Friday’s News & Notes

Rochester 6 Syracuse 1
• Voth (L, 5-6) 5⅓ IP, 8H, 6R, 6ER, 3BB, 2K, 2HR
• Laffey 2⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, 2-0 IR-S
• Lombardozzi 2-3, R
• Goodwin 2-4, 2B, RBI

The Chiefs’ offensive woes continued in a 6-1 loss to the Redwings. Austin Voth was stung for four runs in the first inning and all six Rochester runs on eight hits and three walks over five and 1/3rd innings. He struck out two while taking his sixth loss. Aaron Laffey stranded a pair of baserunners and locked down the Redwings the rest of the way, but as aforementioned, so did Rochester’s Andrew Albers. Brian Goodwin’s RBI double in the 6th plated Steve Lombardozzi to prevent a shutout as the two combined for four of the six (6) hits mustered by the Syracuse batters. Roster move: Austin Voth activated from the 3-Day TIL.

Harrisburg 4 Richmond 2
• Valdez (W, 3-2) 7IP, 8H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 4K
• Robinson (SV, 2) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Bautista 3-4, RBI
• Perez 2-3, R, HR, RBI (10G on-base streak)

After walking 13 in his last two starts, totaling seven and 2/3rds innings, Phillips Valdez walked none in seven innings last night. Perhaps not coincidentally, he and Harrisburg won, 4-2. Valdez allowed both Richmond runs on eight hits and struck out four as he went seven innings for the first time in eight AA starts. Wander Suero and Andrew Robinson both turned in a scoreless inning to earn the hold and save, respectively. Rafael Bautista singled three times and drove in a run while Stephen Perez singled and homered to lead the Senators’ ten-hit parade.

Potomac 4 Winston-Salem 2
• Crownover (W, 1-4) 6+ IP, 4H, R, ER, 3BB, 7K
• Mendez (SV, 4) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Keller 2-4, R, 2RBI
• Lowery 1-4, 2B, RBI

Likewise, Matthew Crownover kept the ball down and in the zone and good things happened as the P-Nats doubled up the Dash, 4-2. Crownover won for the first time in nine A+ starts and went a career-long six-plus innings, giving up one run on four hits and three walks and striking out seven (also a career high). Gilberto Mendez recovered from two rocky outings on the road to notch his fourth save. Alec Keller singled twice and drove in two while Jake Lowery doubled once and drove in one to lead the regulars. Roster move: 1B Ryan Zimmerman assigned from Washington on MLB rehab; went 2-for-4 with a double and actually ran full speed on the latter.

Columbia 6 Hagerstown 1
• Rodriguez (L, 7-6) 3⅓ IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 2K, HBP
• Hearn 3⅔ IP, 3H, 1R, 0ER, BB, 6K, 3-0 IR-S
• Reetz 2-4, R, PB(10), PO at 3B
• La Bruna 1-2, 3B, BB, RBI

Hagerstown’s seven-game win streak came to end with a 6-1 loss to Columbia. Jefry Rodriguez threw 70 pitches over three and a 1/3rd innings and let in four runs on four hits and three walks in his sixth loss of the season. Taylor Hearn came in with the bases loaded and left ’em that way, then allowed one unearned run over the next three innings. The Suns offense didn’t respond, managing just one run on five hits total. Jakson Reetz singled with one out and scored the lone Suns run on an Angelo La Bruna triple with two outs in the 5th; the two were the only Hagerstown batters to reach base twice.

State College 7 Auburn 4
• Acevedo 5IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 0K, 0HR, 3HBP
• Howard (BS, 1; L, 0-2) 1⅔ IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 0K
• Noll 4-4
• Perkins 2-4, 2R, SB

The Spikes continued their domination of the Doubledays with a 7-4 win, the fourth straight win by State College over Auburn. Carlos Acevedo started and got the no-decision with five innings of one-run ball on one hit, two walks, and three hit batsman. Hayden Howard came in with a 4-1 lead and left with a 5-4 deficit as the Spikes scored four against him in the 6th and 7th innings for the blown-save-loss. Jake Noll singled four times to improve his BA to .333 in 11 games since his callup from the GCL while Blake Perkins went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base to pace the Auburn offense. Roster move: OF Darryl Florentino demoted to the GCL Nationals.

Anderson Franco Sighting
As noted in the comments, 3B watchlister Anderson Franco made his first appearance in the GCL, going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. A full explanation from the Nationals was released on June 31st.