Thursday’s News and Notes

The Quick Rundown…

Syracuse Chiefs W, 5-4 vs. Buffalo (14 inn.)
Starting Pitcher: Arnesen 6IP 9H 3R 3ER 2BB 4K 1HR
Pitching Star #1: Carr 3IP 1H 0R 2BB 2K
Pitching Star #2: Bisenius (W, 1-0) 2IP 0H 0R 1BB 3K
Hitting Star #1: Bixler 3-7, SB, RBI
Hitting Star #2: Orr 2-4, R, SB
Notes: Brian Bixler’s two-out RBI single gave Syracuse a 5-4 walkoff win in 14 innings over Buffalo. The win also cut the distance between the Chiefs and Bisons to two games, though Syracuse still trails Columbus by five for the IL wild card. Erik Arnesen got the start and went six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and two walks to go with four strike outs. After giving up the tying run in the top of the seventh, the Syracuse bullpen tossed seven scoreless innings, led by pitching stars and Adam Carr (3IP) and Joe Bisenius (2IP).

Harrisburg Senators W, 3-1 vs. Trenton
Starting Pitcher: Tatusko (W, 2-1) 6IP 5H 1R 1ER 2BB 7K
Pitching Star: Spradlin (SV, 1) 3IP 1H 0R 0BB 4K
Hitting Star #1: Marrero 3-4, R, RBI
Hitting Star #2: Valdez 2-4, 2R, 2B
Notes: The Harrisburg express continues to roll as the Senators defeated the Trenton Thunder by a 3-1 tally for their sixth win in the past seven games. Ryan Tatusko won his second game since joining the organization, tossing six innings with one run allowed on five hits and two walks while striking out seven. Chris Marrero extended his hitting streak to six games with a 3-for-4 night to lead the Senator offense. The win kept pace with Bowie and Akron, who remain 1½ and 3½ games behind Harrisburg respectively.

Potomac Nationals — OFF DAY
Notes: It’s a short ride up to Frederick for a three-game set and a possible playoff preview. Second-place Wilmington was also idle last night and embarks on its final regular-season road trip with three against last-place Lynchburg.

Hagerstown Suns L, 11-6 vs. Delmarva
Starting Pitcher: Clegg 4⅔ IP 5H 6R 6ER 2BB 3K
Pitching Star: Smoker 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K
Hitting Star #1: Perez 4-4, 2R, 2-2B, 2SB (#54, #55), RBI
Hitting Star #2: Hague 2-5, RBI
Notes: A seven-run fifth inning eclipsed the Suns as the Delmarva Shorebirds would go on to win 11-6. Starter Mitchell Clegg gave up six runs on five hits and two walks over his 4⅔ innings of work. Eury Perez was a one-man wrecking crew, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and two stolen bases to lead the Hagerstown offense. The loss reduced the Suns elimination number to one, and dropped them into a tie with Delmarva for last place in the Sally League North.

Vermont Lake Mosters L, 7-3 vs. Connecticut
Starting Pitcher: Grace (L, 0-1) 3⅓ IP 5H 6R 4ER 2BB 2K 1HR
Pitching Star: Cahill 2IP 2H 0R 0BB 0K
Hitting Star #1: Moldenhauer 2-4, R, RBI
Hitting Star #2: Freitas 1-2, 2BB
Notes: Matt Grace pitched a 1-2-3 second inning, but gave up two in the first, three in the third and one more in the fourth, as the 21-year-old was smacked for six hits and walked two over 3⅓ innings as the Vermont Lake Monsters lost again, 7-3 to the Connecticut Tigers. Hitting Star and 2010 Tom Racine Award winner David Freitas led the Vermont offense with a 2-for-4 night. The loss reduces the Lake Monster lead over the second-place Tri-City Valley Cats to ½ game.

GCL Nationals W, 5-4 vs. GCL Mets
Starting Pitcher: Nick Serino 4IP 6H 2R 2ER 1BB 2K 1HR
Pitching Star: Mike Gallo 4IP 3H 0R 2BB 0K
Hitting Star #1: Estarlin Martinez 2-3, R, 2B, HR, 3RBI
Hitting Star #2: Andruth Ramirez 1-4, R, HR, RBI
Notes: Andruth Ramirez’s solo HR in the bottom of the ninth gave the GCL Nationals a 5-4 walkoff win over the GCL Mets. The blast erased a blown save by John Santiago and made a winner out of Manuel Rivera, who retired the only batter he faced. Estarlin Martinez also homered and doubled to join Ramirez in Hitting Star honors. Starting pitcher Nick Serino went the first four innings, allowing two runs on six hits plus one walk while striking out two.