Friday’s News & Notes

Columbus 5 Syracuse 2
• Maya (L, 1-8) 6⅓ IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 4K, 3HR
• Zinicola 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Lombardozzi 2-4, R
• Hulett 2-4

Yunesky Maya coughed up three home runs to account for all five runs scored by the Clippers in a 5-2 loss to Columbus. He gave up eight hits total and walked one while striking out four in his eighth loss for Syracuse. Offensively, the Chiefs were held to just six hits, with Steve Lombardozzi and Tug Hulett (both 2-for-4) accounting for four of them as just three baserunners got into scoring position. The two Syracuse runs came via a double by Roger Bernadina in the top of the 5th. The loss drops the Chiefs to 49-61, 13½ games behind Lehigh Valley in the I.L. North.

Reading 2 Harrisburg 1 (10 inn.)(Comp.)
• Arnesen 7IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 6K
• Lehman (L, 0-1) 1⅓ IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K
• Rahl 3-4, 2B
• Jo. Johnson 1-4, R, 2B, SB

In the completion of Wednesday night’s game, Reading needed just two tries to get the gamewinner for the 2-1 win in 10 innings. Harrisburg was held to just four hits, three coming from Chris Rahl, who also drove in the lone Senators run. Erik Arnesen got the no-decision with seven strong innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits and two hits while striking out six. Pat Lehman took the loss in relief, his first for Harrisburg.

Harrisburg 2 Reading 1 (Reg. Gm.)
• Martis 6IP, 1H, 0R, 3BB, 5K
• McCoy 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• T Moore 2-3, R, 2B, BB
• Harper 2-4, R, 2B

Tyler Moore led off the 9th with a walk and Bryce Harper’s double was muffed and followed by an error to plate both Harrisburg runs as the Senators edged the Reading Phillies 2-1 in the regularly scheduled game. Jimmy Barthmaier got the win in relief of starter Shairon Martis, who went the first six innings and allowed just one hit and three walks with five set down on strikes. Moore and Harper combined for four hits and two doubles as the Sens had just six hits total. The doubleheader split leaves Harrisburg a ½ game ahead of Bowie with a 62-50 mark in the E.L. West.

Salem 4 Potomac 3
• Selik (ND) 5⅓ IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, K
• Frias 2IP, H, 0R, 2BB, K
• Leon 3-4, R, 2B, HR, BB, 2RBI
• Perez 2-4, R, 2B
• Kobernus SB #40

A walkoff walk in the bottom of the 10th gave Salem a 4-3 win and a series sweep of the Potomac Nationals. Josh Smoker started the 10th giving up a single, a wild pitch, an intentional walk (to set up the DP and face a lefty) and another single before issuing the free pass to former Nat farmhand Alex Valdez to take the loss. Sandy Leon drove in two of the three P-Nats runs with a solo HR in the 2nd and an RBI double in the 6th to lead the offense, which struggled once again with RISP with an 1-for-10 mark. The loss, the third straight, puts Potomac at 21-18, four behind Frederick but six ahead of both Lynchburg and Wilmington. Prior to the game, Evan Bronson was returned to Potomac from Syracuse. To make room on the roster, J.R. Higley was shifted to the 7-Day D.L.

Hickory 8 Hagerstown 1
• Ray (L, 2-2) 4IP, 7H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 2K
• McCatty 3IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 2K
• Taylor 1-3, 2B, RBI
• Curran 1-3, BB

Hickory paid back Wednesday night’s beatdown with an 8-1 win on Thursday. The Suns were limited to just five hits and four walks with just one batter achieving both (Curran). Robbie Ray was touched for four runs on seven hits and three walks over the first four innings. Shane McCatty was no better, giving up three runs over three innings. The loss drops Hagerstown back to 3½ games behind Hickory in fourth place in the Sally North with a 20-19 mark. The Suns return home tonight for four games against Greensboro, featuring a rehab appearance by Stephen Strasburg on Sunday.

Auburn 6 Connecticut 5 — GAME ONE
• Estevez 5IP, 8H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 3K
• C Garcia 2IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 4K
• M Rivera 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, BB, K
• Montilla 2-3, R, BB, RBI
• Burns 2-4, R, 3B, 3RBI

A three-run rally in the bottom of the 7th sent Game One of the doubleheader into “extra” innings, tied at 5-5. Bryce Ortega doubled with two outs in the 9th and Matt Skole sent him home with a single to right to complete the comeback win. Christian Garcia made his Doubledays debut with a run allowed on two hits over two innings, while Ben Hawkins got the win as the last man on the mound for Auburn.

Auburn 6 Connecticut 3 — GAME TWO
• Meza 4IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 4K 0 7.71
• Henke (W, 3-1) 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Ramsey 2-3, R, 3B, 2RBI
• Burns 1-3

Auburn scored three in the 1st, two in the 2nd, and one in 3rd and cruised to a 6-3 victory in the nightcap. Christian Meza went the first four innings and was roughed up for all three Tigers runs in the 3rd, allowing five hits and two walks but striking out four. Travis Henke got the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Caleb Ramsey led the offense with 2-for-3 game, including an RBI triple. The wins keep pace with Mahoning Valley, their opponents for the next four games in a home-and-home series, and extend their winning streak to six games. Khayyan Norfork has been recently activated from the 7-Day D.L.

GCL Mets 2 GCL Nationals 1 (11 inn.)
• McGeary 3IP, 1H, 0R, 4BB, 3K
• Medina 5IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 3K
• Hughes 2-2, BB, CS
• P Severino 2-3, R, BB

Jack McGeary’s second outing was a little bit better: no runs on one hit over three innings, but did give up four walks. Silvio Medina turned in five solid innings, with one run allowed on three hits. Both pitchers struck out three. The defense turned in its second error-free game in a row, but the offense remained equally feeble with one scored on eight hits and nine men left on. The loss, the eighth straight, drops the elimination number to three with a 12-26 mark that’s 16½ games worse than the G-Marlins.

DSL Nationals — PPD
Rain washed away the entire DSL yesterday, setting up doubleheaders for the D-Nats next Thursday and Friday.