Nats Farm Wrap

Columbus Clippers (AAA) continued their winning ways beating Rochester tonight 3-1. Steve Shell pitched in his 12th game, but made his 3rd star and shutout Rochester for 7 innings. Shell scattered 5 hits and struck out 3 to improve to 2-1 and lower his ERA to below 3.00 at 2.75. Alex Escobar continues hitting well going 2 for 4 and scoring a run. Yurendell de Caster and Jason Dubois each drove in their 18th runs of the year for the Clippers.
Hot Clipper:  Yurendell de Caster:  9 game hitting streak during which he is 14 for 18 (.500) with 3 doubles, 2 homers, 6 RBIs, and 9 runs scored.  Overall de Caster is hitting .327 with 7 home ruins and 34 runs drive in.
Top Clipper on the Mound:  Steve Shell.  In his last two games, Shell has pitched 12 innings of 1 run ball.  He started two days ago and pitched 7 innings of 1 run ball.  Overall, Shell is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.84.  He has 25 strikeouts in 31 innings.
Harrisburg Senators (AA) crushed Reading Phillies today 10-1. Marco Estrada (’05, 6th Rd) again dominated on the mound pitching 6 scoreless innings and only giving up 2 hits while striking out 8 to lift his record to 4-2. Estrada lowered his impressive ERA to 2.38. Jorge Padilla, Roger Bernadina, Ofilio Castro and Andrew Lafave each had two hits. Lafave doubled and knocked in 3 runs while C Devin Ivany tripled in a run. Harrisburg has won 2 in a row, 4 of their last 5, and won the Reading series taking 2 of 3.
Hot Senator(s):  Two today.  Justin Maxwell has a 7 game hitting streak in which he has gone 11 for 31 (.355).  That includes a double, 3 homers, 5 RBIs and 7 runs scored.  Ofilio Castro over the last 8 games is 12 for 27 (.444) with a 5 RBIs and 8 runs.
Top Senator on the Mound: No question it is 2005 draft pick Marco Estrada.  In his last 4 starts, Estrada has gone 3-0 and given up just 2 runs in 21.2 innings.  He has also recorded 23 strikeouts during those 21 innings.  Overall, Estrada is 4-2 with an ERA of 2.38 and has recorded 38 Ks in 41.2 innings.
Potomac (A) squeeked out a 4-3 win over Myrtle Beach last night to split the four game series.  Matt Rogelstad hit his 4th homer, the game winner in the 7th inning to lead the Nationals to the win.  Edgardo Baez and Brian Peacock also homered for the Nats.  Mike Martinez and Peacock each had two hits.  Jack Spradlin pitched two scoreless innings of relief to improve to 2-0, while Yunior Novoa struck out two in the ninth to earn his 3rd save.  Novoa lowered his impressive ERA out of the pen to 1.17.
Hot Nat: IF Mike Martinez has a four game hitting streak.  During the str4eak he is 6 for 15 (.400) with 3 doubles.
Top Nat on the Mound:  Both out of the Nats bullpen.  Yunior Novoa has been absolutely dominating.  He has an 7 game scoreless streak alive.  During that streak he is 2-0 with 2 saves, has recorded 15 strikeouts in 11 innings.  Likewise, Josh Wilkie has an 8 game scoreless streak.  He has recorded 10 strikeouts in 8.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Hagerstown (Low A) won their third straight and took 3 of 4 from Lexington with a 7-6 win last night.  Tim Pahuta, pinch hitting for Aaron Suess, drove his fifth homer out of the park int he top of the 9th inning to lead the Suns to a dramatic come from behind win.  It was Pahuta’s 5th homer of the year.  New Hagerstown Sun Brandon Whiting, who played for Vermont last season, remains offensively hot going 4 for 5, knocking in a run, scoring a run, and doubling.  He is hitting .389.  Daniel Lyons, Stephen King, and Sean Rooney each had two hits.  The Suns racked up 15 hits on Lexington pitching.  Cole Kimball struck out 5 in 5 innings, giving up 2 runs, but ending the game without a decision.  Eric Arenesen picked up the win from the pen, he is now 3-0 with a 4.10 ERA.  Marty Beno picked up save number 5.
Hot Sun:  OF Brandon Whiting is hitting .389 over his last 10 games, scoring 12 runs, hitting 3 doubles and knocking in 8 runs.   Tim Pahuta has a 5 game hitting streak and over the last 6 games, Pahuta is 9/21 (.429) with 2 home runs, 4 runs and 6 RBIs.
Top Sun on the Mound: Out of the Suns pen, Martin Beno over his last 10 games has given up 3 runs in 14 innings (1.88) and recorded 4 saves.  He has 17 strikeouts in 14 innings.