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Thursday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse OFF DAY vs. Columbus,
7:00 p.m.		 Duke (4-2, 4.02) vs.
Berger (1-1, 2.65)
Harrisburg Won, 5-3;
Won, 3-2		 @ Altoona,
10:30 a.m.		 Gilliam (1-4, 4.68) vs.
Martis (2-0, 2.00)
Potomac Lost, 3-0 OFF DAY N/A
Hagerstown Lost, 8-6
(10 inn.)		 @ Lakewood,
6:05 p.m.		 TBD and TBD vs.
Stewart (0-4, 3.40) and
Hollands (0-1, 4.91)

SYRACUSE — OFF DAY
The Chiefs return home after a 5-3 road trip to start a four-game set tonight against the Columbus Clippers.

Harrisburg 5 Altoona 3 — GAME ONE
• Rosenbaum (W, 6-0) 5⅔ IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K, BK, WP; 1-2, RBI
• Garcia (SV, 6) 1⅓ IP, 3H, 0R, BB, 2K, 1-1 IR-S
• Pahuta 2-3, 2R, 2B, HR, RBI
• Rahl 1-3, R, 3B, E

Danny Rosenbaum ran his record to 6-0 despite a pedestrian (this year at least) pitching line in a 5-3 Harrisburg win over Altoona. The 24-year-old southpaw gave up all three Curve runs on seven hits and three walks over five and 2/3rds innings — all season-worsts for him. The Senators scored in three consecutive innings to build a 5-1 before the Curve struck for two in the 6th while chasing Rosenbaum. Christian Garcia let in one inherited runner but got out of the 6th and worked around two hits in the 7th for his sixth save.

Harrisburg 3 Altoona 2 — GAME TWO
• Tatusko 2⅓ IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 0K, HR
• Erik Davis (SV, 2) 1⅓ IP, H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 2-0 IR-S
• Valdez 1-2, R, 2B, BB, RBI
• Perez 1-3, R, 2SB

All five runs scored in the course of two bizarre half-innings, as the Sens edged the Curve 3-2 to take the doubleheader. Spot starter Ryan Tatusko breezed through the first two innings with just an IF single but gave up a leadoff HR and a double to start the 3rd. After Altoona’s pitcher Brandon Cumpton botched a bunt for the first out (batter’s interference), Tatusko was lifted after walking the next batter. The Curve greeted Pat McCoy with a single to take a 2-0 lead. After setting down the first nine batters in order, Cumpton was lit up for back-to-back singles by Eury Perez and Jose Lozada and an RBI double by Jesus Valdez to score Perez. After a shallow fly to CF, the Sens tied the game when Lozada was hit in the back trying to score on a grounder to third, then took the lead on a balk. Both teams threatened in the final three innings, but the 3-2 score after four stood as the final.

Wilmington 3 Potomac 0
• Grace (L, 2-6) 7⅓ IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 2K
• Holland ⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Soriano 1-3, 3B, BB
• Bloxom 1-3, 2B, BB, E(8)

For the second time in as many games, the Potomac pitcher turned in his best outing of the season only to watch his counterpart silence his teammates as the Blue Rocks completed the three-game sweep with a 3-0 shutout. Matt Grace pitched into the 8th, allowing all three Wilmington runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out two. The P-Nats were limited to five hits and couldn’t take advantage of the five walks they drew, stranding nine baserunners and hitting into two double plays.

Greensboro 8 Hagerstown 6 (10 inn.)
• Meyer (ND) 5IP, H, R, ER, 2BB, 8K, HR
• McKenzie (BS, 1) 2⅔ IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 2K
• Henke (L, 0-1) 2IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, BB, K
• Ramsey 2-3, 2R, BB, 2HR, 5RBI
• Martinson 2-4, R, BB
• Skole 1-4, 2R, BB, HR, RBI

Caleb Ramsey’s second HR of the game tied the game at 5-5 after eight innings, but the Suns ‘pen imploded in the 10th as Hagerstown lost the game 8-6 and lost the series 2-1. Starter Alex Meyer had his fourth non-decision despite allowing just a home run and two walks over the first five innings, tying his season-high for Ks with eight. Chris McKenzie and Travis Henke suffered the blown save and loss respectively, giving up the last seven runs in the ‘Hoppers four-run 8th and three-run 10th. Matt Skole also homered as all six Suns runs came via the longball. Roster moves: RHP Brian Dupra assigned to Auburn, replaced by RHP Colin Bates from Auburn; LHP Todd Simko placed on the 7-Day DL (effective May 22), RHP Travis Henke assigned to Suns from Doubledays.

11 Commments

  1. Altoona was in disarray on Wednesday during the double header. Not only did they have a balk caused by their worry over Rahl’s threat to steal while on first; the Curve committed two very bad plays. With Pahuta on second and one out , a foul ball out was recorded after which the fielder tossed the ball into the stands! Pahuta was awarded 2 bases and thus scored a run! Almost as embarrassing was the botched double steal by Altoona. With runners on 1st and 2nd a double steal was apparently called. The runner on first broke towards second on the pitch. The runner on second stayed put! this led to the rare caught stealing catcher unassisted as Ivany ran at the trailing runner and when the runner at second still did not move he tagged the runner from first out in the base path between 1st and 2nd!! Must have been a long night for the Curve after the rainout was called on Tuesday night.

  2. After that horrific perforance by Rosenbaum, his ERA is likely to skyrocket over 1.00. Just awful.

  3. Gotta wonder about Jesus Valdez’s future (and maybe Jose Lozada’s). Seems like Valdez has been doin’ good at least BA-wise for a long time, altho’ maybe not OBP. But BA has been high .200s; and it seems every time you look up he’s in the middle of a rally. He did well at Syracuse last year (.271 in 388 ABs.) He’s 27 1/2 year old, so I guess the train may be leavin’ the station?

    1. I’m afraid at Valdez’ age and the demotion to AA this year, there is no station appearing on his GPS.

    2. The real problem with Valdez’s numbers is his lack of production with men in scoring position. He is hitting .263 with runners in scoring position with only 1 extra base hit in that category. Since he is not particularly fast he is not a leadoff guy either.

    1. Just goes to show how far the Nats have come, and a good example of what can happen when a prospect is rushed up too soon.

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