Wednesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitchers |
| Syracuse | Won, 8-2 (5 inn.) |
@ Buffalo, 1:05 p.m. |
Roark (1-0, 0.00) vs. Ortiz (0-0, 3.60) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 9-7 | vs. New Britain, 7:00 p.m. |
Treinen (0-1, 30.86) vs. May (0-1, 1.80) |
| Potomac | Won, 12-4 | vs. Salem, 10:35 a.m. |
Ray (1-0, 1.80) vs. M. Pena (0-1, 4.50) |
| Hagerstown | Won, 6-3 | @ Lakewood, 6:35 p.m. |
Schwartz (1-0, 6.00) vs. Warner (0-0, 3.60) |
Syracuse 8 Buffalo 2
• Ohlendorf (W, 2-0) 5IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 4K
• Marrero 2-3, 2R, 3B, HR, 3RBI
• Costanzo 2-3, R, HR, 2RBI
• Brown 2-3, 2B
Chris Marrero tripled and homered as Syracuse pounded out 11 hits in a rain-shortened 8-2 win over Buffalo. Ross Ohlendorf got his second win in as many starts, allowing both Bison runs on five hits and three walks and four strikeouts. Mike Costanzo also homered, while Eury Perez singled twice to extend his hitting streak to 23 games dating back to last August.
New Britain 9 Harrisburg 7
• Broderick 6IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 3K
• Lehman (L, 0-1) 1⅓ 5H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 0K
• Hood 3-5, R, 3B, 3RBI
• Bloxom 2-4, BB, 2RBI
• Souza 1-1, 4BB
Destin Hood’s bases-loaded triple in the 7th capped off a four-run rally to tie at 5-5, but the Rock Cats matched the “4” on the board in the 9th then held off the Senators in the last of the 9th to hand Harrisburg a 9-7 loss. Starter Brian Broderick turned in a quality start with three runs on eight hits and no walks, but Neil Holland and Pat Lehman were hit hard over the final three, giving up six runs and eight hits combined. Hood led the hit column with a 3-for-5 night, followed by Justin Bloxom at 2-for-4, while Steve Souza reached base five times with a single and four walks.
Potomac 12 Salem 4
• Hill 5IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, BB, 3K, HR
• Bates 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Burns 3-4, R, BB
• Martinson 1-2, 3R, BB, HR, 3RBI, HBP
• Kelso 3-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Oduber 1-4, R, HR, 4RBI, 3K
Offense is not the problem for Potomac as the Carolina League’s #1 lineup put up 12 runs on 17 hits en route to a 12-4 win over Salem. Caleb Ramsey went deep for the second night in a row, Jason Martinson smacked big fly #3, while the Groovin’ Aruban made his first of the season a grand affair to punctutate a seven-run third. Taylor Hill got the win with five innings pitched, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk. Christian Meza rebounded from his not-so-special Saturday night with a run on two hits and two walks over two innings while Colin Bates slammed the door shut with six straight outs to finish.
Hagerstown 6 Lakewood 3
• Anderson (W, 1-0) 6IP, 4H, R, ER, BB, 5K
• Fischer (SV, 1) 3IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, BB, K
• Lopez 3-4, 2R, 2B, RBI
• Higley 2-4, 2B
• McQuillan 1-4, R, HR, 2RBI
Errors were the difference in this one, as the Suns capitalized on five of ’em by Lakewood score four unearned runs in a 6-3 win. Dixon Anderson got the win with six innings of one-run ball, letting up four hits, walking one, but setting down five on strikes. David Fischer went the rest of the way for the save. Carlos Lopez led the Suns offense with a 3-for-4 night, scoring twice and driving in a run, followed by J.R. Higley’s 2-for-4 effort, while Mike McQuillan hit his first round-tripper with a two-run shot in the 1st.
Is Billy Burns as good as his stats, or is he getting a lot of leg hits off squibs and bleeders with his speed?
No, not really. He’s threatened to bunt a lot, but only put one down once in the four games I’ve seen him. As a LHB, he goes the other way a lot (as he should w/ those wheels) so what I’m looking for is defenses to cheat that way and Burns to adjust by pulling the ball.
Have they still got him switch-hitting, or is he now a full-time lefty? As I understand it, he is a natural righty, and they only started using him as a switch hitter as a baby Nat.
Thanks for the feedback, Luke.
He gave up switch-hitting in college but picked it back up last season. Aside from the difficulty of maintaining two swings, I have no idea why he would have dropped it. Salem & Lynchburg’s pitchers are mostly righties, so Burns has only had 3PA against LHPs thus far.
He has to be one, of the best lead off hitters in recent history for Potomac. Too bad Michael Taylor c.an’t bat his weight, and still gets placed in the 2 hole
nice daily run down thanks.
last year was so magical that the Big Club seems to be working
the kinks out…bullpen quirky, bats still in april thaw…
too bad about Skole!
I’m not sure what to make of Martinson? He put up tremendous offensive numbers last year for a shortstop and he seems to be at it again this year. I know he is old for the level, and strikes out some, but shouldn’t he be getting more love as a top prospect?
“strikes out some” is a bit of an understatement (see what I did there? 😉 as he’s averaged more than a K per game for his career (391 in 339G). I have a feeling the plan is to let him work out the K issue and then move up.
Where he’s not getting love (thus far) is his improved defense — seems like he’s making all the routine plays and still showing off a strong arm. Now, if we can only figure out a nickname better than “J-Mart”…
Great to see Marrero back with a power stroke. I really felt like the timing of his injury was incredibly unfortunate, as other folks have now passed him by. Hope he gets another shot somewhere.
Looks like Rendon got the start at 2nd?