Friday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 7-6 vs. Buffalo,
6:35 p.m.		 Long (0-1, 4.50) vs.
Bolsinger (2-2, 2.29)
Harrisburg Won, 10-1 @ Portland,
7:05 p.m.		 McGowin (0-1, 9.00)
McAvoy (1-5, 5.95)
Potomac Won, 5-3 vs. Carolina,
7:05 p.m.		 Silvestre (6-2, 4.34) vs.
Supak (1-2, 6.20)
Hagerstown Lost, 5-1 vs. Greensboro,
7:05 p.m.		 TBD vs. Beggs (5-4, 3.09)
Auburn Lost, 5-4
(10 inn.)		 @ Mahoning Valley,
7:05 p.m.		 Braymer (0-2, 4.12 @ GCL in ’16) vs.
Plesac (pro debut)

Syracuse 7 Buffalo 6
• Antolin 5IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 3K, HR, HBP
• Adams (W, 4-1) 1IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K
• Falu 4-5, 2R, 2B, HR, 2RBI
• Robinson 3-3, R, 2B, 2RBI
• Sanchez 3-5, R, 2B, 3B, 2RBI

Irving Falu bailed out the ‘pen with a two-run walkoff homer for a 7-6 Syracuse victory over Buffalo, and back-to-back wins for the first time in three weeks. Dustin Antolin got the start and was knocked for three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. Austin Adams, who was on the hook for the loss after giving up an unearned run in the top of the 9th, got the win instead. Falu was a triple shy of the cycle while going 4-for-5 to lead the Chiefs attack. Roster move: RHP A.J. Cole optioned from Washington.

Harrisburg 10 New Hampshire 1
• Simms (W, 3-4) 7⅔ IP, 5H, R, ER, BB, 8K, WP
• Self 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Marmolejos 3-5, 3R, 2B, HR, 2RBI
• Lowery 2-4, 2R, 2-2B, BB, RBI
• Norfork 2-5, R, 2B, RBI

John Simms pitched into the 8th and got plenty of run support as the Senators pummeled the Fisher Cats, 10-1 to take the series, 2-1. Simms won for the third time with seven and 2/3rds innings of one-run ball on five hits and one walk while striking out eight. Andrew Robinson got the last out in the 8th while Derek Self set the side down in order in the 9th. Every Harrisburg batter reached base with Jose “Orange” Marmolejos leading the hit column with a 3-for-4 night, including a homer and two RBI.

Potomac 5 Carolina 3
• Borne (W, 3-2) 6IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 6K, 2HR
• Bacus (H, 1) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Sundberg 3-4, R, 2B, RBI
• Robles 1-3, 2R, 2B, RBI, HBP
• Gushue 1-4, R, HR, 2RBI

Taylor Gushue’s 13th HR was a long time coming but it came just in time to erase an early 3-0 Carolina lead as Potomac would go on to 5-3 win to open the second half. Grant Borne was dinged twice, including a 318′ shot over the 315′ sign in RF, for all three Mudcat runs and five hits total over six innings as he won his third game. Dakota Bacus followed with two scoreless for the hold while Gilberto Mendez cordero’d around two hits in the 9th for the save. Jack Sundberg singled twice and doubled once while Victor Robles doubled and scored two runs to lead the P-Nats attack.

Greensboro 5 Hagerstown 1
• Sharp (L, 3-5) 7IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 3K, HR, WP
• Morse 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Agustin 2-3, RBI
• Noll 2-4

The Grasshoppers blunted Sterling Sharp for three runs in the 4th and held the Suns bats to just five hits to win, 5-1. Sharp went seven innings and gave up eight hits over seven innings to take the loss. He struck out three and walked none. Telmito Agustin and Jake Noll each had two singles while Aldrem Corredor had one. Blake Perkins drew two walks to account for the remaining Hagerstown baserunners. Roster moves: LHP Tyler Watson activated from the 3-Day TIL; SS Tyler Beckwith reassigned.

Mahoning Valley 5 Auburn 4 (10 inn.)
• German 5IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 4K, HBP, WP
• Eusebio (L, 0-1) 2BF, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 0K
• Ortiz 2-5, R, HR, RBI
• Encarnacion 2-5, RBI

Auburn scored two in the 1st and single runs in the 8th and 9th but fell in the 10th, 5-4. Jhonatan German started and went the first five innings, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four for the no-decision. The loss went to Diomedes Eusebio, who walked the first batter he faced and gave up a double to the second for the loss. Oliver Ortiz and Randy Encarnacion both went 2-for-5 with an RBI to lead the Doubledays offense. Roster moves: SS Paul Panaccione reassigned from Hagerstown.

Thursday’s News & Notes

From Monday night’s season opener at Batavia
Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 5-2 vs. Buffalo,
6:35 p.m.		 Antolin (2-3, 6.44) vs.
Harrell (0-0, 0.00)
Harrisburg Won, 2-1 @ New Hampshire,
7:05 p.m.		 Simms (2-4, 3.68) vs.
Dawson (1-6, 5.43)
Potomac ALL-STAR BREAK vs. Carolina,
7:05 p.m.		 TBD vs. TBD
Hagerstown ALL-STAR BREAK vs. Greensboro,
7:05 p.m.		 TBD vs. King (4-4, 3.82)
Auburn Won, 3-2 @ Mahoning Valley,
7:05 p.m.		 German (1-2, 4.70 @ GCL in ’16) vs.
G. Vasquez (5-2, 3.18 @ AZL in ’16)

Syracuse 5 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 2
• O’Sullivan (W, 1-1) 6IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K, HR
• Suero (S, 3) 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Stevenson 3-5, R, RBI, 3SB
• Burris 2-4, R, 2RBI
• Sanchez 2-4, R, 2B

Andrew Stevenson wreaked havoc and ran amok as the Chiefs took the finale, 5-2 and split the four-game series with the RailRiders. The 23-y.o. CF went 3-for-5 with three stolen bases, a run scored and an RBI to lead the Syracuse attack. Sean O’Sullivan turned in a quality start of two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings for his first win of the season. Sammy Solis put one goose egg for the hold while Wander Suero put up two for the save.

Harrisburg 2 New Hampshire 1
• Estevez (W, 2-0) 6IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 8K
• Brinley (SV, 5) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Sandford 2-4, R
• Keller 2-4

Wirkin “For the Weekend” Estevez got just enough offense and three scoreless innings from the ‘pen to take his second straight AA start, a 2-1 Harrisburg win over Richmond. Estevez struck out a season high of eight with nary a base on balls as he pitched six innings of one-run ball on three hits. Brady Dragmire, Phillips Valdez, and Ryan Brinley each worked around a hit in a single inning of work to earn holds for Dargmire and Phillips and a save for Brinley. Darian Sandford and Alec Keller both singled twice while Jose “Orange” Marmlejos and Neftali Soto each drove in a run. Roster move: RHP Taylor Hill reassigned from Syracuse.

Potomac – ALL STAR BREAK
The P-Nats and Mudcats rematch for four games this weekend to kick off the second half. Potomac came within one game of .500 before dropping its final two games of the half and will face a tough road to the playoffs, as they’ll play the Carolina League’s top four teams of the first half 39 times in 70 games.

Hagerstown – ALL STAR BREAK
Hagerstown also starts with a clean slate and plays a second-half schedule that’s weighted heavily toward its own division (53 of 70). They begin at home against the Grasshoppers, who finished a half game behind the Suns in 4th place and two behind the Intimidators, who took the pole position by percentage points over second-place Lakewood.

Auburn 3 Mahoning Valley 2
• Y. Ramirez (W, 1-0) 6IP, 5H, R, ER, BB, 6K, WP
• M. Pena (SV, 1) 3IP, 7H, R, ER, BB, 4K
• Vilorio 3-4, R
• Meregildo 1-3, R, BB
• Ortiz OF assist at HP

The Doubledays got three in the 3rd and were outhit 12-6 but edged the Scrappers, 3-2. Yonathan Ramirez allowed the first Mahoning Valley run on five hits and a walk while striking out six to earn the win. Malvin Pena was strafed for seven hits for over three innings for the second run but earned the save. The Scrappers had the tying run thrown out at home to end the 7th and at third to end the game. Luis Vilorio led the Auburn hit column with a 3-for-4 night while Omar Meregildo and Armond Upshaw both singled and walked; all three scored a single run. Roster move: LHP Yonathan Ramirez demoted from Hagerstown.

Wednesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 4-3;
Lost, 6-2		 @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 7:05 p.m. O’Sullivan (0-1, 3.38) vs.
Acevedo (1-0, 1.29)
Harrisburg Lost, 6-3 @ New Hampshire,
7:05 p.m.		 Estevez (1-0, 5.06) vs.
Rios (3-4, 3.80)
Potomac ALL-STAR BREAK ALL-STAR BREAK N/A
Hagerstown ALL-STAR BREAK ALL-STAR BREAK N/A
Auburn Lost, 19-18
(11 inn.)		 @ Mahoning Valley,
7:05 p.m.		 TBD vs.
Tati (5-2, 6.04 @ AZL in ’16)

Syracuse 4 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3 – GAME ONE
• Jackson 2⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K, HBP
• Adams (W, 3-1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Kieboom 2-3, R, 2B, HR, 3RBI
• Sanchez 1-2, R, 2B, BB

The Chiefs scored the gamewinner on a two-out wild pitch in the top of the 7th and got a 1-2-3 inning from Wander Suero to lock it down for a 4-3 win over the RailRiders in the opener. Starter Edwin Jackson warmed up for two and a 1/3rd innings, issuing a walk and hitting a batter before Sammy Solis took over and gave up his second HR in three outings. The win went to Austin Adams, who pitched a scoreless 6th. Spencer Kieboom drove in three with a two-run HR and an RBI double in the 7th that tied it. Adrian Sanchez (double, walk) and Wilmer Difo (2BB) also reached base twice to pace the Syracuse offense.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 6 Syracuse 2 – GAME TWO
• Hill (L, 1-5) 4⅔ IP, 8H, 6R, 6ER, 2BB, 5K, HR
• Martin 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Falu 2-2, R, SB
• Ramsey 2-3, RBI

Syracuse reverted to the mean as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre got three in the 1st and three in the 5th for a 6-2 win to split the doubleheader. Taylor Hill coughed up HR #19 and allowed all six RailRider runs on eight hits and two walks over four and 2/3rds innings for his fifth AAA loss. He tied his season high in K’s with five. Irving Falu and Caleb Ramsey both singled twice to account for four of the eight Chiefs hits.

New Hampshire 6 Harrisburg 3
• Crownover (L, 0-2) 6IP, 7H, 6R, 6ER, 2BB, 1K, 2HR
• Eitel 2IP, 1H, 0R, 3BB, 1K
• Keller 3-4, RBI
• Hernandez 2-5, R, SB

The Fisher Cats clawed the Senators for six runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 6-3 win in the series opener. Matt Crownover was dinged for all six runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings for his second AA loss. Derek Eitel finished the game with two scoreless innings. Alec Keller led the Harrisburg hit column with three singles followed by Yadiel Hernandez and Neftali Soto with two apiece. Roster move: RHP Brady Dragmire assigned from Washington.

Potomac – ALL STAR BREAK
• Robles 0-2
• Gushue 0-2, K

Both Victor Robles and Taylor Gushue were hitless in last night’s midseason kiss to scouts and team officials Carolina League All-Star Game. The North beat the South, 2-0.

Hagerstown – ALL STAR BREAK
• Corredor 2-3, 2RBI
• Perkins 1-1
• Neuse 0-1, K
• Johnson 0-3

Rain shortened the Sally League’s All-Star game to seven innings and a 3-3 tie. Aldrem Corredor and Daniel Johnson both started while Sheldon Neuse and Blake Perkins came off the bench.

Batavia 19 Auburn 18
• Turnbull 1⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 3BB, 1K
• Barnett (H, 1) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Simonetti (L, 0-1) ⅔ IP, 1H, 4R, 4ER, 4BB, 0K, 0HR, 3-2 IR-S; 2-6, 3R, BB, HR, 4RBI
• A. Martinez 1IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 1K, 3-3 IR-S; 3-6, 3R, HR, 2RBI
• Ortiz 4-5, 2R, 2B, HR, 7RBI

Auburn scored four times in the 8th inning to take an 11-6 into the 9th. They should have scored five. Two errors and four hits led to five runs in the top of the 9th and a tie game. After failing to walk off in regulation, the Doubledays turned to position players to pitch with one out in the 10th. They got lit like a stoner at a Phish concert.

Connor Simonetti let in two of three inherited runners while finishing the 10th inning to give Batavia a 13-11 lead. Oliver Ortiz, who drove in seven runs total, tied it up at 13-13 with a two-out, two-run double. Simonetti came back out in the 11th and walked four straight before Andres Martinez came in and got three outs, but not before he emptied the bases while allowing two of his own runs on three hits.

Down 19-13, Auburn rallied for five in the 11th, capped off with an Earl Weaver special from Simonetti with two down, before Omar Meregildo flied out to end it shortly before midnight.

Tuesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 6-1 @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 7:05 p.m. E. Jackson (0-0, 3.10 @ AAA
in ’17) and Hill (1-4, 9.29) vs.
Mitchell (0-2, 5.09) and
Mantiply (3-3, 3.03)
Harrisburg OFF DAY @ New Hampshire,
7:05 p.m.		 TBD vs. Greene (3-5, 3.47)
Potomac ALL-STAR BREAK ALL-STAR BREAK N/A
Hagerstown ALL-STAR BREAK ALL-STAR BREAK N/A
Auburn Lost, 8-2 vs. Batavia,
7:05 p.m.		 TBD vs. TBD

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 6 Syracuse 1
• G. Ross (L, 2-6) 6⅓ IP, 9H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 2K, HR
• Cotts ⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K, 2-0 IR-S
• Difo 1-4, 2B
• Robinson 0-1, 3BB

Syracuse came to Moosic, PA to help extend Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s win streak to five with a 6-1 loss. Greg Ross pitched into the 7th and let in four runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out two. Neal Cotts stranded two while fanning two to finish the 7th before Trevor Gott let in the final two runs. It didn’t much matter as the Chiefs were limited to four hits – singles by Emmannuel Burriss and Alejandro de Aza and doubles by Wilmer Difo and Adrian Sanchez. Roster moves: RHP Austin Voth placed on the 3-Day TIL; RHP Taylor Hill reassigned from Harrisburg; RHP Edwin Jackson assigned from Washington.

Harrisburg – OFF DAY
After a travel day on Monday, the Sens make a six-game swing into Northern New England for three games against the Fisher Cats and three against the Sea Dogs before returning home on the 26th for five games in four days against the Fightins.

Potomac – ALL STAR BREAK
Tonight is the Carolina League All-Star game and for the first time since 1995 it will not be against the California League. Victor Robles will start in center while Taylor Gushue starts behind the plate. Kelvin Gutierrez, currently on the Potomac DL (and actually hurt, too), is one of the Northern Division reserves while Ronald Pena was named as a replacement reliever last week.

Hagerstown – ALL STAR BREAK
A sizable contingent from Hagerstown will man the rosters for the Sally League All-Star Game tonight in Columbia. Last night, Sheldon Neuse brought the noise as the winner of the 2017 HR Derby, flashing his “above-average to plus raw power” per NatsGM.

Batavia 8 Auburn 2
• DeRosier (L, 0-1) 4IP, 8H, 5R, 4ER, 0BB, 6K
• A. Martinez 2-4, 2E
• Boggetto 1-3, BB, E
• Simonetti 0-4, 4K

Auburn kicked off the 2017 campaign in the tradition of their upstate New York neighbor with an 8-2 loss to Batavia. Matt DeRosier was mucked up by the ‘Dogs for five runs on eight hits over four innings for the loss. Neither Gilberto Chu nor IF-turned-RHP Diomedes Eusebio produced better results as Batavia piled three more runs on them over the final four innings. Andres Martinez was the sole Doubleday with multiple hits (and multiple errors) as he went 2-for-4 to lead the six-hit, three-walk offense. Roster move: LHP Kylin Turnbull assigned from Potomac for MiLB rehab.

Monday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 4-3 @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 7:05 p.m. G. Ross (2-5, 6.08) vs.
Lail (3-2, 5.18)
Harrisburg Lost, 5-3 OFF DAY N/A
Potomac Lost, 11-10 ALL-STAR BREAK N/A
Hagerstown Tied, 5-5 ALL-STAR BREAK N/A
Auburn N/A @ Batavia,
7:05 p.m.		 TBD vs. TBD

Lehigh Valley 4 Syracuse 3
• Long (L, 0-1) 6IP, 9H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB, 3K, 2HR
• Martin 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Solano 3-4
• Snyder 2-4, R, 2B, RBI

The Chiefs got three runs in the late innings, but it wasn’t enough to tie as they dropped the series finale to the Iron Pigs, 4-3. Jaron Long gave up all four Lehigh Valley runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings for the loss. Rafael Martin finished the game with two scoreless innings. Jhonatan Solano led the Syracuse 11-hit parade with three, followed by Brandon Snyder and Adrian Sanchez, who both went 2-for-4. Roster move: RHP A.J. Cole recalled to Washington.

Richmond 5 Harrisburg 3
• McGowin (L, 0-1) 5IP, 9H, 5R, 5ER, 2BB, 4K, HR, HBP
• Cordero 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• N. Soto 3-4, 2R, 2B, BB
• Norfork 1-2, 2BB

Richmond scored five times in the first three innings and held off Harrisburg for a 5-3 win. Kyle McGowin allowed all five Flying Squirrel runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings to wear the “L.” Jimmy Cordero (2IP), R.C. Orlan (1IP), and Ryan Brinley (1IP) combined for four scoreless innings to keep things close, but the Senators only scored twice in response. Neftali Soto went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two runs scored to lead the Harrisburg offense.

Carolina 11 Potomac 10
• Reyes 4+ IP, 7H, 7R, 7ER, 6BB, 6K, 2HR
• Skulina (L, 1-1) 3IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 5K, HR, 2-0 IR-S
• Robles 2-3, 2R, 2B, BB, SF, RBI
• Reistetter 2-4, 2R
• Mejia 1-3, 2R, BB, HR(GS), 4RBI

The P-Nats rallied from deficits of 5-0 and 7-5 to take a 9-7 lead but couldn’t keep up with the Mudcats in an 11-10 loss to close out the first half. Luis Reyes was strafed for seven runs on seven hits (two homers) and six walks over four-plus inning. The loss went to Tyler Skulina who coughed up four runs on four hits over three innings. Bryan Mejia hit a grand slam in the 6th that gave Potomac a brief 9-7 lead while Victor Robles went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored and drove in a run with a sac fly to lead the P-Nats attack.

Hagerstown 5 Lexington 5
• Bogucki 3⅔ IP, 5H, 5R, 3ER, BB, 2K, WP
• Howard 4⅓ IP, 3H, 0R, 2BB, 6K
• Noll 2-4, R, RBI
• Franco 2-4, RBI
• Perkins 1-2, 2R, 2BB

Hagerstown got one run in the 5th and two more in 7th to even this up at 5-5 before rain halted play in the 9th. As the final game of the first half, they won’t make it up, so it’ll go in the books as a tie on Father’s Day. A.J. Bogucki got the start and was ineffective over three and 2/3rds innings, letting in five runs on five hits and a walk. Hayden Howard was effective with four and a 1/3rd scoreless innings pitched with six K’s, two walks, and three hits allowed. Jake Noll and Anderson Franco both went 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Suns tallied nine hits and two walks total.

Auburn – OPENING DAY
As of Monday morning, the Doubledays roster has not been officially released, nor can much be inferred from the NYPL transactions on MiLB.com. But for those itching for something, here’s a story from the Auburn Citizen.

Sunday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 5-2 @ Lehigh Valley,
1:35 p.m.		 Long (1st AAA start of ’17) vs.
Leiter (0-0, 6.92)
Harrisburg Won, 2-1
(10 inn.)		 vs. Richmond,
1:30 p.m.		 McGowin (1st AA start of ’17) vs.
Flores, Jo (1-1, 2.31)
Potomac Won, 5-2;
Lost, 6-3		 @ Carolina,
2:00 p.m.		 Reyes (5-6, 4.15) vs.
Diplan (4-3, 5.50)
Hagerstown Won, 6-5 @ Lexington,
2:05 p.m.		 Bogucki (0-1, 5.82) vs.
Eckert (2-4, 4.77)

Lehigh Valley 5 Syracuse 2
• Antolin (L, 2-3) 3⅔ IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 4BB, 1K
• Solis 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Stevenson 4-4, 2B
• Sanchez 1-4, R, HR, 2RBI

A brief 2-1 lead was erased with a three-run 4th by Lehigh Valley, which took this one, 5-2 from Syracuse. Dustin Antolin started and lost, hitting the showers with two out in the aforementioned 4th after giving up four runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out one (1). The Chiefs’ bullpen held the IronPigs to one run over the final four and a 1/3rd innings, including a goose egg from rehabbing Sammy Solis, but the bats were largely silent aside from Andrew Stevenson (4-4, 2B) and Adrian Sanchez (two-run HR) as they had just one RISP opportunity and left on five baserunners.

Harrisburg 2 Richmond 1 (10 inn.)
• Simms 6⅔ IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 8K
• Robinson 2IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Self (W, 1-0) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Sandford 2-3, R, 2BB, RBI, SB, CS
• Hernandez 1-3, BB, RBI

A walk, sacrifice, and a two-out single gave the Senators a 2-1 walkoff win in ten innings over the Flying Squirrels. John Simms got yet another no-decision with an unearned run let in on one hit–the only one Richmond got–over six and 2/3rds innings. R.C. Orlan, Andrew Robinson, and Derek Self combined for 3⅓ scoreless innings of relief, with Self picking up the win. Darian Sandford connected on the gamewinner and went 2-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base to lead the Harrisburg attack. Roster moves: UT Corban Jospeh placed on the 7-Day DL; 3B Drew Ward activated from the 7-Day DL.

Potomac 5 Carolina 2 – GAME ONE
• Sanburn (W, 2-1) 7IP, 5H, 2R, 0ER, 2BB, 9K, HBP, WP
• Bacus (SV, 2) 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, K
• Robles 2-3, 2R, BB, 2SB, OF assist at 1B
• Sagdal 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 4RBI
• Sundberg 1-3, R, SAC, SB(10)

Nolan Sanburn’s seven strong innings combined with four RBI from Ian Sagdal powered Potomac to a 5-2 win over Carolina in the completion of Friday night’s suspended game. Sanburn gave up both Mudcat runs on five hits and two walks while fanning nine for his second win. Dakota Bacus spun two scoreless to pick up the save, his second. Sagdal smacked a three-run HR in the 4th to erase an early 2-0 deficit and added an RBI double in the 8th while Victor Robles reached base three times on two singles and a walk and stole two bases as the P-Nats made the most of their six hits and three walks.

Carolina 6 Potomac 3 – GAME TWO
• J. Mills 2IP, 5H, 5R, 5ER, 2BB, 3K
• Rivera 3IP, 1H, 0R, BB, K
• Sundberg 2-3, BB, OF assist at 2B
• Page 2-3, R, 2B

Carolina jumped on spot starter Jordan Mills for four in the 1st and cruised to 6-3 win, ending Potomac’s hopes for a .500 finish in the first half. Mills was dinged for five runs total on five hits and two walks over two innings. Mariano Rivera III spun three scoreless to keep things close but the offense didn’t respond. Jack Sundberg singled twice and walked once while Matt Page singled and doubled to lead the 10-hit parade.

Hagerstown 6 Lexington 5
• M. Mills (W, 7-2) 7IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, BB, 9K, HR
• Peterson (SV, 4) 2IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 2K
• Agustin 3-4, R, 2RBI
• Franco 2-3, R, BB
• Barrera 2-4, R, 2-2B, RBI

The Suns snapped a five-game losing streak with a 6-5 win over the Legends. McKenzie Mills won for the seventh time (T3rd Sally Lg.) with seven innings of four-run ball on six hits and a walk while striking out nine for the second time this season. Tommy Peterson finished the game with a run on three hits, no walks, and two whiffs for his fourth save. Telmito Agustin led the Hagerstown hit column with a 3-for-4 night, while Anderson Franco also reached base three times with a pair of singles and a walk.

DSL Update
Syracuse del Sur snapped an eight-game losing streak on Friday with a 5-1 win and then made it two in a row with a 6-4 triumph yesterday. Through 12 games the D-Nats are 3-9 and in last place in the DSL South. This week, they’ll play just two home games while taking on the Cardinals, Phillies Red (Philadelphia’s other team is the Phillies White), Angels, and Twins.

Saturday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 17-9 @ Lehigh Valley,
6:35 p.m.		 Antolin (2-2, 6.06) vs.
Eshelman (4-1, 1.56)
Harrisburg Won, 9-6 vs. Richmond,
7:00 p.m.		 Simms (2-4, 4.05) vs.
Slania (1-0, 1.50)
Potomac Tied, 0-0
(Suspended, Top 1st)		 @ Carolina,
7:00 p.m.		 Skulina (1-0, 1.59) and
Sanburn (1-1, 5.06) vs.
TBD and Grist (0-0, 3.68)
Hagerstown Lost, 14-3 @ Lexington,
7:05 p.m.		 TBD vs. Davila (5-2, 5.63)

Syracuse 17 Lehigh Valley 9
• Voth 5IP, 6H, 6R, 5ER, 2BB, 1K, 2HR
• Martin (W, 2-1) ⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 2-1 IR-S
• Stevenson 3-4, 3R, 2B, 3B, BB, 2RBI
• Snyder 3-5, 2R, 2B, HR, 6RBI, BB
• Difo 3-6, 2R, 2B, RBI

The Chiefs got to see a bullpen meltdown from the dugout instead of the field as the IronPigs gave up 10 runs to give Syracuse a 17-9 win. Austin Voth raised his ERA with six runs and on six hits and two Taylor Hills over five innings. Erick Fedde recorded his first AA blown save while Rafael Martin vulture the win with the last two outs in the 8th after letting in the ninth Lehigh Valley run. Brandon Snyder singled, doubled, and delivered an Early Weaver special in the 9th for six RBIs to lead the Chiefs’ 18-hit outburst. Roster move: RHP Jaron Long promoted from Harrisburg.

Harrisburg 9 Richmond 6
• Estevez (W, 1-0) 5⅓ IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 2K, HR, HBP
• Valdez (H, 4) 1⅔ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, 2-1 IR-S
• Abreu 2-4, 2R, 2B, HR, 3RBI
• Marmolejos 2-5, R, HR, 2RBI
• Keller 2-4, 2R

Wirkin “For the Weekend” Estevez won his AA debut while the Harrisburg bats provided plenty of support in a 9-6 win. Estevez pitched into the 6th and was charged with three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two. Phillip Valdez let in one of two inherited runners while getting out of the sixth and pitched a clean 7th for the hold, his fourth. Osvaldo Abreu, Jose “Orange” Marmolejos, and Raudy Read each homered as the Senators pounded out 12 hits total. Roster move: RHP Kyle McGown demoted from Syracuse; OF Darian Sandford assigned from Washington; LHP Braulio Lara placed on the 7-Day DL.

Potomac 0 Carolina 0 – SUSP.
Victor Robles didn’t get hit by a pitch in the four minutes of game play as the Mudcats got two quick outs on the P-Nats before the rains came. After a 65-minute delay, the umpires called it off. They’ll finish it today and then play a seven-inning contest… weather permitting.

Lexington 14 Hagerstown 3
• C. Pena 5IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 4K
• Fuentes (L, 2-3) 2IP, 8H, 7R, 7ER, 0BB, 2K, 2HR
• Corredor 1-3, 2R, 2B, BB
• Banks 2-4, 2B, 2RBI, SB

Hagerstown wasted no time in completing its collapse as Lexington got a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the 4th quarter four runs in each of its last two “ups” to extend the Suns’ losing streak to five by a 14-3 score. Carlos Pena got the start and the no-decision with three runs on six hits and a walk over five innings. Steven Fuentes wore the loss with seven runs on eight hits, including two homers in two innings thrown. Aldrem Corredor walked and doubled and scored twice while Nick Banks singled, doubled and stole a base to pace the Hagerstown offense.

Combined with a Kannapolis win, its fifth straight, Hagerstown was eliminated from the Sally League North Division first-half title race. Lakewood kept pace and remains one game back while Greensboro lost; however, both saw its tragic number reduced to two. Give the Intimidators credit, while they may get the benefit of two cancellations, they’ve won eight of their last ten and 10 of 15 in June.

Other Transactions
In the latest transaction post from Baseball America, the following players were given their release last week:
• RHPs Nick Conner, Anderson Martinez
• LHP John Lannan
• C Jorge Tillero
• OF Alex Santana

No real shocks here – Santana hadn’t played since 2015, Martinez since 2014; Tillero had been placed on the restricted list; Lannan was attempting a comeback as a sidearmer; Nick Conner was stomped on like a narc at a biker rally last summer in Auburn and turned 24 last month.

Friday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 6-2 @ Lehigh Valley,
6:35 p.m.		 Voth (1-7, 6.16) vs.
C. Ramos (4-1, 2.56)
Harrisburg Lost, 7-4 vs. Richmond,
7:00 p.m.		 Estevez (AA debut) vs.
Johnson (4-3, 2.76)
Potomac Won, 4-2 @ Carolina,
7:00 p.m.		 Skulina (1-0, 1.59) vs.
Ponce (5-5, 3.70)
Hagerstown Lost, 5-4;
Lost, 9-1		 @ Lexington,
7:05 p.m.		 C. Pena (3-3, 5.89) vs.
Gomez (2-7, 4.55)

Pawtucket 6 Syracuse 2
• Solis 1IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K, HR
• O’Sullivan (L, 0-1) 4⅓ IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K
• Robinson 2-4, 2-2B, RBI
• Snyder 1-2, R, HR, RBI, 2BB

The Chiefs got back under the horse with a 6-2 loss to Pawtucket. Sammy Solis gave up a leadoff HR in the 1st then gave way to the scheduled starter Sean O’Sullivan, who gave up three runs on six hits and two walks over four and a 1/3rd innings to get his first “L” of the season. Clint Robinson doubled twice while BrAAAAndon Snyder walked twice and homered as the Chiefs managed five hits total. Roster moves: RHP Trevor Gott optioned from Washington, LHP Matt Grace recalled to Washington, LHP Sammy Solis assigned from Washington for MLB rehab.

Akron 7 Harrisburg 4
• Crownover 5⅓ IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 5K
• Lara (BS, 3; L, 0-2) ⅓ IP, 1H, 4R, 1ER, BB, K, HR, WP
• Keller 3-5
• Hernandez 3-5, R, 3B, RBI
• Read 2-4, R, HR, 2RBI

Harrisburg saw a 4-3 lead evaporate in the bottom of the eighth, “thanks” to two errors, a walk, and a homer as Akron took the series finale, 7-4. Matthew Crownover got his second no-decision in three starts as he allowed three runs on five hits and a walk over five and a 1/3rd innings. Braulio Lara blew his third save and took his second loss as he retired just one of four batters faced and gave up a walk and homer as the final four RubberDuck runs were charged to him. Alec Keller and Yadiel Hernandez both went 3-for-5 while Raudy Read singled and homered to lead the Sens’ 14-hit parade. Roster move: RHP Wirkin Estevez promoted from Potomac.

Potomac 4 Carolina 2
• Guilbeau (W, 1-0) 5IP, 6H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Schepel 2IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Pena (S, 1) 2IP, H, R, ER, BB, 3K, HR
• Page 2-3
• Wiseman 3-4, 2-2B, BB, 2RBI
• Robles 1-1, R, RBI, HBP

The P-Nats scored single runs in the 1st and 2nd and two in the 5th as they took their sixth win in eight games, 4-2 over the Mudcats. Taylor Guilbeau got the start and the win as he tossed five scoreless innings with six hits and one walk allowed and three whiffs. Kyle Schepel laid two more goose eggs and Gilbert Mendez one before he lost the shutout and wobbled through a two-run 9th. Victor Robles was hit by a pitch and lifted after driving in the second Potomac run on a two-out single in the 2nd. His replacement, Matt Page, went 2-for-3 while Rhett Wiseman singled, walked, and doubled twice to lead the Potomac offense.

Kannapolis 5 Hagerstown 4 – GAME ONE
• Bourque 6IP, 9H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 8K, HR, 2WP
• Howell (L, 0-1) ⅓ IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, 0K, WP
• Neuse 1-2, R, BB, HR, 2RBI
• Corredor 1-3, R, HR, 2RBI

Kannapolis 9 Hagerstown 1 – GAME TWO
• Ramirez (L, 0-2) 4IP, 11H, 8R, 8ER, BB, K, HR
• Corredor 1-3, R, HR, RBI, 2K

Hagerstown came to Kannapolis in first place, up by a game and a half. They’re leaving in third place – effectively two games behind with three to play as the Intimidators ran them into the wall with another doubleheader sweep, 5-4 and 9-1.

In the opener, a 2-0 lead courtesy of a two-run HR by Aldrem Corredor in the 3rd was erased by a four-run 5th. Sheldon Neuse tied it with another two-run jack in the 6th, but Kannapolis made quick work of Jacob Howell in the bottom of the 7th with single, sacrifice, wild pitch, and another single to plate the gamewinner and secure the 5-4 win.

In the nightcap, an early 1-0 lead vanished with three in the 1st then five in the 3rd as the Intimidators completed the four-game sweep by a combined 28-7 margin with a 9-1 rout [Insert comparison to BOS-NYY Sept. 7-10, 1978 here].

Both the Grasshoppers and the BlueClaws also won last night, which means the Suns need a whole lot of help to win the division. If they sweep, they need two losses from Kannapolis and one loss from Greensboro (Hagerstown has the tiebreaker over Lakewood). If they take two of three, they need three losses from Kannapolis, two from Greensboro, and one from Lakewood.

The Suns’ tragic number is therefore two (2) — any combination of wins by Kannapolis and/or losses by Hagerstown equaling two will eliminate them from the first-half title race.

Thursday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 7-6 vs. Pawtucket,
6:35 p.m.		 O’Sullivan (0-0, 3.00) vs.
Beeks (1-1, 3.75)
Harrisburg Won, 12-7 @ Akron,
7:05 p.m.		 Crownover (0-1, 6.00) vs.
Lugo (4-3, 4.09)
Potomac Won, 4-2 @ Carolina,
7:00 p.m.		 Silvestre (6-2, 4.34) vs.
Ponce (5-5, 3.70)
Hagerstown Lost, 4-1;
Lost, 10-1		 @ Kannapolis,
4:30 p.m.		 Bourque (1-3, 5.05) and
Ramirez (0-1, 4.18) vs.
Solorzano (1-5, 5.74) and TBD

Syracuse 7 Pawtucket 6
• Cole 5IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 3K, HR
• Fedde (W, 1-0) 1IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 1K
• Suero (SV, 1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Robinson 1-2, R, 3BB
• Stevenson 2-3, 2R, 2B, 3B, BB, 2RBI
• Solano 2-3, R, 2RBI

It took 61 games and a three-run rally in the bottom of the 8th for the Chiefs to secure their 20th win, 7-6 over Pawtucket. A.J. Cole went the first five and gave up five runs on eight hits and a walk. The win went to Erick Fedde despite giving up a run on three hits in his single inning of work. Wander Suero picked up the save as he fanned two and walked on in a scoreless 9th. Syracuse cashed in this time on nine walks as they scored seven times on just seven hits, led by Andrew Stevenson who doubled and tripled and drove in two.
Roster moves: Grant Green released; OF Alejandro de Aza assigned from Washington.

Harrisburg 12 Akron 7
• Hill 5⅔ IP, 9H, 7R, 4ER, 2BB, 2K, HR
• Eitel (W, 2-2) 3⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 4K
• N. Soto 3-5, R, RBI
• Marmolejos 2-4, 2R, 3B, BB, 2RBI
• Keller 3-6, 2R, 2B, RBI

Harrisburg broke out for six runs in the 7th and three in the 8th to turn a 7-3 deficit into a 12-7 win over Akron. Taylor Hill gave up his customary HR and all seven runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks over five and 2/3rds innings. Derek Eitel picked up the win in relief as he plucked the ‘Ducks over three and a 1/3rd scoreless and hitless innings. Stephen Perez was the beer man in a 14-hit parade that was paced by Alec Keller and Neftali Soto at three hits apiece.

Potomac 4 Buies Creek 2
• Borne (W, 2-2) 7IP, 3H, R, ER, 2BB, 6K, HBP
• Pena (S, 1) 2IP, H, R, ER, BB, 3K, HR
• Gushue 1-1, BB, 2SF, 2RBI
• Masters 2-4, 3B

The P-Nats doubled up the Astros, 4-2 and took the series, 2-1. Grant Borne went seven solid innings and gave up a run on three hits and two walks while striking out six for his second win. Ronald Pena was dinged for a homer in the 9th but preserved the lead for the save. Taylor Gushue singled, walked, and drove in two with a pair of sacrifice flies while David Masters singled and tripled to lead the Potomac offense.

Kannapolis 4 Hagerstown 1 – GAME ONE
• Sharp (L, 3-4) 4IP, 8H, 4R, 3ER, 0BB, 4K, HR
• Howard 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Neuse 3-3, R, 2B
• Noll 2-3

Kannapolis 10 Hagerstown 1 – GAME TWO
• Bogucki (L, 0-1) 2⅔ IP, 7H, 7R, 7ER, 3BB, 2K, 2HR
• Panaccione 1-2, R, 2B

Kannapolis made up serious ground with a doubleheader sweep of Hagerstown, 4-1 and 10-1. Sterling Sharp wasn’t (4IP, 4R) and A.J. Bogucki did his best imitation of Taylor Hill (2⅔ IP, 2HR) to take the losses. Sheldon Neuse and Jake Noll combined for five of the seven hits in the first game while the Suns were limited to just three in the nightcap. The Intimidators got help from the Crawdads, who swept the Grosshoppers in their doubleheader, while the BlueClaws snuck back into the race with a win.

Hagerstown still leads the division by one game—you might even say they’re in the driver’s seat—but is tied with Kannapolis in the loss column, and ahead of both Greensboro and Lakewood by one game. After tonight, none of these four teams play each other and only the Suns and Intimidators can play the full 70 games. Kannapolis has won three of four games played against Hagerstown, thus a Suns sweep would effectively eliminate the Intimidators, given that the next tiebreaker is divisional record (currently 25-18 vs 20-21).

Wednesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 7-1;
Lost, 6-3		 vs. Pawtucket,
5:05 p.m.		 Cole (3-2, 5.32) vs.
Haviland (3-4, 3.22)
Harrisburg Lost, 3-0 @ Akron,
7:05 p.m.		 Hill (2-1, 5.93) vs.
Pasquale (3-5, 5.11)
Potomac Lost, 5-1 vs. Buies Creek,
7:05 p.m.		 Borne (1-2, 1.14) vs.
Alcala (1-2, 3.72)
Hagerstown Postponed @ Kannapolis,
5:00 p.m.		 Sharp (3-3, 3.62) and
Bogucki (0-0, 2.51) vs.
Flores (6-4, 3.14) and TBD

2017 MLB Draft Update
I’ve updated the MLB Draft Tracker in the sidebar, but since that can be a pain to get to in mobile, here’s the new link. What’s the word on a nickname for the 10th Rd. selection as “OT” (Other Trey or Other Turner)?

Pawtucket 7 Syracuse 1 – GAME ONE
• G. Ross (L, 2-5) 5IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 1K, WP
• Martin 6BF, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 0K, HBP
• Robinson 1-3, BB, RBI
• Butler 0-0, 4BB
• 1-for-8 RISP, 10 LOB

Starter Greg Ross left in a 2-1 hole then watched Rafael Martin put six consecutive runners on base in the 6th to help secure the 7-1 win for Pawtucket in the opener. Ross took the loss despite an appreciable five innings of two-run ball on four hits and three walks with one (1) strikeout. Clint Robinson drove in the lone Chiefs run and connected for one of just four Chiefs hits while Joey Butler drew four of the ten walks issued by the PawSox.

Pawtucket 6 Syracuse 3 – GAME TWO
• McGowin (L, 1-6) 5IP, 8H, 6R, 5ER, 3BB, 1K, HR
• Grace 2IP, 2H, 0R, BB, K
• Ramsey 1-2, BB
• Snyder 1-3, 2B, RBI

The PawSox got three in the 3rd, one in the 4th, and two in the 5th as they doubled up the Chiefs, 6-3 and swept the doubleheader. Kyle McGowin lost for the sixth time in nine starts as he coughed up all six Pawtucket runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings. Matt Grace followed with two scoreless to keep things relatively close. Syracuse mustered three hits, including doubles by Adrian Sanchez and Brandon Snyder, and took four free passes; two by Irving Falu. Roster moves: RHP Erick Fedde promoted, C Spencer Kieboom reassigned from Harrisburg; C Pedro Severino placed on the 7-Day DL (retroactive to June 10); 1B-3B Matt Skole placed on the 7-Day DL (retroactive to June 12).

Akron 3 Harrisburg 0
• Long (L, 5-6) 8IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 3K, 2HR
• N. Soto 1-3, BB
• Marmolejos 1-4
• Lisson 1-4

Jaron Long went the distance in a losing effort as the RubberDucks shut out the Senators, 3-0. Long gave up four hits, including two homers, and issued no walks while setting down three on strikes. Neftali Soto was the sole Harrisburg batter to reach base twice as he walked and singled. Mario Lisson and Jose “Orange” Marmolejos also singled while Corbin Joseph and Yadiel Hernandez also walked to account for the Sens’ six baserunners.

Buies Creek 5 Potomac 1
• Reyes (L, 5-6) 5IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 5K, HBP
• J. Mills 2⅓, 2H, R, ER, 0BB, 3K
• Page 1-3, BB, RBI
• Sundberg OF assist at HP

Potomac’s three-game win streak was ended with a 5-1 loss to Buies Creek. Luis Reyes, who dominated Down East in his last outing, was strafed for three runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings for his sixth loss. Matt Page drew a bases-loaded walk in the 9th to break up the shutout bid as the P-Nats were limited to just four hits.

Hagerstown vs. Kannapolis – PPD
Both the Suns and the Grasshoppers were rained out and will have doubleheaders today. Hagerstown, however, has another one scheduled for tomorrow while Greensboro does not. Because the Grasshoppers have had two cancellations, they could conceivably win the first half by less than a game (as the Suns did last year) or percentage points. As of now, however, the Suns lead by a game and a half.