Sunday’s News & Notes

Syracuse 6 Gwinnett 5
• Laffey 6IP, 1H, 0R, 3BB, 4K, HBP
• Davis (W, 4-1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Martin (SV, 10) 1IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 0K
• Turner 3-5, 2B, 3B, 2RBI
• den Dekker 2-4, R, BB, HR, 3RBI
• Ramsey 2-5, R, RBI

A 7th inning implosion, which turned a 4-0 lead into a 5-4 deficit, was overcome with single runs in the 8th and 9th as Syracuse edged Gwinnett, 6-5. Sam Runion’s streak of appearances without an earned run came to a screeching halt as the Braves stung him for four runs on three hits and a walk over a 1/3rd of an inning. That erased six shutout innings by starter Aaron Laffey. Runion got some “help” from Matt Grace, who let in both inherited runners and gave up the go-ahead run while getting the last two outs of the 7th. Trea Turner’s RBI single (to go along with a double and a triple) tied it in the 8th while Caleb Ramsey’s two-out single in the 9th completed the comeback. Erik Davis got the win with a scoreless 8th pitched while Rafael Martin worked around a walk in the 9th for his 10th save.

Akron 3 Harrisburg 2
• Mapes 5⅔ IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K, HR
• Harper (L, 2-1) 1IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 2K
• Bostick 2-3, BB, CS
• Difo 2-4, SB

The Senators lead 2-0 early but succumbed to the RubberDucks in the 8th to lose again, 3-2. Tyler Mapes notched his third straight no-decision with five and 2/3rds innings of two-run ball on four hits, including a two-run HR to tie it in the 4th. He walked two and struck out five. Bryan Harper took the loss, giving up the gamewinner in the 8th on two hits and striking out two. Christopher Bostick reached base three times with a walks and two singles to lead the Harrisburg offense, which outhit Akron 8-7 but struck out 12 times.

Potomac 5 Winston-Salem 2
• Fedde (W, 3-3) 6IP, 4H, 0R, BB, 5K
• Orlan (S, 6) 1IP, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Mesa 2-3, R, 3B, 2RBI
• Abreu 1-2, 2BB
• Keller 2-4, R, RBI

Potomac took its fourth straight – second against Winston-Salem – Last Night in Woodbridge.

Lexington 8 Hagerstown 1 – GAME ONE
• A. Lee (L, 2-2) 5IP, 3H, 2R, 1ER, 2BB, 6K
• Pantoja 1IP, 6H, 6R, 5ER, BB, 0K, HR, 2WP
• Schrock 2-3, R, 2E
• Wiseman 1-3, RBI

If you mustache, Lexington’s batters went to town on Hagerstown’s relievers to turn a 2-0 squeaker into an 8-1 laugher in the opener. Suns starter Andrew Lee, who had struggled in his previous two outings, returned to form with two runs let in (one earned) on three hits and two walks over five innings. Nevertheless, he lost for the second time. Jorge Pantoja, who had been nearly untouchable in his first eight appearances (13⅓ IP, 9H, 1ER) was knocked for six runs and six hits over one-plus innings (6IP, 13H, 8ER in last three outings). Max Schrock singled twice and scored once but also committed two errors as Hagerstown just barely met the Little League standard of a good game with four hits and three errors total.

Hagerstown 4 Lexington 0 – GAME TWO
• Crownover (W, 5-1) 5IP, 3H, 0R, 2BB, 5K
• Rivera 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Page 3-3, 2B
• Wiseman 2-3, 2R, 2B, BB, RBI

Two Suns pitchers combined on seven-inning, five-hit shutout for a 4-0 win and a doubleheader split. Matt Crownover won his fifth game with five baserunners denied (three hits, two walks) in five innings, while Mariano Rivera III stranding both hits allowed over his two innings (sorry kids, no save). Matt Page and Rhett Wiseman both reached base three times with three singles (two by Page), two doubles (one apiece), and a walk (Wiseman). For those with a mancrush on Victor Robles, he stole two bases (13 & 14) and threw out a runner at 2B but went hitless in the doubleheader.