Thursday’s News & Notes
Another three-game, rain-aided sweep for the Nats affiliates
The Quick Rundown…
| Team | Yesterday’s Result | Today’s Game | Pitching Matchup |
| Syracuse Chiefs | Won, 10-4 | vs. Norfolk, 7:00 p.m. | Ross Detwiler (2-3, 4.76) vs. Chorye Spoone (2-1, 4.88) |
| Harrisburg Senators | Postponed | vs. New Britain, 5:30 p.m. (doubleheader) |
Oliver Perez (1st game) and Brad Peacock (5-1, 2.13) |
| Potomac Nationals | Won, 6-3 (comp. early) | @ Frederick, 11:00 a.m. | Danny Rosenbaum (1-1, 2.28) vs. Ryan O’Shea (3-1, 1.93) |
| Hagerstown Suns | Won, 4-3 (comp. of susp. gm) |
vs. Kannapolis, 5:05 p.m. (doubleheader) |
Robbie Ray (1-0, 0.00) and A.J. Cole (0-1, 3.52) vs. Ryan Buch (3-3, 3.89) and Paul Burnside (3-1, 3.55) |
Syracuse 10 Norfolk 4
• Maya (ND) 6⅓ IP 4H 3R 3ER 1BB 2K 1HR
• Carr (W, 2-2) 1⅔ 1H 0R 1BB 0K
• Marrero 3-5, R
• Blanco 2-5, 2R, 2B, 2RBI, 2SB
• McConnell 2-3, 2R, 3B
A six-run bottom of the eighth capped a comeback from a 3-0 deficit as the Chiefs turned the Tide, 10-4. Yunesky Maya weathered a three-run first to go six and 1/3rd innings and get the quality start with a walk and two strikeouts and four hits allowed. Adam Carr got the win in relief with a hit and walk given up over the next one and 2/3rds innings. Chris Marrero paced the 13-hit attack with a 3-for-5 night, as eight of the nine batters had at least one safety with Gregor Blanco, Chris McConnell, and Adam Fox getting two hits apiece.
Harrisburg-New Britain — PPD
It was rainout #5 for the Sens, forcing a pair of seven-inning games tonight at MBP on City Island at 5:30 p.m.
Potomac 6 Frederick 3 (Comp. Early)
• Bronson 3⅔ IP 5H 2R 2ER 3BB 1K 1HR
• Martin, R. (W, 1-0) 1⅓ IP 3H 0R 0BB 2K
• Kobernus 2-5, R, RBI, SB
• Hood 3-5, 2-2B, 2RBI
• Perez 2-4, R
Eury Perez and Destin Hood remain red-hot, combining for five of the nine Potomac hits in a 6-3 win that was ended early due to… wait for it… rain. Spot starter Evan Bronson went the first three and 2/3rds innings, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks. Four relievers combined for one run over the next five innings, with recently activated Rafael Martin getting the win and Dean Weaver getting the hold. Jeff Kobernus stole his team-leading 15th base while going 2-for-5 from the leadoff spot. Pat Lehman was deactivated, i.e. placed on the 7-Day DL, to make room for Martin.
Hagerstown 4 Kannapolis 3
• Grace 3IP 5H 2R 2ER 1BB 3K
• Applebee (W, 4-1) 4⅓ 6H 1R 1ER 0BB 1K
• Manno (S, 6) 1⅔ IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K
• Sanchez 2-4, 2R
• Freitas 3-4, 2B, 3RBI
• Leonida 2-3, 2-2B, BB
After rain pushed this game from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, the Suns took advantage of timing to come back from a 2-1 deficit to win 4-3 before the rains returned to force another doubleheader tonight. De facto starter Paul Applebee turned in four and 1/3rd innings to get his fourth win while Chris Manno got the last five outs for his sixth save. David Freitas drove in three of the four Hagerstown runs with a double and two singles, while Bryce Harper broke an 0-for-11 streak with a double, for which MASN’s Byron Kerr was on hand, extending his on-base streak to 25 games.
Any word on why Selik went to the DL? Bruised Ego from his two sub-par starts so far in Potomac?
Not sure. The problem with the way they’ve been shuffling guys on and off the list is that invariably my cynicism is going to either be wrong or misinterpreted as insensitive. This is why I’d prefer them to either (a) be more forthcoming or (b) stop playing games with the DL.
I’m normally a big fan of Byron Kerr’s writing, but his posts reminded me of all those pronouncements on ‘Tiger Woods adjusting the bill of his cap’ coverage during golf tournaments. The only thing missing was a count on how many times he scratched himself.
So many great stories with that team and he missed all except one. Okay, end of rant.
I remember TBRFan’s reports about Adrian Sanchez being a slick fielder but looking overmatched at the plate and his numbers in April confirmed it.
He’s found his comfort level, last 10 games hitting .840 OPS. And, he still only 20!
So happy to see Perez and Hood’s coming on so strong, Destin Hood’s last 10 games he’s hitting 1.031 OPS (!!!).
Hope to hear more news on Lehman soon, pitchers on the DL make me very nervous, not to mention he’s been ‘lights out’.
Any news on Corey Brown?
Hasn’t played for Syracuse in a few days… is he hurt, or are they just trying some fresh blood in the OF?
Probably the latter since there’s no mention of it in the game recap from the 14th.
I heard Potomic signed 2 pitchers from braves oganization
They’re received two players from XSP (Nola & Martin), but haven’t seen anything else.
I’ll throw this in as it answers some questions posed here … and since I am one of the Syracuse Chiefs guys: (previously posted accidentally in the wrong place)
By Lindsay Kramer/The Post-Standard
Lindsay Kramer can be reached at 470-2151 or lkramer@syracuse.com
As a struggling outfit, the Syracuse Chiefs can count on seeing new faces in their lineup and hope for a little bit of luck. The combination of both those factors kept Syracuse pointed in the right direction Wednesday. Team Transition enjoyed production from some of its fresher talent and pounced all over a few gimmes from Norfolk to rally for a 10-4 win over the Tides at Alliance Bank Stadium. Syracuse, which won its third straight, took advantage of four Norfolk errors to score eight unearned runs. The Chiefs equaled a season-high 13 hits, picked up two hits and two RBI from outfielder Gregor Blanco, who is still feeling his way around the lineup, and a two-run double from second baseman Matt Antonelli, who was making his debut with the team. Third baseman Adam Fox also drove in two.
“I haven’t been able to follow a ton (of what’s going on), up here,’’ said Antonelli, recalled from Double-A Harrisburg on Wednesday. “But from what I’ve heard we’ve been playing well lately. I’m just happy to come up here and keep it going.’’
Syracuse entered the game in last place in the IL’s North Division but has been juggling pieces the last few days to change that. Blanco was acquired in a trade from the Kansas City organization on May 11. Three days later the team lost its best reliever, Cole Kimball, on recall to Washington.
Tuesday, outfielder Boomer Whiting was released and catcher Carlos Maldonado was placed on the disabled list. Also, outfielder Jesus Valdez and pitcher Ryan Mattheus were promoted from Harrisburg. Wednesday, infielder Alex Valdez was assigned to that team while Antonelli came up. Antonelli, a first-round pick by the Padres in 2006, missed all of last season because of two hand surgeries. “It’s good to be with a new team,’’ Antonelli said. “I’m injury-free now. I’ve been waiting a long time to play.’’
The Chiefs plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to grab a 4-3 lead. Chris McConnell hit a one-out triple off Tides starter Michael Ballard, and Albert Castillo (1-3) relieved Ballard. Blanco welcomed him with a single to tie the game. Blanco stole second, and an out later broke for third. When catcher Michel Hernandez threw wildly to that base, Blanco walked home with the go-ahead run.
“I think we just really took advantage of getting those extra hitters, getting extra pitches to hit,’’ McConnell said of Norfolk’s miscues. “They were giving us outs, and we were jumping on their mistakes.’’ The Chiefs broke open the game with a sixth-run eighth, their most prolific inning of the year. That outburst featured two more Tides errors, plus the two-RBI double by Antonelli.
The comeback was set up when Chiefs starter Yunesky Maya pulled it together after the first. He gave up three runs in that frame but none in his subsequent 5 1/3 innings, retiring 14 straight at one point and allowing just one hit after the first.
“It happens sometimes,’’ McConnell said of the bumpy start. “He throws well. Every single time he has a good tempo when he’s pitching. It shows what kind of player he is when he bounces back.’’
How the runs scored
Tides first: Yunesky Maya pitching. Rhyne Hughes grounds into a force out, Matt Angle scores from third. Nolan Reimold homers to left field, driving in Josh Bell.
Norfolk 3, Syracuse 0.
Chiefs fifth: Michael Ballard pitching. Adam Fox singles, Jesus Valdez comes home. Norfolk 3, Syracuse 1.
Chiefs sixth: Ballard pitching. Michael Aubrey homers to right. Norfolk 3, Syracuse 2.
Chiefs seventh. Alberto Castillo pitching. Gregor Blanco singles to center, Chris McConnell scores. Blanco steals third base and scores on a throwing error by catcher Michel Hernandez. Syracuse 4, Norfolk 3.
Chiefs eighth: Pat Egan pitching. Valdez reaches on a throwing error by Egan, Chris Marrero scores. Jeff Frazier grounds out, Jesus Flores scores. Fox doubles, bringing in Valdez. Blanco doubles to right, Fox comes home. Antonelli doubles to left to drive in McConnell and Blanco. Syracuse 10, Norfolk 3.
Tides ninth: Collin Balester pitching. Brendan Harris singles to right, Hughes scores. Syracuse 10, Norfolk 4.
Basically, it appears that Sue got it right.
As a Chiefs follower I’ll offer this to answer the queries above:
By Lindsay Kramer/The Post-Standard
As a struggling outfit, the Syracuse Chiefs can count on seeing new faces in their lineup and hope for a little bit of luck. The combination of both those factors kept Syracuse pointed in the right direction Wednesday. Team Transition enjoyed production from some of its fresher talent and pounced all over a few gimmes from Norfolk to rally for a 10-4 win over the Tides at Alliance Bank Stadium.
Syracuse, which won its third straight, took advantage of four Norfolk errors to score eight unearned runs. The Chiefs equaled a season-high 13 hits, picked up two hits and two RBI from outfielder Gregor Blanco, who is still feeling his way around the lineup, and a two-run double from second baseman Matt Antonelli, who was making his debut with the team. Third baseman Adam Fox also drove in two.
“I haven’t been able to follow a ton (of what’s going on), up here,’’ said Antonelli, recalled from Double-A Harrisburg on Wednesday. “But from what I’ve heard we’ve been playing well lately. I’m just happy to come up here and keep it going.’’
Syracuse entered the game in last place in the IL’s North Division but has been juggling pieces the last few days to change that. Blanco was acquired in a trade from the Kansas City organization on May 11. Three days later the team lost its best reliever, Cole Kimball, on recall to Washington.
Tuesday, outfielder Boomer Whiting was released and catcher Carlos Maldonado was placed on the disabled list. Also, outfielder Jesus Valdez and pitcher Ryan Mattheus were promoted from Harrisburg.
Wednesday, infielder Alex Valdez was assigned to that team while Antonelli came up. Antonelli, a first-round pick by the Padres in 2006, missed all of last season because of two hand surgeries.
“It’s good to be with a new team,’’ Antonelli said. “I’m injury-free now. I’ve been waiting a long time to play.’’
Sorry for the dopple gangers.
Still bizarre to me that Eury Perez remains in the 9 spot in the lineup with his speed and the way he is hitting.
Especially with a .424 OBP the last 10 games.