Monday’s News & Notes

Columbus 8 Syracuse 3
• Laffey (L, 4-2) 4⅔ IP, 9H, 7R, 5ER, 3BB, 3K,
• Roenicke 3⅓ IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K, HR, 1-0 IR-S
• Rhymes 3-5, R, HR, 2RBI
• Nicol 2-4, 2B, RBI, E

Will “Don’t Call Me Buster” Rhymes’s two-run homer highlighted a three-run 2nd, which pulled Syracuse within one of Columbus at 4-3. Alas, the Clippers shifted course and scored four unanswered for an 8-3 win, dropping the Chiefs to below .500 at 21-22. Aaron Laffey suffered his second straight loss, giving up seven runs over four and 2/3rds innings on nine hits and three walks. Rhymes would lead the 11-hit Syracuse offense with a 3-for-5 afternoon, followed by Destin Hood, Steve Souza, and Sean Nicol, who each had two hits.
Roster moves: RHP Ryan Mattheus recalled to Washington; RHP Ross Ohlendorf transferred from Potomac for MLB rehab.

New Britain 5 Harrisburg 3
• Purke (L, 1-6) 4IP, 8H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 3K, HR, HBP
• Bates 4IP, 2H, R, ER, 0BB, 2K
• Bloxom 2-4, 2RBI
• Bantz 2-4, 2B, RBI

With another three-run homer in the first — his third given up in eight starts, and fourth first-inning HR out of five total — Matt Purke fell behind early and the offense couldn’t catch up as New Britain defeated Harrisburg, 5-3. The 23-y.o. gave up four runs total on eight hits over four innings in his sixth loss. Colin Bates turned in four strong innings of long relief, allowing the final Rock Cats run on a triple and a sac fly in the 5th. Justin Bloxom and Brandon Bantz both went 2-for-4 and drove in all three Senators runs, with Bloxom plating two with a single in the 1st and Bantz driving in one with a single in the 4th.

Potomac 4 Myrtle Beach 2
• Schwartz 1IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 0K
• Spann (W, 3-0) 4IP, 4H, R, ER, 2BB, 4K
• Benincasa (SV, 7) 1⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 0K
• Perez 4-5, R, 2-2B, RBI
• Martinez 2-4, R, 2-2B

Potomac earned a split of its four-game series against the Carolina League’s top team with a 4-2 victory over Myrtle Beach. Indicating a forthcoming rotation reshuffle, Blake Schwartz threw just one inning as the starter before giving way to Matthew Spann. The 23-y.o. southpaw won for the third time in five relief appearances with four innings of one-run ball. Stephen Perez led the P-Nats offense with a 4-for-5 night, driving in one while smacking two doubles, a feat matched by Estarlin Martinez as well.
Roster moves: RHP Dakota Bacus placed on 3-Day Temporary Inactive List.

Lexington 1 Hagerstown 0
• Voth (L, 1-3) 6IP, 4H, R, ER, 2BB, 4K, WP, BK
• Ballou 1-4, 2B
• Manuel 0-1, HBP, 2BB

Isaac Ballou broke up the combined no-hit bid against the Suns with a one-out double in the 9th. He got as far as third base with two outs but couldn’t come around to tie the game as the Legends won, 1-0. Austin Voth took the loss despite allowing just one run on four hits and two walks while fanning four. Craig Manuel reached base three times, taking two walks and getting plunked to break up any chance of a perfect game.
Roster moves: LHP Sammy Solis reassigned to Harrisburg, LHP Justin Thomas returned from Auburn (both moves effective May 17).