This Week’s Top Headlines

TOP BILL-ING: INF Bill Rhinehart was named the Star of Stars as he led the Northern Division All-Stars to a dominating 13-4 win over the Southern Division in the 2008 Single-A South Atlantic League All-Star Game at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, NC on Tuesday…Rhinehart, who started the game at first base, went 3-for-3 with a pair of singles, a home run and 3 RBI to earn the honor…he clubbed a 2-run homer in his first at-bat, and followed it up with a go-ahead RBI single in his next at-bat…in his third and final at-bat, the 23-year old laced a single to centerfield…Rhinehart, selected in the 11th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, also earned All-Star honors last season with Vermont of the Short-season Single-A New York-Penn League.

BURGESS KING: OF Michael Burgess blasted a total of 16 home runs out of NewBridge Bank Park over three rounds to win the Home Run Derby at the SAL All-Star Game…after hitting 5 homers in the opening round, the left-handed hitting slugger clubbed 9 home runs in the second round to secure a spot in the finals…Burgess narrowly edged Charleston River Dogs’ catcher Jesus Montero, 2-1, in the final round to take home the crown…however, the 19-year old Burgess outhomered Montero 16-11 in the competition…Burgess, the 49th overall selection in the 2007 Draft, leads Washington farmhands and ranks 2nd in the SAL with 14 home runs through the season’s first half.

Triple-A Columbus Clippers

International League West Division

40-31, 3rd Place , 1.0 Game Back

SHELL SHOCKED: After a brief stint as a starter, RHP Steven Shell has fired 11.1 consecutive scoreless innings in 7 appearances since returning to the bullpen May 30…he has 11 strikeouts and only 2 walks in that span…Shell, 25, has excelled as a reliever, going 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA (7 ER/34.1 IP) and a 4.5 SO/BB ratio (36 K’s and 8 walks) in 17 appearances out of the ‘pen…in 4 starting assignments, he is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA (10 ER/22.0 IP)…overall, Shell, who signed with Washington as a minor-league free agent in the off-season, is 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 21 games (4 starts).

MARCO? POLO!: RHP Marco Estrada allowed 3 runs, struck out 7 and did not walk a batter in 6.0 innings to earn the win in his Triple-A debut on Tuesday at Indianapolis (Pirates)…Estrada, 24, was promoted to Columbus June 16, after going 6-3 with a 2.66 ERA (22 ER/74.1 IP) in 13 starts with Harrisburg…overall, he is a combined 7-3 with a 2.80 ERA in 14 starts with Columbus and Harrisburg.

Double-A Harrisburg Senators

Eastern League Southern Division

38-31, 3rd Place , 3.5 Games Back

A2 IN DOUBLE-A: RHP Adrian Alaniz tossed 6.0 shutout innings and allowed only 3 hits, but received a no-decision in his Double-A debut Saturday at Bowie (Orioles)…he is a combined 9-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 13 games with Harrisburg and Potomac…the 23-year-old was promoted to Harrisburg June 13, after going 9-0 with a 2.62 ERA (19 ER/65.1 IP) in 12 starts with the P-Nats…Alaniz, an 8th-round pick from the 2007 Draft, was selected to the Single-A Carolina League All-Star squad, but will not participate because of his recent promotion...the University of Texas product is scheduled to make his next start for the Senators tonight vs. Trenton (Yankees).

HE’S SMOOTHER THAN JACK DANIELS: OF Mike Daniel, 23, is batting at a .341 clip (28-for-82) with 4 home runs and 13 RBI over his last 21 games…Daniel, a 7th-round selection from the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, is 18-for-50 (.345) with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 home runs and 12 RBI in 15 June contests…in his first season at the Double-A level, he is hitting .320 with 7 home runs, 31 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 64 games.

LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER: C Luke Montz ranks 2nd in the Eastern League with 49 RBI and a .571 slugging percentage, and is tied for 2nd in the league with 13 home runs…Montz, selected in the 17th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, paces EL catchers in extra-base hits (11 doubles, 13 homers), home runs and RBI…the 24-year-old is hitting .358 (24-for-67) with 9 home runs and 42 RBI with RISP.

Single-A Potomac Nationals

Carolina League Northern Division

First Half: 42-28, First Place , 7.0 Games Ahead

Second Half: 2-0, First Place , 1.0 Game Ahead

HOTS FOR BATS: OF Edgardo Baez leads the Carolina League with 50 RBI and ranks among league leaders in doubles (t-3rd, 21), total bases (4th, 121), slugging percentage (6th, .519) and home runs (7th, 11)…the 22-year-old is batting .365 (30-for-82) with 9 doubles, 6 homers and 24 RBI in his last 22 contests…Baez will represent the Potomac Nationals and the Carolina League in the Single-A California/Carolina League All-Star Game being played June 24 at BB&T Coastal Field, home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Braves).

DON’T DISS CHRIS: OF Chris Marrero has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games, going 18-for-51 (.352) with 11 runs scored, 6 doubles, 3 home runs and 11 RBI…overall, Washington’s 2006 first round pick (15th overall), is hitting .250 with 15 doubles, 11 homers and 38 RBI in 70 games…Marrero, 19, entered the season as the top prospect in the Washington chain according to Baseball America.

WILKIE OR WON’T HE?: Beginning May 1, RHP Josh Wilkie has allowed only one earned run over his last 27.1 innings pitched (0.32 ERA)…he has struck out 27 and walked 6 (4.5 SO/BB ratio) in those 18 appearances…Wilkie extended his consecutive scoreless innings to 14.0, after tossing 2.0 shut out frames yesterday at Winston Salem (White Sox)…overall, the 23-year-old, who signed as non-drafted free agent with Washington in 2006, owns a 1.00 ERA in 25 games.

Single-A Hagerstown Suns

South Atlantic League Northern Division

First Half: 34-35, 5th Place , 6.5 Games Back

Second Half: Games begin today

ROONEY TUNES: C Sean Rooney also participated in the SAL All-Star game, entering the game as a defensive replacement in the fourth inning…in his lone at-bat, the 21-year old switch hitter singled to right field…he has hit safely in 8 of 9 games in June, batting .394 (13-for-33) with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 8 RBI…Rooney, an 8th-round selection from the 2006 First-Year Player draft, is hitting .333 with 12 RBI in 34 games at the season’s halfway point.