Nats Farm Report (5/8), Bradley Meyers continues to impress, Detwiler pitching well

Syracuse (AAA):  Syracuse got shut out last night 4-0 by Gwinnett.  Colin Balestar (1-4) took the loss, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing 2 runs and striking out 4.  Not a bad performance by Balestar, just no offensive support. The Chiefs did get another 1.2 innings of shutout relief work from Jason Bergmann, who now has an ERA of 1.59.  The Chiefs managed 10 hits, but no runs.  Six of the hits came from Peter Orr (3 for 3) and Ryan Langerhans (3 for 4).    

Notes:  Jason Bergmann has allowed only 2 runs over his last 11.2 innings out of the Chiefs bullpen.  Seems like good numbers the Nationals bullpen could use.  Ryan Langerhans has 6 hits in his last 9 at bats. After a cold start, IF Peter Orr is hitting .324 over his last 10 games.   

Status:  14-11, 7 games out

Harrisburg (AA):
Harrisburg split a double header, losing the first game 9-6 and winning
the second game over Erie 7-6.  The Senators have won 4 of their last
6.  In the first game, Corey van Allen continues to struggle, getting
hammered for 5 runs in 5 innings.  His ERA is a dismal 7.71.   David
Williams allowed 3 runs in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen to take the
loss.  Joel Guzman was 2 for 4 with a 2 run homer.  Marvin Lowrance was
3 for 4 and hit his 4th, while Bill Rhinehart hit his 3rd.  In game
two, Luis Atilano allowed 4 runs in 4 innings in the start while Jack
Spradlin (1-1) pitched the 7th to earn the win.  1B Matt Whitney
doubled in Mike Martinez in the 7th inning for the win.  Whitney was 2
for 3 for the game.  Bill Rhinehart and Leonard Davis each had 2 hits. 

Notes:  Bill Rhinehart has heated up, as expected, after
a slow start.  Rhinehart is hitting .353 over his last 10 games with 2
doubles, 2 homers, and 5 RBis.   Same goes for Leonard Davis.  Davis is
hitting .333 over his last 10 games.  Ross Detwiler is finally starting
to produce like the first round pick the Nats thought he would be.  In
5 starts, Detwiler has posted a 3.23 ERA and has 19 strikeouts in 22
innings.     

Status:  6-18, 13 games out

Potomac (A): 
The Nationals shutout Wilmington 1-0 last night.  2007 draft pick
Bradley Meyers continues to pitch impressive, perhaps the most
impressive in the system to date, throwing 7 shutout innings, allowing
just 3 hits and striking out 8.  In 5 appearances, Meyers is 3-0 with a
1.16 ERA and has recorded 24 strikeouts in 31 innings.  Francisco
Placencia doubled and went 2 for 4.  His average climbed to .302. 
Daniel Lyons was 1 for 4 and knocked in the game’s only run.    

Status:  17-10, tied for 1st place

Hagerstown (A): 
Hagerstown Suns defeated Greensboro 4-2.  Terrence Engles (2-1) pitched
6 strong innings, allowinjg 1 run.  Robert Jacobsen and Steve Souza
were both 2 for 4.  Jasobsen, a 2008 draft choice, is begging for a
Potomac callup.  In 19 games and 65 at bats, Jacobsen is hitting .365
with 4 doubles, and 11 runs drive in.  Chris Curren homered for the
Suns.  

Status:  11-12, 2.5 games out