Sunday’s News & Notes

Lehigh Valley 6 Syracuse 0
• Roark 5+ IP, 7H, 6R, 4ER, BB, 5K
• Romero 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Rhymes 2-4, 2B
• Walters 1-3

Syracuse’s modest three-game win streak was put to an abrupt halt with a 6-0 shutout by Lehigh Valley. Tanner Roark fell victim to some sloppy defense, giving up all six runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk over five-plus innings. It didn’t much matter as Iron Pigs starter Adam Morgan stifled the Chiefs for eight innings, holding Syracuse to three singles and a walk on just 97 pitches. Eury Perez’s 23-game hit streak ended the hard way as the 22-year-old CF rolled over his (glove) left wrist on dive during the 5th inning. He finished the inning and made the last out, but was taken out and sent to a doctor to evaluate the extent of the injury. C Jhonatan Solano was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the 8th, and is most likely on his way to D.C. to replace Wilson Ramos on the Washington roster. Best bet for the catcher shuffle is for Kris Watts to be activated from the Harrisburg DL with Jeff Howell moving up from AA to replace Solano in AAA.

Harrisburg 3 Altoona 1 (10 inn.)
• Karns 5IP, 3H, 0R, BB, 8K
• Lehman (W, 1-1) 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 1K
• Barrett (SV, 1) 1IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, BB, 2K
• Leon 2-4, 2B
• Goodwin 2-5, R, RBI

Nathan Karns’ sophomore start was more in line with expectations of Top 10 prospect but the offense took nine innings to get in gear as Harrisburg took this 3-1 in 10 innings, with all four runs scored in the 10th. Karns gave up just three hits and walked one while striking out eight, throwing 47 of 73 pitches for strikes. Veteran IF Sean Nicol went hitless but made the play of the game in the 8th to quash a 1st-and-2nd with one out by snaring shot down the line for an out at third. Brian Goodwin (RBI single), Anthony Rendon (sac fly) and Destin Hood (RBI double) cashed in their opportunities in the 10th on a rally that started with a leadoff single by Ricky Hague. Pat Lehman got the “W” with the aforementioned help on “D” while Aaron Barrett notched his first AA save, albeit a bit shaky with a hit, a walk, and an error (his). Shoulder soreness continues to dog Steve Souza Jr., which is why he was pulled in the 4th after just two ABs per Geoff Morrow of the Patriot-News.

Potomac 11 Lynchburg 6 (10 inn.)
• Cole (ND) 6IP, 6H, 2R, 1ER, BB, 3K
• Grace (W, 1-0) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Ramsey 2-3, 2R, BB
• Soriano 2-5, R
• Oduber 2-5, R, 3RBI
• Taylor 1-5, R, HR, 3RBI, BB, GIDP, CS, K, E, OF assist at HP

Three home runs in the middle innings helped Potomac build a 6-1 lead, but another bullpen meltdown sent this one into extras. The Hillcats relievers did them one “better,” coughing up five runs with two outs to give the P-Nats an 11-6 win in 10 innings. A.J. Cole got the no-decision with two runs on six hits and a walk over six innings, but just three whiffs. Jason Martinson and Adrian Nieto both hit solo shots while Michael Taylor showed all facets of his game, as the last bullet attests. The 7-8-9 hitters combined for six of the 11 Potomac hits. Matt Grace got the win with two perfect innings in the 9th and 10th.

Delmarva 7 Hagerstown 6
• Pena (L, 0-1) 3IP, 8H, 7R, 7ER, 2BB, 2K
• Fischer 5IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 7K, HBP
• Norfork 3-4, R, 2-2B, 2RBI, SB
• Piwinica-Worms 2-4, R, BB, RBI
• Schill 1-1, 2R, 2B, 2BB, SB

Delmarva pounded Ronald Pena for seven runs in the first three innings and held off Hagerstown for a 7-6 win. Pena gave up eight hits and two walks, but no home runs. Reliever David Fischer was outstanding in the loss, clipping the Shorebirds’ wings with five scoreless innings and just three baserunners allowed. Khayyan Norfork led the Suns failed comeback bid with a 3-for-4 night, doubling twice and driving in two, with a run scored and a stolen base. Will Piwinica-Worms went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI in his first Low-A start.