Tuesday’s News & Notes

Syracuse 15 Rochester 5
• Clay (W, 5-2) 5IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 5K, 2HR
• Davis 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, K
• Espinosa 3-6, R, 2RBI
• Kobernus 2-5, 3R, 2B, BB, RBI
• Perez 2-6, R, 2B, 2RBI

Syracuse scored eight times before Rochester answered with two solo HRs in the 2nd as the Chiefs destroyed the Red Wings, 15-5. Every batter reached base, but Zach Walters was the “beer man” as the only one without a hit or an RBI in the 12-hit, 11-walk assault that set a season-high in runs for the Chiefs. Danny Espinosa (3-for-6) and Jeff Kobernus (2-for-5, BB) both reached base three times to lead the offense. Caleb Clay gave up three runs on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts for his fifth win.

Harrisburg 12 Altoona 5
• Karns (W, 9-6) 6⅓ IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 8K, 2HR
• Holland 1⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, K, 2-0 IR-S
• Goodwin 3-4, 3R, 2-2B, 3B, BB, 2RBI
• Burns 3-4, 4R, 2B, BB, 2RBI, SB
• Bloxom 3-5, R, 2RBI

The Senators put up double digits in runs for the first time in nearly two months as they straightened the Curve, 12-5. Tablesetters Billy Burns and Brian Goodwin combined for four RBIs, six hits, and seven runs scored. Justin Bloxom also collected three hits and drove in two as Harrisburg pounded out 12 hits total. Nathan Karns got his ninth win, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over six and a 1/3rd innings for his 11th quality start, though he gave up HR nos. 12 and 13 on the year. The 25-y.o. struck eight to bring his season total to 148, two behind E.L. leader Jesse Biddle of Reading.

Potomac 2 Wilmington 0
• Demny (W, 2-2) 6IP, 4H, 0R, BB, 4K
• Benincasa (SV, 15) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Keyes 1-1, R, BB, RBI
• Miller 1-3, RBI, SB

Four P-Nats pitchers combined on seven-hit shutout of the Blue Rocks, 2-0. Starter Paul Demny went six innings for the first time since his demotion, allowing four hits and a walk while setting down four on strikes. Robert Benincasa worked around a one-out single in the 9th for his 15th save at High-A (25th overall). Brandon Miller went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base while Kevin Keyes walked and drove in the insurance run in the 8th coming off the bench for leadoff man Cutter Dykstra, who appears to be headed for a stint on the temporary inactive list.

Hagerstown — OFF DAY
After their final scheduled off day, Hagerstown remains tied with West Virginia for first place in the Sally North. The Suns play their final three regular-season games at home against the 6th-place Blue Claws. It’s not entirely clear if Hagerstown would still win the second half it the two teams remain tied a week from today, however they do hold an 8-5 edge in head-to-head meetings with West Virginia, which is a common tiebreaker. The Power also play its final three home games today through Thursday against the last-place Tourists. Both teams finish on the road for four, with Hagerstown visiting 4th-place Kannapolis and West Virginia visiting 2nd-place Lexington.

Auburn vs. Batavia — PPD
Inclement weather forced the postponement of this one until Wednesday, when Auburn returns to Batavia. The two teams will play a doubleheader at 5:05 p.m.

GCL Nationals 5 GCL Marlins 1
• J. Rodriguez 4IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Suero (W, 8-1) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• R. Encarnacion 2-4, R, 2B, RBI
• Bautista 1-5, R, HR, 2RBI

With a 5-1 win over the G-Marlins, the G-Nats clinched the best winning percentage ever in the GCL. Jefrey Rodriguez pitched on three days’ rest after an abbreviated outing last Thursday and tossed four scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while fanning a pair. Wander Suero improved to 8-1 with two shutout innings of relief as the first man out of the ‘pen. Rafael Bautista homered and drove in two while Randy Encarnacion went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI as the G-Nats totaled five runs on six hits and three walks.