Nats Farm Report (4/9)

Washington Nationals AAA affiliate Syracuse Chiefsgot their 2010 season underway last night defeating Lehigh Valley 8-7.  The Chiefs smacked 12 hits, but Chiefs pitchers allowed 13 hits and 7 runs in the opening slug fest. 

Offensively, OF Roger Bernadina was 2 for 5 with a home run, IF Peter Orr scored 3 runs, went 3 for 4, and drive in a run, while C Carlos Maldonado was 2 for 4 with a double and RBI. 

JD Martin was the opening day starter for the Chiefs and pitched well, going 6.2 innings and allowing 2 runs on 6 hits.  From there, the bullpen imploded as Atahalpha Severino, Zechery Zinicola, and Chuck Peralta (1-0) yielded 7 hits, 3 walks and 5 runs in 2.1 inning of relief.  Fortunately for the Chiefs bullpen, the Bernadina homer came in the 9thalong with a RBI single from Orr to clinch the win.  

Scott Olsen takes the mound tonight for the Chiefs. 

The Harrisburg Senators(AA) lost 5-1 in their season debut to Altoona.  The Senators only mustered 2 hits of offense.   Jeff Mandel made the opening day start and got rocked for 5 hits and 4 runs on 4.1 innings.  One of the Nats top system pitchers last year put in a strong performance out of the Senators bullpen.  Erik Arnesen pitched 2 scoreless innings and struck out 4.  Aaron Thompson takes the mound tonight for the Senators.  On Saturday, Stephen Strasburg makes his much anticipated professional debut in Altoona. 

Potomac Nationals (A) were rained out in their season debut yesterday and will play a double header today. 

Hagerstown Suns(A) started out their season the right way shutting out Hickory 1-0.   One of the Nats top instructional pitchers last season, a 2009 draft selection, Daniel Rosenbaum (1-0), made the opening day start and tossed 5 innings allowing 5 hits and 1 run to earn his first win.  In 11 games last year in the Gulf Coast league, Rosenbaum pitched in 11 games, posted a 4-1 record with a 1.95 ERA.   Offensively, the Suns are loaded with some of the top, young prospects int he system.  Eury Perez, one of the big ones to watch, was 1-3.  Perez hit .381 in the Gulf Coast League last year at a young 19 years old.  Francisco Soriano was 1-2 with a double.  he hit .291 at Vermont last year.  2008 draft pick Destin Hood was 2 for 2.