Monday’s News and Notes

The Quick Rundown…

Syracuse Chiefs W, 4-1 @ Buffalo (10 inn.)
Starting Pitcher: Martis 7IP 5H 1R 1ER 1BB 5K 1HR
Pitching Star: Balester (W, 3-3) 2IP 1H 0R 1BB 2K
Hitting Star #1: Martinez 2-4, 2R, 2B, SB, HR, 3RBI
Hitting Star #2: Espinosa 2-4
Notes: After surviving a first-and-third threat with one out in the bottom of the ninth, which the Chiefs escaped with a double play, Syracuse put a three-spot on the board in the tenth to win this one 4-1 over Buffalo. Michael Martinez was the offensive force for the Chiefs, his solo home run tying the game at 1-1 in the sixth, and his two-run double breaking the 1-1 tie in the tenth. Starter Shairon Martis gave up just one run on five hits and one walk over seven innings to keep pace with 20-year-old Mets phenom Jenrry Mejia, who went eight innings and struck out nine in his AAA debut. The win keeps pace with wild-card leader Columbus, but the elimination number is now down to just three with seven games left.

Harrisburg Senators L, 8-7 @ New Hampshire
Starting Pitcher: Peacock (ND) 5IP 6H 5R 5ER 3BB 4K 2HR
Pitching Star: VanAllen ⅔ IP 1H 0R 1BB 1K (pickoff at 1st base)
Hitting Star #1: Lombardozzi 3-5, R, 2B, SB, HR, 3RBI
Hitting Star #2: Ivany 3-4, 2R, HR, RBI
Hitting Star #2: Burgess 2-4, R
Notes: After falling behind 5-0 midway through, the Senators rallied for five to tie in the top of the fifth and took the lead at 6-5 in the top of the seventh. But the bullpen faltered and the Senators fell 8-7. Starter Brad Peacock was knocked for five runs on six hits, including two home runs, while walking three and striking out four. Steve Lombardozzi continues to hit as if he’d been demoted instead of promoted, going 3-for-5 with a double, home run, and three RBI. He also stole a base. The loss shaves the Harrisburg lead over Bowie to just a ½ game, while Akron lost to reduce its elimination number to five.

Potomac Nationals — OFF Day
Notes: With a loss by Wilmington, the P-Nats lead is now 2½ games as they begin a doubleheader tonight against Salem, the first two of a five-game series that will conclude their road slate before heading home this weekend for four games (and another doubleheader) against second-place Kinston, for yet another possible playoff preview.

Hagerstown Suns L, 14-1 @ Lexington
Starting Pitcher: Demny (L, 6-9) ⅓ IP 3H 7R 7ER 3BB 1K 1HR 1HBP
Pitching Star: None
Hitting Star: Perez 1-3, R, SB
Notes: A nine-run first put no doubt in anyone’s mind that Lexington would win last night as the Hagerstown Suns were routed 14-1. Starter Paul Demny retired just one of the eight batters he faced, the rest all scored. Every reliever was touched for at least one run, prompting Matt LeCroy to send an infielder (Brett Newsome) out to pitch the eighth. Offensively, the Suns were held to just four hits, with the lone run scoring on a wild pitch.

Vermont Lake Monsters W, 11-5 @ Aberdeen
Starting Pitcher: Jenkins 3IP 4H 2R 2ER 1BB 3K
Pitching Star: Swynenberg (W, 4-2) 4IP 2H 0R 1BB 3K
Hitting Star #1: Moldenhauer 4-6, R, HR, 5RBI
Hitting Star #2: Kelso 3-4, 3R, 2-2B, 2BB
Hitting Star #3: Mozingo 3-6, 3R, 2RBI
Notes: Russ Moldenhauer’s two-out, three-run home run was the turning point, as the Lake Monsters went from a 3-2 edge to a 6-2 lead en route to an 11-5 strafing of the Aberdeen Ironbirds. Moldenhauer went 4-for-6 on the night to lead the offensive barrage, which saw the top three batters combine for 10 hits, seven runs, two doubles, and seven RBI. Matt Swynenberg got the win in relief or starter Chad Jenkins, who was touched for two runs on four hits over the first three innings. The win kept place with second-place Connecticut to maintain a ½-game lead.