Sunday’s News & Notes

The Quick Rundown…

Scranton/WB 4 Syracuse 2 — GAME ONE
∙ Milone (L, 1-2) 5IP 9H 3R 3ER 1BB 6K 1HR
∙ Rodriguez 1IP 0H 1R 0ER 1BB 1K
∙ Bynum 2-3, 2B
∙ Frazier 2-3, HR, RBI, CS

Tom Milone couldn’t scatter the hits, giving up nine over five innings including a solo HR (third surrendered this year) for three runs and his second loss of the season. Of course, he was opposed by an established major-leaguer, Kevin Millwood, who went the distance in the seven-inning affair for the 4-2 win. Seth Bynum and Jeff Frazier both went 2-for-3 to lead the Syracuse offense.

Syracuse 2 Scranton/WB 0 — GAME TWO
∙ Stammen (W, 1-0) 7IP 4H 0R 0BB 7K
∙ Bynum 1-2, R, RBI, SB
∙ Aubrey 1-3, RBI

Game Two was a pitchers’ duel, with both pitchers throwing complete games, but Craig Stammen got the shutout as the Chiefs won to split the twinbill. Syracuse got single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, as Michael Aubrey’s RBI groundout plated the first run and Seth Bynum’s third hit of the afternoon drove in the second run.
Collin Balester was optioned back to Syracuse with the removal of Todd Coffey from the DL.

Harrisburg 8 Trenton 2
∙ Meyers (W, 3-1) 6⅔ IP 4H 2R 2ER 0BB 10K
∙ VanAllen 1⅓ IP 2H 0R 0BB 2K
∙ Gilbert 4-4, 4R, 2B, HR, 2RBI, SB
∙ Moore 2-4, R, HR, RBI, SB
∙ Johnson 2-4, 2B, 2RBI
∙ Lombardozzi 2-5, 3B, 2RBI

Archie Gilbert came a triple shy of the cycle, going 4-for-4 with four runs scored, as the Harrisburg Senators pounded the Trenton Thunder for 12 hits in an 8-2 win. Brad Meyers won his third game, striking out 10 over six and 2/3rds innings while allowing both runs on four hits. Tyler Moore’s home run drought ended with a 2nd-inning solo shot, while Josh Johnson and Steve Lombardozzi both collected two hits.

Potomac 9 Salem 8
∙ Frias (ND) 3IP 6H 7R 7ER 4BB 1K 1HR
∙ Morrison 3IP 3H 1R 1ER 1BB 4K
∙ Olbrychowski (W, 1-0) 2IP 1H 0R 1K
∙ Lehman (S, 3) 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K
∙ Kobernus 2-5, 3R, RBI, 2SB
∙ Soriano 0-1, R, 4BB
∙ Hood 2-5, R, 2B, 3RBI
∙ Leon 3-4, R, 2B, RBI

J.P. Ramirez had but one hit on Saturday night, but the two-out, ninth-inning homer was the difference in a 9-8 Potomac win. Starter Marcos Frias got pounded early, giving up seven runs on six hits and four walks, lowlighted by a first-inning grand slam. Unlike previous nights so far this year, the middle relievers were outstanding, as Kyle Morrison and Adam Olbrychowski combined for one run allowed on four hits and one walk over five innings and five strikeouts. Eight of the nine batters collected hits, with Sandy Leon collecting three of the 12, and the one that didn’t (Francisco Soriano) drawing four walks as the P-Nats rallied from deficits of 4-1 and 8-5.

Hickory 9 Hagerstown 4
∙ Hansen (L, 1-1) ⅔ IP 6H 6R 6ER 1BB 0K 1HR
∙ McCatty 4⅓ 3H 1R 1ER 0B 2K
∙ Rogers 2-4, R
∙ Moore 3-4, BB
∙ Freitas 0-2, 3BB

Payback for Friday night was swift as the Crawdads sent Bobby Hansen to the showers before the first inning was over in a 9-4 win. Hansen loaded the bases with a walk, single, and a fielder’s choice, while Hickory’s Andrew Clark emptied them with a grandslam to right-center. Hansen would leave after 2/3rds of an inning, with six runs allowed on six hits and no strikeouts. Shane McCatty stranded both runners he inherited to finish the first and went four more innings to give Hagerstown a chance, but despite a late charge in the 9th, the Suns couldn’t get the key hit and stranded 11 runners. Bryce Harper was given the night off, according to local beat writer Bob Parasiliti who filed this story about the autograph seekers at the Muni