The Quick Rundown…
| Team | Yesterday’s Result | Today’s Game | Pitching Matchup (’10 Record @ Level) |
| Syracuse Chiefs | Won, 8-5 | @ Buffalo, 5:05 p.m. | Ross Detwiler (1-0, 1.80) vs. Jenrry Mejia (0-0, 1.13) |
| Harrisburg Senators | Won, 5-0 | vs. Bowie, 7:05 p.m. | Ryan Tatusko (12-3, 2.63) vs. Steve Johnson (7-8, 5.09) |
| Potomac Nationals | Did Not Play | vs. Lynchburg, 7:05 p.m. | Danny Rosenbaum (3-2, 2.09) vs. Arodys Vizcaino (0-0, 4.61) |
| Hagerstown Suns | Won, 3-2 | @ Rome, 7:05 p.m. | Matt Grace (1-2, 6.41 @ GCL/NYPL) vs. TBD (0-0, -.–) |
Editor’s note: We’re trying a slightly different format this year. The bullet points will highlight the SP, one or two outstanding RPs, and the game’s top two or three batters. When there’s some related tidbits, we’ll add sentence or two in italics. The mission is to keep this succinct and manageable, so there may be times when not every prospect gets a mention.
Syracuse 8 Buffalo 5
∙ Maya 4.2IP 8H 5ER 2BB 2K 1HR
∙ Kimball (W, 1-0) 1.1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K
∙ Balester (H, 1) 1.2IP 2H 0R 0BB 2K
∙ Bynum 2-4, R, 1HR, 5RBI
∙ Bixler 2-4, R, 1-2B
Both the Syracuse Chiefs and the Buffalo Bisons scored all of their runs in the 4th and 5th innings. In fact, all five of Buffalo’s runs came off Chief’s starter, Yunesky Maya. Syracuse put eight runs up on the board, paced by 5 RBI (including a 3-run HR) from Seth Bynum, and was enough to give the Chiefs the win. The team got both stellar relief pitching (4 innings of shutout baseball), and the key hit when it mattered (3-for-6 with RISP).
Roger Bernadina was out of the lineup due a family issue and is expected out for a few games. Matt Chico appeared in relief while Josh Wilkie appeared in the ninth for the rulebook save. Chris Marrero went 0-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Harrisburg 5 Bowie 0
∙ Meyers (W, 1-0) 5IP 4H 0R 0BB 9K
∙ Rodriguez 2IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K
∙ Moore 2-4, R, 2RBI
∙ Lombardozzi 0-2, 2R, 2BB
Pitching was the story last night, as Brad Meyers tossed five shutout innings, allowing only five hits and striking out nine. The bullpen, including Henry Rodriguez, Pat McCoy and Ryan Mattheus followed suit with four more goose eggs, one hit allowed and six more strikeout. No Harrisburg pitcher issued a walk. The Baysox moundsmen could not say the same, walking eight batters. Moore and Lombardozzi were the key hitters of the game, collectively batting 2-6, while scoring 3 runs from 2 walks and collecting 2 RBI.
Derek Norris went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored. The OF was a veteran contingent of Jesus Valdez, Jonathan Tucker, and Buck Coats.
Hagerstown 3 Rome 2
∙ Selik (ND) 5IP 4H 0R 0BB 4K
∙ Graham (SV, 1) 2IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K
∙ Harper 2-4, SB, CS, RBI
∙ Oduber 1-3, 2R, BB, SB
Bryce Harper wasted no time in making his presence felt, driving in Randolph Oduber in the top of the 1st after the “Groovin Aruban” had drawn a walk and stolen second. Former reliever Cameron Selik got the start blanked the Rome nine for five frames and left with a 2-0 lead. Former starter Taylor Jordan was touched for two runs in the 6th to tie the game. Wade Moore walked, stole second, took third on an error and trotted home on a Jason Martinson single for what what proved to be the gamewinner in the top of the 7th. Ben Graham closed out the game with two innings of one-hit relief for the save.
Michael Taylor’s shift to the OF is now official, as he took CF, flanked by Oduber and Harper in LF and RF, respectively. David Freitas was the cleanup hitter and caught while Mills Rogers was the first baseman.