Wednesday’s News & Notes

Syracuse — OFF DAY
Multiple sources are now reporting that Tom Milone will be called up on Saturday to replace Jordan Zimmermann in the Washington rotation, with Brad Peacock another likely candidate to get the nod before the end of the AAA season. Meanwhile, the Chiefs finish out 2011 needing two wins and/or two Bison losses to secure a fourth-place finish in the I.L. North.

Portland 4 Harrisburg 1
• O Perez (L, 3-5) 3⅔ IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 4K, HR
• Lehman 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Rahl 1-3, SB
• Gilbert 1-4, R, HR, RBI

Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger held the Sens to just two hits in a 4-1 loss to Portland. Oliver Perez gave up a three-run shot in the first and was knocked from the box with two outs in the 4th, allowing four hits and four walks total. Harrisburg couldn’t take advantage three first-inning walks and was no-hit until the 5th, when Chris Rahl beat out an infield single. Archie Gilbert’s solo HR in the 7th broke up the shutout bid. Both Bowie and Richmond failed to capitalize on the Harrisburg loss, each losing to drop the Sens magic number to clinch a playoff spot to two.

Potomac 5 Lynchburg 4 (10 inn.)
• Bronson (ND) 5⅓ IP, 7H, 3R, 2ER, BB, 3K
• Testa (W, 6-2) 1IP, 1H, 0R, BB, K
• Nelo (S, 18) 1IP, 0H, BB, 0K
• Perez 3-4, R, 3SB
• Walters 2-5, RBI, SB

Zach Walters’ two-out RBI single in the top of the 10th gave the P-Nats a 5-4 win in extras over the Lynchburg Hillcats. The win puts Potomac one win away from clinching a playoff berth, and combined with a Keys loss, an outside shot at winning the second-half division crown with 2½ games to make up in six days. Evan Bronson got the start and went five and a 1/3rd innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk but got the no-decision when Marcos Frias let in the tying run in the last of the 7th. Joe Testa got the win with a scoreless 9th and Hector Nelo got the save with a scoreless 10th. Eury Perez led the offense with three singles and three stolen bases.

Asheville 6 Hagerstown 5 (11 inn.)
• Swynenberg 5⅔ IP, 7H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 6K, 2HR
• Holt 2⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Oduber 2-4, R, HR, 3RBI, BB, SB
• Freitas 2-5, 2R, 2B, HR, RBI

Home runs by Randolph Oduber and David Freitas weren’t enough to prevent the five-game sweep and season elimination as the Suns were beaten in extras by a 6-5 score. Matt Swynenberg also surrendered two home runs in his five and 2/3rds innings to account for the first four Tourist runs, while Sam Brown took the loss with two walks, a stolen base, and a one-out single. Oduber and Freitas went 4-for-9 combined with three runs scored, four RBI, a double (Freitas), and a walk and a stolen base (Oduber).

Auburn 11 Jamestown 2
• Estevez (W, 6-3) 5IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K
• K Lopez 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Miller 3-4, 2R, HR, 2RBI, BB
• Moldenhauer 2-3, RBI
• Pena 2-5, R, 2RBI

The Doubledays got back on track with a big win on Tuesday, spreading the Jammers, 11-2. Wirkin “For The Weekend” Estevez won his team-leading sixth game with both Jamestown runs allowed on four hits and two walks. Four relievers combined to shut down the Jammers the rest of the way. Justin Miller led the 13-hit attack with a 3-for-4 night, including a two-run homer in the 4th, in which Auburn scored seven times to break open a 3-2 lead. The win keeps pace with second-place Williamsport to maintain a two-game lead and cuts the magic number to clinch the Pinckney division to five.