Thursday’s News & Notes

Charlotte 2 Syracuse 1
• Clay (L, 0-1) 6⅔ IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 4K, HR
• Crotta 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Rahl 3-4, RBI, SB
• Rhymes 3-5
• Moore 2-4, 2B

Syracuse stalled in the clutch, going just 1-for-7 with RISP and stranding 11 in a 2-1 matinee loss to Charlotte. Caleb Clay pitched into the 7th for his AAA debut, but allowed both Knights runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over six and 2/3rds innings. Chris Rahl and Will Rhymes both singled three times as the Chiefs racked up 10 hits total (double the output of Charlotte).
Roster move: 2B Danny Espinosa reinstated from DL, optioned from Washington.

Harrisburg 3 Bowie 1
• Jordan (W, 6-0) 8IP, 3H, R, ER, 2BB, 3K
• Barrett (SV, 13) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, K
• Goodwin 3-3, R, BB
• Nicol 1-2, RBI

Taylor Jordan slumped to allowing a run over eight innings, snapping a 23-inning scoreless streak, but the bum still pitched Harrisburg to a 3-1 victory over Bowie. The 24-y.o. walked two and struck out three while running his record to 6-0 in eight appearances for the Senators. Brian Goodwin reached base four time with three singles and a walk, while Sean Nicol came off the bench to go 1-for-2 with an RBI single in the 6th that broke the 1-1 deadlock. Aaron Barrett pitched around a two-out double to earn his 13th save.

Potomac Nationals — ALL-STAR BREAK
No doubt by design to give the league’s All-Stars an extra day of rest, the Carolina League begins the second half with an off day today before the eight-team circuit restarts tomorrow.

Hagerstown Suns — ALL-STAR BREAK
After finishing the first half with seven games at home, the Suns open the second with seven games on the road, beginning with a four-game set in Greenville, followed by a three-game series in Charleston.

Auburn 6 Batavia 3
• Orlan 4IP, 3H, 0R, 5BB, 2K
• Simko (W, 1-0) 2IP, 2H, R, ER, 0BB, 5K
• Napoli (SV, 1) 1⅔ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, 2-0 IR-S
• Lippincott 2-4, R, BB
• Ballou 1-3, R, 2BB, 2RBI

Walks and errors will kill you, as Batavia learned by giving out nine and committing four in a 6-3 loss to Auburn. R.C. Orlan, a 30th round pick out of North Carolina in 2012, made his pro debut as the starter with four scoreless innings. The 22-y.o. from Glen Allen, VA allowed three hits, walked five and struck out two. Rehabbing Todd Simko got the win in relief while 2013 8th-rounder David Napoli got the save in his pro debut. Bryan Lippincott led the hit column with a 2-for-4 game, while Isaac Ballou drove in two and reached base three times with a single and two walks.

DSL Nationals 2 DSL Cardinals 1 (10 inn.)
• Valerio 6IP, 2H, R, ER, 3BB, 6K
• Morales 3IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Aquino (W, 3-0) 1IP, 1H, 0R, BB, K
• Mercedes 2-2, R, RBI
• Mota 2-3, 3B, 2BB
• Alvarez 2-4

Brayan Serrata’s single in the 10th ended what might have been a very frustrating game as the D-Nats outhit the D-Cards 12-3, but only won 2-1. Maximo Valerio gave up the lone D-Cards run on two hits and three walks over six innings while striking out six, but got the no-decision. Jose Morales followed with three no-hit innings, allowing a walk. Jonathan Aquino got the win with a scoreless 10th inning pitched. The D-Nats left on 15 runners and went just 2-for-16 with RISP.