he, somewhat surprisingly, came back out for the 6th and rewarded his Manger's faith in him by setting down the side in order.
A member of Baseball Prospectus' scouting staff was on hand, and his twitter feed was filled with glowing praise. A sampling:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Harvey impresses with fb command and movement. Two gbs and a strikeout looking and never broke a sweat. 8 pitches for the inning</p>— Ryan Parker (@RA_Parker) <a href="https://twitter.com/RA_Parker/statuses/463458459137363969">May 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Best pitch of inning was a disgusting 92mph cut fastball that could be labeled as a power tool for what it can do to wood.</p>— Ryan Parker (@RA_Parker) <a href="https://twitter.com/RA_Parker/statuses/463459107933274112">May 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Harv escapes with no runs. Also threw a breaking ball which made the umpire flinch, signal a ball, hesitate then call a strike. Filth</p>— Ryan Parker (@RA_Parker) <a href="https://twitter.com/RA_Parker/statuses/463462719459692544">May 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Harvey goes 10 pitches in 4th. More two seams and cutters and varied locations on breaking balls. It's not fair.</p>— Ryan Parker (@RA_Parker) <a href="https://twitter.com/RA_Parker/statuses/463469265312817152">May 6, 2014</a></blockquote>
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...there's a ton more of that type of praise as well. Baseball Prospectus was the only publication to rank Harvey in their top 100, giving him an uber-aggressive slot of #58. That's looking like a pretty savvy ranking at the moment. Perhaps even a bit conservative.
As for the offense...(RF) Mike Yastrzemski hit a double and swipe a base to go along with his aforementioned OF Assist. (CF) Josh Hart managed a 1 for 5 night with 2 RBI, but earned a fair amount of praise from the aforementioned Ryan Parker for his swing, defense, and all around athleticism.
All the day's box scores can be found here.
The probables for today are as so:
Norfolk: (RHP) Mike Wright
Bowie: (RHP) Tyler Wilson
Frederick: (RHP) Brady Wager