Saturday’s News & Notes

Buffalo 3 Syracuse 1
• Espino 6IP, 5H, R, ER, BB, 6K, HR
• Grace (L, 1-3) 2IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 2K, HR
• Ramsey 1-3, RBI
• Martinson 1-3

Buffalo went deep twice to account for all three runs as they tripled up Syracuse, 3-1 to even the series at 1-1. Paolo Espino gave up a solo shot in the 2nd and five hits total over six frames with one walk and six whiffs. Matt Grace surrendered the winning two-run HR in the 7th and gave up three hits total over two innings to lose for the third time. Matt Grace broke up the perfect game bid in the 5th with a leadoff single and scored on Caleb Ramsey’s two-out safety. Ramsey went to third on Jason Martinson’s single but the two were left on when Zach Collier couldn’t make it back-to-back-to-back hits. The Chiefs threatened again in the 6th with a Christopher Bostick leadoff walk and a Michael Taylor single but that was it as the Bisons relievers set down the final 11 Chiefs in order. Roster moves: C Pedro Severino recalled to Washington; C Brian Jeroloman reassigned from Harrisburg.

Hartford 5 Harrisburg 3 – GAME ONE
• Whiting (L, 0-3) 3⅔ IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, 4BB, 4K, HR(GS)
• N. Lee 1⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, 2-0 IR-S
• Soto 2-3, R, 2B, RBI
• Keyes 2-3, R, HR, 2RBI

The Yard Goats slammed Boone Whiting for four in 3rd as they took the opener from the Sens, 5-3. Whiting allowed all five Hartford runs on eight hits and four walks over three and 2/3rds. He fanned four while losing his third AA game. Nick Lee stranded two in the 4th and retired three of the five batters he faced on strikes. Veterans Neftali Soto and Kevin Keyes powered the Harrisburg offense as they combined to go 4-for-6 with two runs scored, a double (Soto), a homer (Keyes) and three RBI.

Harrisburg 2 Hartford 0 – GAME TWO
• Blackmar (W, 2-1) 6IP, 4H, 0R, 2BB, 2K
• DeFratus (SV, 1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Keyes 1-3, R, HR, 2RBI
• Stevenson 1-3, 2B, SB

Two Sens pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout for 2-0 win to split the doubleheader. Mark Blackmar allowed all four hits and both walks over the first six to earn the win while Justin DeFratus pitched a 1-2-3 seventh with two whiffs for his first save with Harrisburg. Kevin Keyes drove in both Senators runs with another two-run homer.

Potomac 4 Carolina 1
• Bacus (W, 1-2) 5IP, 3H, 0R, BB, 7K
• Spann (H, 2) 2IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Mendez (SV, 6) ⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, K, 3-1 IR-S
• Marmolejos 2-3, R, 2B, 2BB
• Abreu 3-5, R, 2-2B, RBI

Potomac survived a scare in the 9th to take its second straight from Carolina, 4-1. Dakota Bacus returned to the rotation and pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out seven for his first C.L. win of ’16. Matt Spann followed with two more goose eggs. Wirkin “For The Weekend” Estevez couldn’t complete the shutout bid and left ’em loaded for Gilberto Mendez, who walked the first batter he faced to lose the shutout but struck out the second to earn the save. Jose “The Orange” Marmolejos extended his hit streak to seven (on-base to 10) with a single, double, and two walks to lead the Potomac offense.

Hagerstown 3 Hickory 0 – SUSP.

The Suns scored in each of the first two innings before the rains came and suspended this one. They’ll complete it this afternoon at 2 p.m. then play a seven-inning game at the previously scheduled time of 6 p.m. Roster moves: IF Grant DeBruin activated from the 3-Day TIL.

West Virginia 6 Auburn 2
• Davis 5IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 4K
• Simonds (BS, 1; L, 0-2) 2IP, 4H, 5R, 2ER, BB, 3K, WP, HBP
• Perkins 1-2, 2R, HR, RBI, 2BB
• Banks 1-2, RBI, BB, 2SB

West Virginia scored twice in the 8th and three times in the 9th to turn a 2-1 deficit into 6-2 win over Auburn. Weston Davis started and pitched five scoreless innings, giving up a hit and two walks while striking out four in a no-decision. The loss went to Kyle Simonds with five runs allowed (two earned) on four hits and a walk with three whiffs. Blake Perkins scored both Doubledays runs, including a solo shot in the 3rd that gave Auburn an early 1-0 lead. Ryan Ripken led the hit column with a pair of singles while Nick Banks singled, walked, and stole two bases.