Tuesday’s News & Notes

Syracuse Chiefs — OFF DAY
A 2-6 road trip dropped Syracuse’s road record to .500 (20-20) as the team quietly passed the the halfway mark over the weekend. Up next: five games against fifth-place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and a pair against fourth-place Rochester.

Harrisburg 7 Akron 1
• Jordan (W, 7-0) 5IP, 8H, R, ER, BB, K
• Grace (H, 2) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 4K
• Bloxom 2-3, 2B, BB, 2RBI
• Head 2-4, R, 2B, HR, RBI
• Souza 1-3, 2R, HR, BB, 2RBI, OF assist at 3B

Taylor Jordan threw just 65 pitches over five innings to pick up his 7th AA win as the Senators shot down the Aeros, 7-1. The 24-y.o. scattered eight hits, walked one and struck out one in his shortest outing since May 12 (4IP, 75 pitches), which followed a 10-day layoff after throwing eight innings against Carolina on May 2. Matt Grace and Neil Holland combined for four innings of scoreless relief to close out the game. Jerad Head and Steve Souza Jr. both homered for the 9th time this season, while Justin Bloxom, Josh Johnson, and Ricky Hague had multiple hits. Following the game, manager Matt LeCroy claimed Jordan had been placed on innings/pitch limit by Nats brass(click for the story from Geoff Morrow of the Patriot-News). In the four seasons this website has operated, a similar midseason restriction without a trip to the DL, an assignment to the GCL, or a skipped start (see above) cannot be recalled. As noted yesterday, Jordan’s next turn to pitch is Saturday, which coincides with recently shelved disabled starter Dan Haren’s turn in the Washington rotation.

Myrtle Beach 3 Potomac 2
• Cole (L, 4-3) 6IP, 5H, 3R, 2ER, 0BB, 5K, HR
• Holt 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Oduber 1-3, BB
• Leonida 1-3, R, HR, RBI

Potomac’s modest five-game winning streak came to and with a 3-2 loss to Myrtle Beach. A.J. Cole took the loss with three runs (two earned) on five hits, including his team-leading 10th HR surrendered. The 21-y.o. walked none and struck out five while notching his 6th quality start. Cole Leonida homered for the sole Potomac run as the Pelicans pitchers — #1 in the Carolina League — held the P-Nats to just six hits and two walks total. While ostensibly a story that has more import for Hagerstown, the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star has P-Nats owner Art Silber on record as “not objecting” to a proposed stadium in Fredericksburg that’s just 26 miles south of the latest proposed ballpark for Potomac.

Hagerstown 12 West Virginia 5
• Anderson (W, 5-4) 5IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 6BB, 4K
• Davis (H, 3) 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Renda 4-6, R, 2B, RBI, SB
• Schill 2-5, 2R, HR(GS), 5RBI
• Mesa 2-5, 2R

All 12 of the Suns runs came in the final four innings, capped by a grand slam by Wes Schill in the 9th as Hagerstown defeated West Virginia, 12-5. The Power jumped out to an early three run lead against starter Dixon Anderson, scoring single runs in three of the first four frames. Anderson got the benefit of a seven-run rally in the 6th, winning his fifth game with three runs allowed on five hits and six walks while striking out four. Tony Renda paved the way for the 13-hit attack, going 4-for-6 with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base.

Mahoning Valley 1 Auburn 2
• Orlan 5IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 5K
• Simko (BS, 1; W, 2-0) 2IP, 4H, R, ER, 0BB, 3K
• Ballou 2-4, R, 2B
• Yezzo 2-4, R

Jean Valdez’s RBI single in the 7th broke a 1-1 tie as the Doubledays edged the Scrappers, 2-1. Starter Robert Orlan tossed five shutout innings, giving up just tow hist while walking one and fanning five, but got the no-decision in his second start. Todd Simko gave up the equalizer in the 6th but was the pitcher of record in the 7th for the blown-save-win. Isaac Ballou and James Yezzo both went 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead Auburn’s nine-hit offense.

GCL Nationals 4 GCL Marlins 1
• Silvestre (W, 1-0) 5IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, 5K
• Derosier (SV, 1) 1⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 0K
• Gordon 1-2, R, 2BB, RBI
• Attl 1-3, BB

The G-Nats remain unbeaten with a 4-1 defeat of the G-Marlins. Hector Silvestre got his first win of 2013 in his second start, allowing a run on two hits and a walk while striking out five. A trio of relievers combined for four scoreless innings of relief with 24th Rd. Pick Matt Derosier picking up his first career save with a walk over an inning and 2/3rds. 23rd Rd. Pick Garrett Gordon reached based three times to pace the G-Nat offense.

DSL Mets1 2 DSL Nationals 1
• Rosario (L, 0-2) 4IP, 2H, 2R, ER, BB, 3K
• Y. Pena 4IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 0K
• Mota 2-4, SB
• Alvarez 1-3, BB

The D-Nats lost consecutive games for the first time this season, dropping a 2-1 pitcher’s duel to the D-Mets1. 17-y.o. Venezuelan Ramses Rosario made his first start and went the first four innings, giving up both D-Mets1 runs on two hits and a walk while striking out three. Yefri Pena, who had started in the previous turn through rotation, tossed four scoreless frames, allowing a hit and walking two. 17-y.o. Israel Mota (2-for-4) and 18-y.o. Thomas Alvarez (1-for-3, BB) were the only two D-Nats to reach base twice as the offense was held to five hits and four walks.