The Nationals’ affiliates split their Monday action in messy fashion, with Rochester and Harrisburg both losing in extra innings, Wilmington dropping a one-run game, and Fredericksburg hanging on after building a big lead.
Rochester had the toughest finish of the bunch. The Red Wings scored in each of their last three turns at bat in regulation to move ahead 5-3, only to watch Worcester claw back for a 6-5 win in 10 innings.
Andry Lara got the start and worked 3⅔ innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out one before the bullpen took over. Luke Young was tagged with the blown save after giving up two runs in the ninth, and Jack Sinclair allowed the free runner in the 10th and took the loss.
Christian “Hey It’s” Franklin went 3-for-5 with three singles, Riley Adams added a single and a homer, and Cayden Wallace reached twice with a single and a walk. The Red Wings left 10 on base.
Rochester also made a pair of roster moves, activating left-hander Erik Tolman from the Development List and placing right-hander Cole Henry on the 7-Day I.L. effective 7/11.
Harrisburg’s night ended in similar frustration. The Senators tied Erie at 2-2 in the top of the ninth on a poorly played infield single, but the game slipped away in extras, 3-2.
Alex Clemmey turned in five innings of two-run ball, giving up three hits and three walks while striking out four. Thomas Schultz was charged with the loss after allowing the winning run in the 10th.
Max Romero Jr. reached base three times on a single and two walks, and Devin Fitz-Gerald reached twice with a hit and a walk. Harrisburg struck out 12 times and left nine runners on.
Wilmington also let a lead get away. The Blue Rocks went up 3-2 in the seventh, then surrendered the advantage in the eighth and fell 5-3 to Brooklyn.
Carson Fischer pitched 4⅔ innings and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk. Adam Boucher took the loss after Yeuris Jimenez let in both inherited runners and one of his own, which turned into the blown save.
Yeremy Cabrera was the only Wilmington hitter to reach base twice, doing it with a pair of singles, while Jacob Walsh was the only batter in the lineup not to strike out in an 11-strikeout afternoon.
Fredericksburg was the exception. The FredNats built an 8-0 cushion and survived a late push from Myrtle Beach for an 8-6 win.
Merritt Beeker handled the first three innings, giving up three hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Levis Huesman earned the win with 2⅓ scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two.
Jordan Williams and Elian Soto powered the offense, with both homering and combining for five hits and five RBI. Luke Dickerson doubled and Hunter Hines tripled as part of the Fredericksburg attack.
At the complex level, the FCL Nationals went 24-23 and sit second in the FCL East, 12 games back. They lost three of five completed or played games and can be eliminated as soon as today. The remaining doubleheaders are expected to be canceled, as they were Friday and Saturday, which would cut down the number of chances the Nationals have to evaluate the group of free-agent pitchers they’ve signed this year.
The DSL Nationals are 6-22, sitting seventh in the DSL South and 15 games back.
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