Wednesday’s News & Notes

Syracuse 3 Durham 2
• Perry (W, 1-3) 6IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 2K, HR
• Davis (SV, 3) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Solano 3-4, 2B
• Walters 1-3, R, HR, BB, 2RBI

Chris Rahl’s two-run shot tied it while Eury Perez doubled and scored on a Jeff Kobernus bunt single that was tossed away to cap a three-run rally as Syracuse edged Durham, 3-2. It was the first time the Chiefs had won consecutive games since April 8th and 9th in Buffalo. Ryan Perry coughed up a two-out, two-run shot in the 1st, his fourth big fly surrendered in six starts, but settled down to go six innings, with just five hits total, no walks and two strikeouts. Fernando Abad and Mike Crotta each pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout to set up Erik Davis for his third save in the 9th.

Harrisburg 13 Altoona 2
• Karns (W, 3-1) 5IP, 2H, 2R, 1ER, 3BB, 8K, HR
• Bray 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, K
• Van Ostrand 4-5, 2R, 2B, HR, 5RBI
• Bloxom 2-3, R, BB, 2RBI, SF
• Rendon 2-4, 2-2B, BB

The Harrisburg Senators had season highs in hits and runs scored as they pummeled the Altoona Curve, 13-2. Every position player had a hit, five had multiple knocks. Jimmy Van Ostrand’s led the onslaught by going 4-for-5 with a double, homer, and five RBI. Nathan Karns labored through five innings (85 pitches) to get his third win, walking three and striking out eight with two runs allowed on two hits, including a home run. Southpaw Bill Bray made his 2013 debut with two scoreless innings, walking one and striking out one.

Wilmnington 4 Potomac 1
• Schwartz (L, 2-1) 4IP, 3H, 2R, ER, 4BB, 2K
• Herron 3IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 3K
• Sanchez 1-3
• Nieto 1-4, PB(5)

For better or worse, a lot of the “First Impressions” were validated in a 4-1 loss to Wilmington. Except maybe the part about the offense, though that discredits 20-y.o. Royals pitching prospect Kyle Smith’s six innings of two-hit ball. P-Nats starter Blake Schwartz suffered his first loss, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts. The Adrians Nieto and Sanchez both singled, Cutter Dykstra and Billy Burns both walked twice while Caleb Ramsey’s sac fly in the 7th accounted for the single Potomac run. Roster moves: RHP Taylor Jordan was activated from the Temporary Inactive List, with IF-OF Khayyan Norfork reassigned to Hagerstown.

Hagerstown 1 Rome 0 — GAME ONE
• Pineyro (W, 2-2) 5IP, 4H, 0R, BB, 5K
• Pena (H, 1) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Benincasa (SV, 6) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Severino 1-2, 2B, RBI
• B. Miller 1-3, 2B

Three Suns pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout to take the matinee opener, 1-0 and win their seventh straight game. Ivan Pineyro got the win with four hits let up over five innings, with a walk and five strikeouts. Ronald Pena tossed a scoreless 6th to get the hold while Robert Benincasa set ’em down in order in the 7th for his sixth save. Pedro Severino’s RBI double was one of just two Hagerstown hits, with Brandon Miller also doubling.

Rome 1 Hagerstown 0 — GAME TWO
• Encarnacion (L, 2-2) 5IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 3K
• Rauh 1IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 0K
• Pleffner 1-3, 2B
• Foat 1-2

An unearned run in the last of the 5th dropped the Suns in the second game, 1-0. Pedro Encarnacion took the loss with just two hits and no walks allowed over five innings to go with three K’s. Brian Rauh held things down in the bottom of the 6th with a scoreless frame, but the offense was held again to just two hits — a double by Shawn Pleffner and a single by Matt Foat. The Norfork move (above) was announced minutes after this game completed and a corresponding move by the Suns is not likely to be made until today or tomorrow.