Sunday afternoon the Harrisburg Senators played their final match in the three game series with Bowie and won by a score of 1 – 0. Fans were treated to a pitcher’s duel between Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman and Blake Treinen with Blake getting the better of it.
Blake Treinen, a 7th Round pick by the Athletics in the 2011 draft was one of the players acquired by Washington in the Mike Morse trade. Treinen by rights should be in the Miami Marlin farm system. But the Marlins balked when an MRI showed some inflammation in his rotator cuff and voided his contract. Treinen later said that the MRI was conducted shortly after he had pitched and had not done any conditioning. In 2012 with Oakland, he was switched roles becoming a starting pitcher. He was 7-7 with a 4.37 for Stockton in the California League.
It was 66 degrees at game time under cloudy skies. The announced attendance of 3,398 is supplemented as it were by a host of four footed friends enjoying a bark in the park.
The only run was made by Harrisburg came in the second inning. Justin Bloxom sliced a double to left. Destin Hood grounds out to third base but this sends Justin Bloxom over a base. Sandy Leon follows with a sacrifice fly to center fielder Xavier Avery scoring Justin Bloxom.
Treinen pitched a great game but there were several moments of suspense. In the first he gives up a two out walk in the first but strikes out Caleb Joseph swinging. In the second Henry Urrutia smacks a leadoff double to left. Treinen gets the next two batters to ground out. He then walks Brian Ward. But he gets Garabez Rosa on a swinging strike. He topped out at 98 mph on the stadium radar gun and was consistently over 95 mph through the first two innings, A one, two three third goes well with Treinen relying more on his off speed pitches. In the fourth, Sean Nicol makes a nice play on a ground ball from Jose Lozada. Henry Urrutia again gets on base, this time a base on balls. Buck Britton follows with a hard grounder to second baseman Francisco Soriano who turns a nifty double play. In the fifth another double play, this time on a very good stop and throw by Sean Nicol ends another Bowie rally. Treinen is on his game once again in the six, three up and three down. Treinen could still hit 97 but he as throwing more breaking balls and his fastball is generally under 95 mph. In the seventh, when a two out single by Buck Britton ends his time on the mound. Pat McCoy replaces Blake Treinen and gets Brandon Waring to fly out to Brian Goodwin in center.
Blake Treinen is now 2 – 3. On 5 April he lasted 2.1 innings taking the loss. On April 10th he lasted 5.1 innings, allowing five earned runs in 5.1 innings, his second defeat. His first win came on the 15th against Reading, a nifty four hitter in seven innings. On the 21st he got his third loss. A tough one, he allowed two earned runs in seven. So far this season Eastern League batters are hitting .270 against him. He was struck out 21 batters in 28.1 innings while walking 5. His walks per nine innings, 1.6.
Treinen pitched 103 innings in 2012 and has just 161 in his minor league career so he is still a work in progress. So far his Minor League Ground Out/Fly Out numbers indicate he is able to produce ground balls when he has to;
Bases Empty 1.33
Runners on 2.25
Scoring Position 3.50
He has the power arm, and on a overcast afternoon stood toe to toe with one of the top power arms in the minors. The question remains, can he master his craft. If he can then Miami’s loss will be Washington’s game.
Tale of the Tape
Blake Treinen Kevin Gausman
6.2 Innings 7.2
3 Hits 5
0 Runs 1
6 SO 8
3 BB 0
98 Pitches 94
62 Strikes 63
64.3% K % 67%
