Saturday’s News & Notes

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 6 Syracuse 0
• Simmons (L, 1-2) 7IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 3K, HR
• Stange 2IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 3K
• Walters 1-4, 2B
• Johnson 0-1, 2BB

Two RailRider pitchers combined for a one-hitter as they shut out the Chiefs, 6-0 to take the series, 3-1. James Simmons took the loss, letting in four runs on five hits, including the 9th HR he’s allowed this season (49⅔), over seven innings. He walked three and struck out three. Daniel Stange followed but was lit up for a run in each of his two innings. Josh Johnson drew a walk to spoil the perfect game in the 6th while Zach Walters doubled in the 7th to break up the no-hit bid.
Roster moves: RHP A.J. Cole promoted from Harrisburg; C Jeff Howell placed on the 7-Day DL; OF Jerad Head assigned from Washington.

Harrisburg 4 Akron 3
• Simms (W, 1-0) 7IP, 4H, R, ER, BB, 3K
• Herron 3BF, 1H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 0K, HR ^{← Curse of the GBI}
• Benincasa (SV, 2) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 2-1 IR-S
• Taylor 1-3, 2R, 2B, BB, 2SB
• Bry. Harper 1-2, 2BB, 2SB, 2RBI, CS
• Hague 1-2, R, BB, HR, RBI, CS

After surviving a late rally in the 9th, the Senators squeezed by the RubberDucks for a 4-3 victory. John Simms needed just 85 pitches to get through seven innings to win his AA debut. He allowed just one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three. The Senators hit for the cycle with a single (Bryce Harper), double (Michael Taylor), triple (Cutter Dykstra), and a home run (Ricky Hague) and stole four bases (Taylor and Harper, two apiece). The elder Harper pitched a scoreless 8th and turned the ball over to Tyler Herron, who gave up a solo HR and two walks before being lifted for Robert Benincasa. The 23-y.o. FSU product let in one run on a one-out double, got an assist from Taylor on foul flyout as he fired in a bullet that held the runner at third, then got the final out on a grounder to second for the save.

Myrtle Beach 6 Potomac 3 — SUSP.
• Rauh 3IP, 7H, 6R, 6ER, BB, 3K, HR
• Suero 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, K
• Renda 1-2, R, 2B, BB
• Oduber 1-2, R, 2B

The P-Nats were losing 6-3 when play was halted with one out in the 5th. They had rallied for two runs and chased Pelican starter Victor Payano. No completion date has been announced. Potomac does not return to Myrtle Beach, however the two teams do have two more series remaining in Woodbridge (July 4-6, 28-30). Brian Rauh gave up all six runs on seven hits and one walk over three innings in his first start since coming off the DL. Tony Renda and Randolph Oduber both went 1-for-2 with double and a run scored.

Hagerstown 3 Delmarva 2
• Johansen 3⅔ IP, 4H, 2R, ER, 4BB, 6K
• Ullmann (W, 3-0) 3⅓ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, K
• Napoli (SV, 2) 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Kieboom 2-3, R, 2-2B, RBI
• Ward 1-3, 2B

Vader was once again bested by the Sun(s) as Hagerstown’s pitchers outdueled Delmarva’s starter for a 3-2 victory. Jake Johansen failed to make it to the 5th for the fourth straight start, and was charged with both Shorebirds runs on four hits and four walks over three and 2/3rds innings. Ryan Ullmann let in one inherited runner before getting the last out of the 4th and went three more scoreless innings for the win. David Napoli kept Delmarva at bay for the last two innings for his second save. Spencer Kieboom doubled twice, scored once and drove in a run to lead the Suns offense.

Batavia 8 Auburn 6
• Ott 4IP, 7H, 3R, 2ER, BB, K, 2WP
• Derosier (BS, 1; L, 0-1) 1⅔ IP, 5H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 2K, HR, 2WP
• Gunter 2-4, R, RBI
• Williamson 2-4, 2B, SB, CS

After rallying to tie the game a 3-3 in the 5th and taking a 6-3 lead in the 6th, the Auburn bullpen imploded in the 8th, giving up five runs for an 8-6 loss to Batavia. Starter Travis Ott went the first four innings, but was strafed for three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk. He struck out one. After setting the side down in order, Matt Derosier was battered for five runs on five hits and a walk in the 8th for the blown-save-loss. Cody Gunter and Clay Williamson both went 2-for-4 while David Masters homered as the Doubledays racked up nine hits and drew one walk (“Orange” Marmolejos-Diaz).
Roster move: SS David Masters reassigned from Hagerstown.

GCL Nationals 1 GCL Marlins 0
• Encarnacion 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Van Orden 3IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 5K
• Simmons 1⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 2K
• McDowell (W, 1-0) 2⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, 2-0 IR-S
• Alvarez 0-1, R, 3BB
• O. Ortiz 1PA, SF, RBI
• Ripken 1-3

Thomas Alvarez’s third walk of the game led to the game’s only run as the G-Nats shut out the G-Marlins, 1-0. Alvarez advanced on a really wild pitch (he advanced to third from first) and scored on a sacrifice fly by Oliver Ortiz. Four pitchers combined to allow just three hits while striking out 12. Chase McDowell, who stranded two while getting the last out in the 7th, worked around a leadoff single in the 8th and tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his first professional win.
Roster moves: RHP Pedro Encarnacion assigned from Potomac for minor-league rehab.

DSL Nationals 5 DSL Giants 4
• Fuentes 4IP, 3H, R, ER, BB, 6K
• N. Ramirez (W, 2-1) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 4K
• Robles 2-5, R, RBI, SB
• A. Martinez 1-3, BB, SB

Down 4-2 in the 9th with two outs, the D-Nats drew a walk and singled to put the tying runs on base. Pinch-hitter Gilberto Ramirez hit a grounder to third that found its way into the outfield for the first error. The return throw from the D-Giants RF did not find a fielder for the second error as Ramirez got the Little League home run for a 5-4 walkoff win. Starter Steven Fuentes gave up one run on three hits over the first four innings. Nector Ramirez got the win in relief with two scoreless innings. Victor Robles singled twice to lead the hit column as the D-Nats managed just six hits total.