Thursday’s News and Notes

The Quick Rundown…

Syracuse Chiefs W, 8-2 @ Rochester”
WDWRD: 1-5, R, 2B, RBI
Starting Pitcher: Zimmermann 3IP 0H 0R 1BB 3K
Pitching Star: Mandel (W, 5-6) 4IP 4H 1R 1ER 1BB 1K
Hitting Star #1: M. Martinez 3-5, R, 2RBI
Hitting Star #2: Whiting 2-5, 2R, 2-2B
Notes: Jordan Zimmermann tossed three scoreless inning in his first AAA start of the year, while the Chiefs piled on five runs in the first two innings to cruise to an 8-2 decision over the Rochester Red Wings. Jeff Mandel followed Zimmermann on the mound, allowing one run on four hits over four innings to get the win, his fifth at AAA. Michael Martinez led the 12-hit attack with three singles and two RBI.

Harrisburg Senators W, 7-1 @ Binghamton
Starting Pitcher: Milone (W, 8-5) 6⅓ IP 7H 1R 1ER 0BB 12K
Pitching Star: Martin 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K
Hitting Star #1: Jo. Johnson 3-5, 2R, HR, 2RBI
Hitting Star #2: Valdez 3-5, 2R, 2B, 2RBI
Hitting Star #3: Castro 3-3, 2B, BB
Notes: Tom Milone struck out a season-high 12 batters as the Harrisburg Senators won their seventh straight with a 7-1 win over the Binghamton Mets. Josh Johnson’s solo HR got the scoring started with one out in the top of the first, which Binghamton answered with a leadoff HR by Jose Coronado. After that it was lights-out pitching, as the four Senators pitchers combined to strike out 17 batters, scattering eight more hits the rest of the way. Joining Johnson in the hit parade were Jesus Valdez (3-for-5) and Ofilio Castro (3-for-3) as every position player got a hit.

Potomac Nationals W, 7-1 @ Myrtle Beach
Starter/Pitching Star: Alaniz (W, 6-3) 8IP 4H 1R 1ER 2BB 4K 1HR
Hitting Star #1: Moore 2-5, 2R, 2HR, 6RBI
Hitting Star #2: Lyons 2-5, 2R, 2B
Notes: Tyler Moore’s two home runs and six RBI were more than enough run support for Adrian Alaniz, who dominated the Myrtle Beach Pelicans with eight strong innings as the Potomac Nationals cruised to a 7-1 victory. Early on, this was a pitcher’s duel, with ten goose eggs on the scoreboard until the Potomac sixth, when Moore launched the first of his home runs, a three-run shot in a four-run inning. He would do it again one inning later to give the P-Nats a 7-0 lead. Meanwhile, Alaniz was cruising, with just three hits allowed through seven scoreless innings. The Pelicans would break up the shutout with a leadoff HR in the bottom of the eighth, but could do no further damage in the ninth.

Hagerstown Suns W, 8-3 vs. Lexington
Starting Pitcher: Ott (W, 1-0) 5IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K
Pitching Star: McCatty (H, 1) 3IP 1H 0R 2BB 2K
Hitting Star #1: Sanchez 2-4, 2R, HR, 2RBI
Hitting Star #2: Perez 1-3, R, 3B, 2RBI
Notes: Strong hitting and strong pitching was the theme on Thursday and Hagerstown was marching to the tune, debunking the Lexington Legends 8-3. Three home runs powered the Suns eight-hit attack, highlighted by a five-run 7^th that turned a 3-0 game into an 8-0 runaway. Starter Billy Ott made a strong Low-A debut with one hit allowed over five scoreless innings, with Shane McCatty pitching three scoreless innings in relief. Kyle Morrison’s struggles in the ninth (three runs on three hits) was the only spot on the Suns’ shining night.

Vermont Lake Monsters L, 7-4 vs. Auburn
Starting Pitcher: Swynenberg 4IP 3H 3R 3ER 3BB 3K
Pitching Star: None
Hitting Star #1: Freitas 2-4, R, HR, 3RBI
Hitting Star #2: Labrie 2-4, 2B, SB
Notes: The Auburn Doubledays began with bang, scoring three runs in the top of the first off starter Matt Swynenberg. The Lake Monsters countered with one in the 1^st and two in the 3^rd, courtesy of David Freitas’s 4^th home run to tie it at 3-3. Wade Moore’s solo HR in the 5^th gave Vermont a brief 4-3 lead, but the Lake Monster bullpen couldn’t hold down Auburn, allowing two runs in the 7^th and single runs in the 8^th and 9^th innings for the game’s final count of 7-4.

GCL Nationals L, 7-3 @ GCL Cardinals
Starting Pitcher: Brandon King ⅔ 4H 4R 4ER 1BB 2K 2HR
Pitching Star: Miguel Navarro 2IP 2H 0R 2BB 1
Hitting Star: Mills Rogers 1-4, R, 2B, 2RBI
Notes: Brandon King couldn’t get out of the first inning, giving up four runs on four hits, including two home runs, to put the GCL Nationals in a 4-0 hole early. The bullpen held the GCL Cardinals close until the 5^th, when they allowed a single run to push the lead to 5-0. The G-Nats rallied for three on the strength of two-run double by Mills Rogers and a sacrifice fly by Hector Taveras to make it 5-3, but the G-Cards answered back with two off Gregory Baez for what turned out the be the eventual final score of 7-3.

DSL Nationals L, 5-4 (8 inn.); W, 16-3

GAME ONE
Starting Pitcher: Anthony Marcelino (ND) 5⅔ IP 6H 4R 4ER 5BB 4K
Pitching Star: Antonio Guzman 1⅓ IP 2H 0R 1BB 1K
Hitting Star #1: “Fred” Ortega 2-3, R, BB
Hitting Star #2: Paul Chacin 2-4, SB, RBI
Notes: After falling behind 4-1 after six innings, the DSL Nationals rallied for three in the bottom of the 6^th with two singles and three walks to tie it at 4-4 but the Giants rallied to win it in the eighth, “extra” inning of a 7-inning game with a double, sacrifice, and an RBI groundout to win it 5-4.

GAME TWO
Starting Pitcher: Andy Santana (W, 2-0) 5IP 4H 1R 1ER 2BB 7K
Pitching Star: None
Hitting Star #1: Jean Valdez 2-3, R, 3RBI
Hitting Star #2: Bienvenido Valdez 1-3, 2R, 3B, BB, 2RBI
Notes: Game Two was a narc-at-a-biker-rally beating, with the DSL Nationals scoring 16 runs on 11 hits and six walks, highlighted by an 11-run inning in the bottom of the fifth. Starter Andy Santana went five innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven to win his second game of the season.