Thursday’s News & Notes

Pawtucket 3 Syracuse 2
• Cole 5IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 5K, 2HR
• Mattheus (L, 1-3) 1IP, 2H, R, ER, 0BB, 1K
• Souza 2-3, R, 2B, 2BB, RBI, SB
• Moore 1-3, 2BB

Syracuse and the Paw-Sox decided to put up a box score of binary code filled with “1’s” and “0”s last night in Pawtucket. Back-to-back doubles by former Washington Nationals Eury Perez and Steven “FREE ME” Souza scored a 1st-inning run for the Chiefs before Mookie “Not Bill Buckner’s Nemesis” Betts immediately erased A.J. Cole’s lead with a leadoff homer in the home half. Garin Cecchini added to the Paw-Sox Power Punishment of Syracuse with a one-out dinger of his own. Jhonatan “The Green Onion” Solano’s double play scored a run, but effectively killed a rally in the following top of the 3rd. While Danny Stange and Manny Delcarmen effectively kept the score tied at 2-2, former Washington National Ryan “Firework” Mattheus took the loss by allowing two singles through the infield and a sacrifice fly for the loss that shaved the Syracuse lead to one in the I.L. North.
Roster moves: OF Destin Hood placed on the 7-Day DL retroactive to July 24, C Jeff Howell activated from the 7-Day DL.

Harrisburg 6 Richmond 3 (13 inn.)
• Simms 6IP, 6H, R, ER, 2BB, 6K
• Herron 2IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Holland (W, 6-2) 3IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Latimore 4-7, R, HR(GS), 4RBI
• Martinson 2-6, RBI
• Tejeda 2-6, R
• Skole 0-3, R, 4BB

In a shocking development, the Harrisburg offense woke up in a 6-3 victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Harrisburg, not Richmond, flew out to an early 1-0 lead with a 1st-inning homer from Drew Vettleson. Mr. Vettleson, like the rest of the Harrisburg Senators, then proceeded to take the next 11½ innings off at the plate. Meanwhile, Richmond tied up the game at 1-1 off of starter John Simms when Matt “I’m a Toughy” Duffy doubled, Jarrett “Squirrelyman” Parker singled and Devin “Better at Basketball” Harris hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 6th. Harrisburg exploded for five runs in the 13th with a sacrifice fly by Jason Martinson following a leadoff walk, a hit by pitch, and a Fundamental Baseball Sacrifice Bunt to advance the runners. Quincy “The Dude” Latimore ended a 406-game drought for Harrisburg with a two-out grand slam. Harrisburg would need those insurance runs because Richmond fought back and scored two runs off of Robert “Happy House” Benincasa before ultimately falling 6-3.

Myrtle Beach 10 Potomac 6 (16 inn.)
• Encarnacion 4⅔ IP, 9H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 1K
• Henke 4IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 5K, HBP, 2WP
• Norfork (L, 0-1) 2IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 0K, HR(GS)
• Oduber 4-7, 2R, 2B, 3B, 2RBI, CS
• Ballou 2-7, R, HR, 2RBI
• Wooten 2-6, RBI

Isaac Ballou homered with two outs in the bottom of the 9th to force extras, where the Pelicans ‘pen shut down the P-Nats for seven innings to secure a 10-6 win and the three-game sweep. Khayyan Norfork, who pitched scoreless 15th, took the loss in the 16th on a grand slam following an intentional walk to set up a possible double (or triple) play. Randolph Oduber once again threatened to cycle but missed the longball to “only” go 4-for-7 to lead the 13-hit parade for Potomac.

Hagerstown — OFF DAY
Hagerstown begins a brutal 14-road-games-in-18-days stretch with four against Charleston as they cling to a ½ game lead in the Sally North with 33 days left in the regular season.
Roster moves: LHP Brett Mooneyham placed on the 7-Day DL; RHP Wander Suero activated from the 7-Day DL.

Brooklyn 9 Auburn 4
• Bourque (L, 1-3) 1⅔ IP, 5H, 7R, 3ER, 2BB, K, BK, HBP, WP
• Swynenberg 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Dykstra 2-4, R, BB
• Read 2-4, R, 2B, RBI

A seven-run 2nd put this one away early for the Cyclones as they blew away the Doubledays, 9-4. James Bourque took the brunt of the beating with seven runs (three earned) allowed on five hits and two walks over just an inning and 2/3rds. Matt Swynenberg came out of retirement for two shutout frames with two hits, no walks, and two whiffs. Cutter Dykstra and Raudy Read both went 2-for-4 with a run scored as the Auburn nine totaled eight hits and five walks on offense.
Roster move: RHP Matt Swynenberg assigned from Washington.

GCL Marlins 5 GCL Nationals 0 — GAME ONE
• Rivero 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Poveda (L, 0-1) 1⅓ IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, K
• Rosario 1-2, 2B
• Guzman 1-3

In the opener, the G-Marlins broke open a 1-0 game with a four-run 4th as they shut out the G-Nats, 5-0. Felipe Rivero tossed two scoreless innings with one hit and one walk allowed while striking out two. Omar Poveda took the loss with four charged on three hits and three walks. Dionicio Rosario connected for the sole extra-base hit as the G-Nats were limited to just three hits total.

GCL Nationals 7 GCL Marlins 4 — GAME TWO
• K. Simmons 3⅓ IP, 3H, R, ER, 2BB, 2K, 2WP
• Je. Ramirez (W, 2-0) 2⅓ IP, 3H, R, ER, 2BB, 2K
• Gutierrez 3-4, R, 2B, RBI
• Reetz 2-3, R, 2-2B, 2RBI
• Corredor 1-2, R, BB

In the second game, the G-Nats returned the favor with a five-run 4th to break a 2-2 deadlock as they held on for a 7-4 win to split the doubleheader. Kyle Simmons got the start and let in one run on three hits and two walks over three and a 1/3rd. The win went to Jean Ramirez with an identical line but in one inning fewer. Kelvin Gutierrez and Jakson Reetz combined for five hits, two runs, three doubles, and three RBI to lead the G-Nats offense.
Roster moves: RHP Omar Poveda assigned from Harrisburg for minor-league rehab; RHP Domenick Mancini reassigned from Auburn.

DSL Nationals 5 DSL Cardinals 0
• Baez (W, 4-1) 6IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 9K
• Vargas (SV, 2) 3IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Vilorio 2-4, R, BB, 2RBI
• Pimentel 2-5, R, RBI
• Franco 2-5, R

Two D-Nat pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the D-Nats shut out the D-Cards, 5-0. Joan Baez struck out a season high of nine while walking just one over the first six innings. Miguel Vargas was perfect over the final three to earn his second save. Luis Vilorio reached base three times and drove in two while Davinson Pimentel and Anderson Franco both went 2-for-5 as the D-Nats pounded out 11 hits for the game.