Thursday’s News & Notes

Lehigh Valley 7 Syracuse 6
• Roark (L, 0-2) 4IP, 7H, 6R, 6ER, 3BB, 3K
• Bibens-Dirkx 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Brown 4-5, 2B, R, SB, CS
• Solano 3-5, R, E
• Moore 2-3, R, HR, 2BB, RBI

The IronPigs scored in each of the first four innings off starter Tanner Roark, building a 6-2 lead. The Chiefs rallied for three in the 6th to pull within one at 6-5 but double plays in the 7th and 8th innings killed any chance of a comeback. Tyler Moore homered with one out in the 9th to answer Lehigh Valley’s big fly in the 8th, but Bryce Harper, who had tripled earlier in the contest, grounded out and Jhonatan Solano struck out to end the game. Corey Brown led the 13-hit attack with a 4-for-5 night, including a double, a stolen base, and a run scored.

Harrisburg 8 New Britain 2
• Demny (ND) 4⅔ IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 5BB, K
• Davis (W, 2-0) 3⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 3K
• Lozada 3-4, R, RBI
• Hood 2-4, R, 2B, 3B, 4RBI
• Rahl 2-4, R, 2B, SB

A pair of four-run rallies in the fifth and seventh innings pushed the Senators past the Rock Cats for an 8-2 victory and a 2-1 series win. For the second time in as many starts, Paul Demny struggled with his control and couldn’t go the requisite five innings for the “W.” The 22-year-old walked five of the 23 batters he faced and struck just one over 4&#8532l innings. Erik Davis followed him again but pitched much better: 3⅓ scoreless innings to earn his second win. After a 1-for-23 start in the first six games, Destin Hood drove in four runs and collected two extra-base hits (double, triple). Jeff Kobernus extended his season-opening hit streak to seven games while Eury Perez went 0-for-4 to stop his streak at six. Harrisburg opens its home schedule with a four-game set tonight against the Reading Phillies, followed by a three-game series against the Altoona Curve.

Potomac 6 Myrtle Beach 3
• Swynenberg (W, 1-0) 5H, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 6K
• Demmin (SV, 1) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Freitas 3-4, 2R, BB, RBI
• Bloxom 2-4, 2B, 2RBI, E(3)

With six free passes over the first two innings, the P-Nats took advantage to score all six runs as they doubled up the Pelicans, 6-3 for their second win of the 2012 campaign. Myrtle Beach walked 11 batters overall, including four in the first inning without an out by Wilmer Font (guess the strike zone wasn’t his type?). David Freitas paced the offense with a 3-for-4 night, scoring twice and driving in a run, followed by Justin Bloxom with a 2-for-4, 2RBI effort. Matt Swynenberg got the win with three runs allowed on five hits and two walks over five innings while Trevor Holder and Ryan Demmin both turned in two scoreless frames to close out the game.

Lexington 3 Hagerstown 0
• Dupra (L, 0-2) 6IP, 5H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 3K
• Karns 3IP, 0H, 1R, 1ER, 4BB, 4K, 2WP
• Leonida 1-3
• Jimenez 1-3

Brian Dupra pitched six solid innings, scattering five hits and allowing just two runs (on earned), which would be good enough to win most of the time. But Lexington’s hurlers, led by Mike Foltynewicz, were just a little better, limiting the Suns to a season-low four hits — all singles — to hand Hagerstown a 3-0 shutout loss. The Legends scored single runs in the 4th, 6th, and 8th and left on six runners, while the Suns were unable to push any of their nine baserunners past third base. The Suns finish their homestand at 5-2 and head north to visit the Lakewood Blueclaws for a four-game series.