Monday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitchers |
| Syracuse | Won, 8-5 | vs. Gwinnett, 6:30 p.m. | Tatusko (0-1, 2.97) vs. Poveda (3-3, 2.52) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 8-2 | vs. Reading, 2:00 p.m. |
Clay (4-2, 4.69) vs. Neris (3-1, 4.50) |
| Potomac | Won, 4-2 | vs. Salem, 7:05 p.m. |
Solis (0-0, 4.50) vs. Quevedo (1-2, 5.67) |
| Hagerstown | Won, 16-9 | @ Asheville, 7:05 p.m. |
Lee (1-0, 5.79) vs. Oakes (4-3, 5.00) |
Syracuse 8 Columbus 5
• Young 1IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 0K, HR
• Mandel (W, 1-1) 4IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, BB, K
• Roark 4IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 4K
• Brown 3-5, 2R, HR, 2RBI
• Marrero 2-3, R, HR, 3RBI
• Rhymes 2-4, R, 2B, BB
Three Chiefs homered while Chris Young once again came up short on the mound as Syracuse sailed past Columbus, 8-5, for a four-game sweep. Despite a 4-0 cushion give to him in the top of the 1st, Young gave up three runs in the space of three batters before recording a single out with a single, walk, and a three-run HR (no. 9 in seven starts). Jeff Mandel and Tanner Roark combined for eight innings of relief for the win and save respectively. Chris Marrero, Carlos Rivero and Cory Brown each homered as the Chiefs pummeled Clipper pitchers for 14 hits total. Roster move: LHP Xavier Cedeno recalled to Washington.
Harrisburg 8 Reading 2
• Demny (W, 4-4) 7IP, 5H, 2R, 1ER, BB, 9K, HR
• Krol 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Souza 2-4, R, RBI, SB, CS
• Hood 2-4, 2R, HR, 2RBI
Ricky Hague’s three-run HR highlighted a five-run 4th as Harrisburg defeated Reading, 8-2. Paul Demny evened his won-loss record at 4-4 with seven strong innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out a season-high of nine. Matt Swynenberg and Ian Krol each followed with a scoreless inning to lock down the win, the Senators’ fifth in the last six meetings vs. the Fightin’ Phils. Steve Souza Jr. and Destin Hood both went 2-for-4 to pace the Harrisburg offense, which scored eight times on just nine hits and four walks.
Potomac 4 Lynchburg 2
• Ray 4IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 3K, WP
• Bates (W, 1-3) 3IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 4K
• Soriano 2-5, R, 2B, 3B
• Taylor 2-5, SB
• Keyes 2-4, R, 2B, 2RBI
Kevin Keyes’s two-run double in the 5th broke a 2-2 tie and the P-Nats ‘pen turned in five scoreless innings as Potomac took the game from Lynchburg by a 4-2 count, and the series 2-1 to pull within a ½ game of first place in the Carolina League North. Robbie Ray went just four innings as a high pitch count held him to four innings, as the 22-y.o. southpaw gave up both Lynchburg runs on five hits and two walks and struck out a season-low of three. Colin Bates threw three prefect frames, striking out the side in the 7th to earn the win. Francisco Soriano, Michael Taylor, and Keyes each had two hits to pace the Potomac offense.
Hagerstown 16 Lexington 9
• Pena 2⅓ IP, 6H, 6R, 6ER, 3BB, 2K, 2HR
• Henke (W, 1-1) 3⅔ IP, 3H, R, ER, BB, 2K, HR, 3-2 IR-S
• Norfork 4-6, 2R, RBI
• Piwinica-Worms 2-4, 3R, 2-2B, 4RBI
• Martinez 3-4, 2R, 2-2B, 5RBI
An eight-run 6th actually proved to be the difference as Hagerstown outslugged Lexington, 16-9 to take the series 3-1 and finish the homestand at 5-2. Travis Henke got the win despite letting in two of three inherited runners and surrendering a home run. Starter Ronald Pena was charged with six runs on six hits and three walks and two home runs by 17-y.o. Raul A. Mondesi (son of Raul Sr. and brother to Raul Jr.). Khayyan Norfork led the Hagerstown hit parade with a 4-for-6 afternoon while Estarlin Martinez drove in five with two doubles and a single.
The box score at Hagerstown did not reflect the play of Piwnica-Worms. Everytime I have seen him play there, he makes a spectacular catch in center, he hits with runners in scoring position, and has almost Burns-like speed. Players like him and Difo, who play like they love it, impress me a lot more than press-created “prospects” who can’t hit their weight.
Yay! Everybody in the system wins! Rare occurrence this year with the mixed results for the parent club.
why did the Syracuse Chiefs sit Chris Rahl on a 17 game hit streak one off International league season best and then pinch hit him against a rehabbing major leaguer. Were they trying to screw him!!! They should be ashamed of themselves for fucking a good kid!!!!
The only reasonable counterargument is that Rahl was the best PH available (true), though a more creative manager might have decided that this was the time to swap out Owings for defense. Doesn’t guarantee a second at-bat, of course, but I can understand the thought process of putting the hot hand out there to lead off the inning and extend the lead, too.
The real reason can only be that for some unknown motive they decided to kill his streak. If you wanted the hot hand then you would have started him. It is only fair to let the player rise or fall by giving him a full games worth of at bats to see if he can extend his streak. Many of his hits have resulted in runs during the streak so it wasn’t just empty numbers. Shameful “mismanagement”.