Friday’s News & Notes

Pawtucket 6 Syracuse 2
• Solis 1IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K, HR
• O’Sullivan (L, 0-1) 4⅓ IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K
• Robinson 2-4, 2-2B, RBI
• Snyder 1-2, R, HR, RBI, 2BB

The Chiefs got back under the horse with a 6-2 loss to Pawtucket. Sammy Solis gave up a leadoff HR in the 1st then gave way to the scheduled starter Sean O’Sullivan, who gave up three runs on six hits and two walks over four and a 1/3rd innings to get his first “L” of the season. Clint Robinson doubled twice while BrAAAAndon Snyder walked twice and homered as the Chiefs managed five hits total. Roster moves: RHP Trevor Gott optioned from Washington, LHP Matt Grace recalled to Washington, LHP Sammy Solis assigned from Washington for MLB rehab.

Akron 7 Harrisburg 4
• Crownover 5⅓ IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 5K
• Lara (BS, 3; L, 0-2) ⅓ IP, 1H, 4R, 1ER, BB, K, HR, WP
• Keller 3-5
• Hernandez 3-5, R, 3B, RBI
• Read 2-4, R, HR, 2RBI

Harrisburg saw a 4-3 lead evaporate in the bottom of the eighth, “thanks” to two errors, a walk, and a homer as Akron took the series finale, 7-4. Matthew Crownover got his second no-decision in three starts as he allowed three runs on five hits and a walk over five and a 1/3rd innings. Braulio Lara blew his third save and took his second loss as he retired just one of four batters faced and gave up a walk and homer as the final four RubberDuck runs were charged to him. Alec Keller and Yadiel Hernandez both went 3-for-5 while Raudy Read singled and homered to lead the Sens’ 14-hit parade. Roster move: RHP Wirkin Estevez promoted from Potomac.

Potomac 4 Carolina 2
• Guilbeau (W, 1-0) 5IP, 6H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Schepel 2IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Pena (S, 1) 2IP, H, R, ER, BB, 3K, HR
• Page 2-3
• Wiseman 3-4, 2-2B, BB, 2RBI
• Robles 1-1, R, RBI, HBP

The P-Nats scored single runs in the 1st and 2nd and two in the 5th as they took their sixth win in eight games, 4-2 over the Mudcats. Taylor Guilbeau got the start and the win as he tossed five scoreless innings with six hits and one walk allowed and three whiffs. Kyle Schepel laid two more goose eggs and Gilbert Mendez one before he lost the shutout and wobbled through a two-run 9th. Victor Robles was hit by a pitch and lifted after driving in the second Potomac run on a two-out single in the 2nd. His replacement, Matt Page, went 2-for-3 while Rhett Wiseman singled, walked, and doubled twice to lead the Potomac offense.

Kannapolis 5 Hagerstown 4 – GAME ONE
• Bourque 6IP, 9H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 8K, HR, 2WP
• Howell (L, 0-1) ⅓ IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, 0K, WP
• Neuse 1-2, R, BB, HR, 2RBI
• Corredor 1-3, R, HR, 2RBI

Kannapolis 9 Hagerstown 1 – GAME TWO
• Ramirez (L, 0-2) 4IP, 11H, 8R, 8ER, BB, K, HR
• Corredor 1-3, R, HR, RBI, 2K

Hagerstown came to Kannapolis in first place, up by a game and a half. They’re leaving in third place – effectively two games behind with three to play as the Intimidators ran them into the wall with another doubleheader sweep, 5-4 and 9-1.

In the opener, a 2-0 lead courtesy of a two-run HR by Aldrem Corredor in the 3rd was erased by a four-run 5th. Sheldon Neuse tied it with another two-run jack in the 6th, but Kannapolis made quick work of Jacob Howell in the bottom of the 7th with single, sacrifice, wild pitch, and another single to plate the gamewinner and secure the 5-4 win.

In the nightcap, an early 1-0 lead vanished with three in the 1st then five in the 3rd as the Intimidators completed the four-game sweep by a combined 28-7 margin with a 9-1 rout [Insert comparison to BOS-NYY Sept. 7-10, 1978 here].

Both the Grasshoppers and the BlueClaws also won last night, which means the Suns need a whole lot of help to win the division. If they sweep, they need two losses from Kannapolis and one loss from Greensboro (Hagerstown has the tiebreaker over Lakewood). If they take two of three, they need three losses from Kannapolis, two from Greensboro, and one from Lakewood.

The Suns’ tragic number is therefore two (2) — any combination of wins by Kannapolis and/or losses by Hagerstown equaling two will eliminate them from the first-half title race.