Saturday’s News & Notes

Buffalo 5 Syracuse 1
• Lannan (L, 6-8) 6IP, 7H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 6K, HR
• Severino 2IP, 1H, 0R, 3BB, 4K
• Hoffpauir 2-3, BB
• Marrero 1-4, R, 2B

John Lannan coughed up his 13th HR last night, a three-run shot in the 3rd as the Bison stampeded the Chiefs, 5-1. The former Opening Day starter gave up all five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six. Syracuse mustered just five hits in the loss, with Jarrett Hoffpauir the sole batter to reach base multiple times and Chris Marrero collecting the one extra-base hit, a double in the 7th. After dropping the series to Buffalo, it’s a two-game set in Pawtucket to finish up before the All-Star break.

Harrisburg 3 Bowie 2
• Tatusko (W, 2-2) 5IP, 6H, R, ER, 2BB, 5K
• Nelo (SV, 11) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, K
• Walters 1-4, R, HR, 3RBI
• Perez 3-5

With a three-run home run, strong pitching, and a little luck, Harrisburg completed its sweep of Bowie with a 3-2 win, its sixth straight triumph. Zach Walters only went 1-for-4, but the “1” cleared the batter’s eye in dead CF with two aboard in the 4th inning. Spot starter Ryan Tatusko turned in five innings, allowing just a run on six hits and two walks while striking out five to earn his second win. A quartet of relievers followed, combining for four scoreless innings despite issuing four walks. Bowie had baserunners in every inning but the 9th, in which Hector Nelo set ’em down in order for his 11th save.
The Senators head back to PA, but it’s to Erie for a three-game set before the two-day All-Star Break. Roster move: LHP Cory VanAllen was activated from the 7-Day DL.

Potomac 6 Frederick 5
• Ray 6IP, 9H, 3R, 1ER, 3BB, 1K
• Wort (BS, 5; W, 2-4) 1IP, 2H, R, ER, 0BB, 1K
• King 3-3, 2R, 2-2B, 2RBI
• Ramirez 1-2, BB, RBI
• Keyes 1-4, 2R, HR, 2RBI

The first of three walkoff wins last night happened in spite of some rather questionable managing in the 9th. After Stephen King led off the 9th with a double, Kevin Keyes, with one (1) career sacrifice, was asked to lay one down and predictably bunted into an easy 1-5 putout to erase King. Mysteriously, Randolph Oduber, the team leader in sacrifice hits was called upon to pinch-hit one batter too late and popped up. A hit batsmen push Keyes to second for pinch-hitter Adrian Sanchez, subbing for an 0-for-4 Chad Tracy. Sanchez delivered the game-winning RBI single with a little help from a throw that was too far up the first base line. Rob Wort got the win despite blowing his five save for the season, third in his last four appearances. Roster move: Mascot Uncle Slam was placed on the 60-Day DL.

Hagerstown 5 Lexington 4
• Turnbull 6IP, 10H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB, 3K, HR
• Bates (W, 3-2) 3IP, 2H, 0R, 3BB, K
• Burns 3-5, R, SB
• Jimenez 2-4, R, 2B, 3B, RBI
• Newsome 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI

The second walkoff for the farm also had a WTF moment of doubt when Brian Goodwin singled to lead off the 9th, took second on a Billy Burns single… and got picked off after a Matt Skole strikeout. Steve Souza saved the day with an RBI double that Burns motored in from first with the decisive run. Burns and Souza also contributed on defense with outfield assists on plays at the plate. The win went to Colin Bates, who pitched three scoreless innings and worked around two hits and three walks. Starter Kylin Turnbull threw the first six, allowing all four Lexington runs 10 hits and two walks.

Auburn 7 Lowell 6
• Lee (ND) 5⅓ IP, 4H, 3R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K
• Waterman 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Pleffner 3-5, R, 2-2B
• Martinez 2-5, 2B, 3RBI

The third walkoff of the night was the most improbable, with three runs, three hits and and two errors in the final frame to turn a 6-4 deficit into a 7-6 win. It was the fourth walkoff win for the Doubledays in 11 home games, and the seventh come-from-behind win in 18 games total. The rally made a winner out of Elliott Waterman, who threw the final one and 2/3rds innings with just a walk allowed. Shawn Pleffner led the offense with a 3-for-5 night, including a leadoff double to start the 9th, while Estarlin Martinez was close behind with a single, double, and three RBI.

GCL Astros 6 GCL Nationals 1
• Hudgins (L, 0-2) 2⅔ IP, 6H, 4R, 3ER, 0BB, 3K
• Hollins 2IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Difo 2-3, 2B, BB
• J.C. Valdez 1-3, 2B

Three straight two-run innings put this one away as the GCL Astros handed the GCL Nationals their 11th loss in the last 12 games, 6-2. Will Hudgins took the loss with four runs allowed on six hits over two and 2/3rds. He struck out three. Wilmer Difo, Mike McQuillan, and Jean-Carlos Valdez accounted for all four G-Nats hits, with Difo and Valdez collecting doubles.

DSL Mets1 12 DSL Nationals 3
• E. Gomez (L, 3-2) 6IP, 3H, 4R, 2ER, BB, 5K
• P. Valdez 2IP, 7H, 8R, 7ER, 2BB, 0K, 0HR
• Abreu 1-3, R, BB
• Marmolejos-Diaz 1-4, R, RBI
• Cerda 1-4, R, 2B, RBI

The DSL Mets1 scored 12 unanswered runs, swatting aside a three-run top of the first to win handily, 12-3. The bulk of the damage was done in the final two stanzas, with three runs in the 7th and five in the 8th off beleaguered Philips Valdez (10.80 ERA, 2.13 WHIP). Despite six D-Nats errors, nine of the 12 runs were earned. Osvaldo Abreu, “Orange” Marmolejos-Diaz, and Kevin Cerda accounted for all three D-Nats hits and runs.