Wednesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitchers |
| Syracuse | Lost, 3-2 | @ Louisville, 11:45 a.m. |
Cole (5-2, 4.67) vs. Moscot (1-3, 7.56) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 7-4 | @ Trenton, 7:00 p.m. |
Mapes (5-4, 3.27) vs. Montgomery (5-1, 2.95) |
| Potomac | Won, 11-4 | @ Salem, 7:05 p.m. |
Whiting (6-2, 3.26) vs. McGrath (1-2, 4.88) |
| Hagerstown | Lost, 9-3 | @ Lakewood, 7:05 p.m. |
Rodriguez (5-2, 2.89) vs. Kilome (1-5, 4.96) |
Louisville 3 Syracuse 2
• Espino (L, 3-6) 5+ IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, BB, 6K, 2HR; 1-2
• Harper 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K, 2-0 IR-S
• Goodwin 2-3, BB, CS
• Martinson 2-3, R, 2B, 3B, BB
Three errors and two homers were too much for the Chiefs to overcome as the Bats edged them again, 3-2. Paolo Espino bookended his five-plus innings with solo HR’s allowed in the 1st and 6th innings while giving up an unearned run in the 2nd for his sixth loss. He gave up six hits total, walked one, and struck out six. Bryan Harper stranded two while finishing the 6th while J.C. Gutierrez and Nick Masset both turned in a scoreless inning to keep things close. Brian Goodwin and Jason Martinson both went 2-for-3 with a walk while the rest of the lineup went 2-for-25 with three walks.
Trenton 7 Harrisburg 4
• Lopez (L, 1-5) 4⅔ IP, 9H, 6R, 1ER, 2BB, 7K, 0HR
• Self 2⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, 2-0 IR-S
• Pleffner 1-3, R, 2B
• Collier 1-3, 2RBI
Trenton took advantage of four Harrisburg errors to score six unearned runs in a 7-4 win. Reynaldo Lopez lost for the fifth time as he gave up six runs on nine hits and two walks over four and 2/3rds innings. Derek Self stranded two while getting the last out of the 5th and put up two more goose eggs to keep the Sens close. Despite striking out 13 times, Harrisburg scored four times on just six hits and one (1) walk. Shawn Pleffner connected for the only extra-base hit (double) and Zach Collier drove in two to lead the offense. Roster moves: OF Zach Collier activated from the 7-Day DL; UT Cutter Dykstra released.
Potomac 11 Salem 4
• Crownover 4IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 1K
• Estevez (W, 1-4) 2IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K
• Mendez (SV, 1) 3IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Marmolejos 3-6, R, 2B, 3RBI
• Read 2-3, R, BB
• Stevenson 1-2, 4R, 3B, 4BB, 3SB (23, 24, 25)
After blowing a 3-2 lead in the 5th to fall behind 4-3, Potomac torched Salem relievers for eight unanswered runs in the final three innings to take this one, 11-4. Matt Crownover labored through four innings (80 pitches) and let in the first two Red Sox runs on four hits and two walks with a single strikeout. Wirkin “For The Weekend” Estevez was the beneficiary of the P-Nats’ four-run 7th for a win despite coughing up the lead with two runs over two innings. Gilberto Mendez closed out the game with three scoreless for the save. Andrew Stevenson drew four walks, stole three bases, and scored four runs to lead the 12-hit, seven-walk attack.
Lakewood 9 Hagerstown 3
• Avila (L, 5-4) 5IP, 6H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB, 4K
• Rivera 1IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 2K
• Page 1-2, R, 2BB, CS
• Lora 1-2, 2B, BB, SB
The Suns remain stuck on 40 wins while the Shorebirds won their fourth straight to close the gap to just two games in the Sally North after a 9-3 loss to the BlueClaws. Pedro Avila took the loss with four runs allowed on six hits and two walks over five innings. After getting a run in the top of the 8th to pull within one at 4-3, Mariano Rivera III sent the hometown fans happy as he was pinched for five runs (all earned) on six hits and a walk in the bottom of the 8th. Hagerstown squeezed three runs out of five hits and four walks with the help of one Lakewood error and three stolen bases. Matt Page led the way with a single and two walks, though he was caught stealing.
Farewell to Cutter, who was more than just a “legacy” player as some others in the system are, as he was originally a second-round pick (Brewers). Although they filled his spot on the active roster, his release would seem to clear the way for Ward’s promotion.
It’s hard to judge Lopez when he suffers through five unearned runs, but the nine hits on top of that seem to indicate that he got rattled by the lack of support (as Stras did until this year and Gio still does).
Good start by Crownover at Potomac. Troubling appearance by Sandman Jr. at Hagerstown. He’s given up 11 runs over his last three appearances, ERA at 5.01, WHIP at 1.48, AVG against a painful .297. Is it possible that he might get sent back to Auburn?
On a positive note, what a game by Stevenson, playing like a young Lofton or Henderson. He’s up to 25 SBs.
When they re-signed Dykstra two offseasons ago, I thought he might have have a shot to eventually make the big club as a back up infielder. Then he went to Syracuse last year and bombed badly. Nevertheless, whether he decides to try and keep playing elsewhere or not, he’s already leading a very interesting life having married into the Soprano family. 🙂
No other way to say it, but Rivera has been a bit of a disappointment so far. Sure, there is plenty of time for him to turn things around, but as a fourth rounder he should be dominating like Glover or even Brinley have been doing.
Or like Robbie Dickey?
Dickey was drafted as a starter. Apples and oranges.
Was merely pointing out our recent track record with 4th round picks isn’t very good.
Yes, Cutter definitely married about the AA level! As long as he didn’t take investment advice from his Old Man, he should be OK.
Speaking of the Old Man, when is Rivera’s going to teach him the magic pitch? The kid claims he doesn’t throw it. Might be time to learn. I was hoping that Rivera could remain a starter, as he had been in college, as the 4th round seemed high for a reliever, all the more so for one who wasn’t a 6’5″ monster. At least the success of so many arms from the same draft should take a little pressure off Rivera to work things out immediately.
Karl, I think it would be helpful to consider that Rivera has had four bad outings since May 23, but was outstanding prior to that and is an All-Star for that reason. Maybe he is injured or suffering mechanics, but he has already demonstrated he can get A- hitters out. We may not know his ceiling, but a bit of wait and see is in order.
Looks like all it took to wake up the Potomac bats was Pilchard calling them out.
Syracuse could use a wake up call too.
Luke would you be going to DH on Saturday ??
No, I can’t make it – my work has commencement that day.
Does anyone have any word on Andrew Lee’s injury? He went on the DL a week ago.