BY DAN GLICKMAN
A day after completing a series win in Jacksonville, the Rochester Red Wings saw two of their players earn call-ups to the Washington Nationals: infielder Nasim Nunez and starting pitcher Andrew Alvarez, with Alvarez immediately making an impression in “The Show.”
Alvarez, who went a deceptive 3-7 with a team-leading 4.10 ERA in 25 games and 123 innings for Rochester this season, went five innings of one-hit ball in his MLB debut on Labor Day, becoming the first Nationals pitcher to throw at least five scoreless innings in their first MLB appearance since the team arrived in Washington from Montreal in 2005, all while earning the win as the Nationals best the Miami Marlins, 2-0. The left-handed Californian walked two and struck out four, not allowing a hit until his fifth inning of work.
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The 26-year-old also made history thanks to his battery-mate, C.J. Stubbs, who was called up to Washington a few days ago after an injury to former Red Wing Drew Millas. As Monday was Stubbs’ first MLB action, the two former Wings became the first Nationals batterymate to make their major league debut simultaneously since Shairon Martis and Luke Montz did so on Sept. 4, 2008. While Stubbs went hitless in three at-bats at the plate, he had a clean game defensively and became the first catcher in Washington Nationals history to catch a shutout in his MLB debut.
Nunez, a speedster who swiped 36 bags in 63 games for Rochester this season, did not play in Monday’s game. He already has 74 career MLB games, having spent time with the Nationals over the past two seasons.
The success of the recent call-ups comes as the Red Wings themselves take a day off after an impressive series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, one of the International League’s top teams this season and the league’s first-half champions. The Wings won four of six games in Florida, including a 4-3 win on Saturday when Nunez drove in left fielder Darren Baker with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth. First baseman Yohandy Morales, playing in his home state of Florida, went 3-for-3 with a home run and a walk in the win.
The Red Wings (52-77, 25-32 in the second half) head to Memphis starting Tuesday for a six-game set with the RedBirds. First pitch for game one is set for 7:45 p.m., with Bryce Conley scheduled to take the mound for the Red Wings.
Props to Nunez. I was hoping to see him steal 40 for the Wings, but he earned the recall. Boo to the Nats for designating popular Baker so close to the end of the season. They pulled a similar, but worse stunt last year with our leading HR hitter.
Don’t expect the Nats to do much to please the fans here. They just don’t care. (they SAY they do, but this isn’t our first rodeo. They are doomed to last place and the Wings, though playing better 2nd half have one of the worst pitching staffs ever assembled in AAA.
I suppose that finishing up 6 or 7 under .500 for 2nd half is a major improvement over the 1st half. So there’s that. One day…one day…before we all die, the Red Wings will once again give the fans of Rochester something real good to cheer about. (I hope)