Saturday’s News and Notes

The Quick Rundown…

Syracuse Chiefs W, 4-3 (Game One) vs. Lehigh Valley
Starting Pitcher: Kown 5⅓ IP 7H 2R 2ER 2BB 1K
Pitching Star: None
Hitting Star #1: Martinez 3-3, R, 2-2B, HR, 2RBI
Hitting Star #2: Orr 1-3, R, HR, RBI
Notes: Mike Martinez’s sole mistake was getting thrown out at home, as the veteran minor-leaguer went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run, and 2RBI to help lead the Chiefs past the Iron Pigs 4-3. Andrew Kown started and went 5⅓ innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks to get the win while Josh Wilkie labored through the last 1⅔ innings to get the credit for his seventh save.

Syracuse Chiefs L, 6-4 vs. Lehigh Valley (Game Two)
Starting Pitcher: Mock (L, 0-1) 5IP 7H 4H 4ER 1BB 3K
Pitching Star: None
Hitting Star #1: Bixler 2-2, R, 2B, BB, 3RBI
Hitting Star #2: Whiting 3-4, R
Notes: Centerfield was once again the defensive position for the hitter of the game as former major-leaguer Brian Bixler went 2-for-2 with a double and drove in three to lead the Chiefs offense. But it wasn’t enough as starter Garrett Mock was touched for four runs over five innings as Syracuse dropped the nightcap 6-4. The split doubleheader lowered the elimination number for the playoffs to five, as the Chiefs still trail by 4½ games with nine left to play.

Harrisburg Senators L, 2-1 vs. Trenton
Starter/Pitching Star: Thompson (ND) 7IP 5H 1R 1ER 1BB 5K
Hitting Star: Marrero 2-4
Notes: Aaron Thompson had his best start in more than three months, allowing just a single run over seven innings on five hits and one walk, but got the no-decision as the Senators were edged 2-1 by the Thunder. Hitting Star Chris Marrero got two of the team’s five hits, but the team went 0-for-9 with RISP. Rafael Martin was touched for the winning (unearned) run during his two innings of relief and was charged with the loss. Bowie also lost, but Akron won to creep to within 2½ games of Harrisburg in the wild-card race.

Potomac Nationals W, 6-4 @ Frederick
Starting Pitcher: Detwiler 3IP 2H 1R 1ER 0BB 4K 1HR
Pitching Star: McCoy (SV, 4) 1IP 0H 0R 1BB 0K
Hitting Star #1: Moore 2-4, R, 2-2B, RBI
Hitting Star #2: Rhinehart 1-3, R, BB, HR, RBI
Notes: Tyler Moore doubled to tie it, and Jamar Walton tripled to get the go-ahead run as the Potomac Nationals rallied for three runs in the ninth to overcome the Frederick Keys by a score of 6-4. Ross Detwiler got the nod to start in a rehab stint and gave up a solo HR to Frederick slugger Ronnie Welty for his one run allowed over three innings. A.J. Morris continues to struggle as a reliever, as all three runners he inherited from Danny Rosenbaum came in to score during the Keys’ three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh. The win, coupled with a Wilmington loss, opened up Potomac’s lead to 1½ games (two in the loss column) as the two teams close out their series today, a possible preview of another series to come after Labor Day.

Hagerstown Suns W, 5-2 vs. Delmarva
Starting Pitcher: McCatty 4IP 1H 1R 0ER 0BB 5K
Pitching Star: Garcia (W, 4-3) 2IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K
Hitting Star #1: Newswome 2-4, RBI
Hitting Star #2: Oduber 2-4, 2B
Notes: The Hagerstown Suns closed out their home schedule with a 5-2 victory over the Delmarva Shorebirds, putting two games between them and last place in the Sally League’s Northern Divison. Shane McCatty got the call to start and went four innings with one unearned run allowed on one hit while setting down five on strikes. Randolph Oduber’s second game for the Suns saw the 21-year-old go 2-for-4 with a double to earn the coveted Hitting Star honors (that and $2 gets you a coffee, young man). Luis Garcia picked up the win in relief with two scoreless innings while Josh Smoker closed out the ninth for his third save.

McCatty 4.0 1 1 0 0 5

Vermont Lake Monsters W, 7-1 @ Aberdeen
Starting Pitcher: Hansen 3⅔ IP 3H 0R 2BB 2K
Pitching Star: Holland 2IP 1H 0R 1BB 2K
Hitting Star #1: Martinson 2-4, R, BB, HR, 4RBI
Hitting Star #2: Moore 3-5, R, RBI
Notes: A two-run fifth followed by a three-run sixth broke open this pitcher’s duel for a 7-1 runaway victory for the Vermont Lake Monsters, snapping a three-gam losing streak. Ryan Mattheus got the win in relief of starter Bobby Hansen, who went the first 3⅔ innings with just three hits and two walks allowed to go with his two strikeouts. Hitter of the game Jason Martinson was responsible for the fifth-inning rally with a two-run blast that drove in the first of his four RBIs on the night. With the win and a Connecticut loss, Vermont regains sole possession of first place, a ½ game ahead of Tri-City.

GCL Nats L, 3-2 @ GCL Marlins
Starting Pitcher: Pedro Encarnacion (L, 0-3) 5IP 5H 3R 3ER 2BB 3K 1HR
Pitching Star: Chris Manno 2IP 1H 0R 0BB 4K
Hitting Star #1: Wander Nunez 2-3, R, 2B, BB, 2SB
Hitting Star #2: Angel Montilla 1-3, R, 3SB
Notes: The GCL Nationals finished the 2010 campaign on a down note, losing to the GCL Marlins 3-2. The batters were held to just four hits, three of which came off the bats of hitters of the game Wander Nunez and Angel Montilla, who also combined to steal five bases. Starter Pedro Encarnacion went five innings, allowing all three Marlin runs on five hits and two walks. Relievers Miguel Navarro and Chris Manno combined for four scoreless innings to finish the game, with Navarro setting down two on strikes and Manno whiffing four.