Saturday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup (’17 Stats at the Level) |
| Syracuse | Lost, 6-5 | @ Scranton/W-B, 4:05 p.m. |
Milone (1-3, 7.63 @ MLB) vs. Cessa (4-6, 3.45) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 7-1 | @ Bowie, 1:35 p.m. |
Darnell (5-3, 3.98) vs. Akin (7-8, 4.21 @ A+) |
| Potomac | Won, 9-2 | vs. Wilmington, 6:35 p.m. |
Jo. Baez (4-8. 3.87) vs. O. Gomez (7-12, 5.18 @ A-) |
| Hagerstown | Lost, 3-1 | @ Rome, 6:00 p.m. |
Tetreault (2-2, 2.58 @ SS-A) B. Zimmermann (0-1, 3.09 @ Adv. Rk.) |
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 6 Syracuse 5
• Voth 5IP, 3H, R, ER, BB, 6K, HR
• Collins ⅓ IP, 1H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 1K
• Smith (BS, 1; L, 0-1) ⅓ IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 0K, HR, 3-3 IR-S
• Kieboom 2-3, R, BB
• Falu 2-4, 2R, 2B, RBI
• Sanchez 2-4, R
Any fears that Chris Smith would not be a fit for the Syracuse bullpen were quickly put to rest after he gave up a two-out, three-run walkoff home run in the 9th for a 6-5 Chiefs loss to the RailRiders. The five-run implosion wasted five innings of one-run ball by starter Austin Voth on three hits and a walk. Spencer Kieboom reached base three times with a walk and two singles to lead the ten-hit, three-walk Syracuse offense.
Bowie 7 Harrisburg 1
• Rodriguez (L, 0-1) 5⅓ IP, 7H, 5R, 3ER, BB, 6K, HR
• Gamache 2-4, 2-2B
• Wilson 1-4, R, HR, RBI
• Johnson 2 OF assists @ 2B
The BaySox led this one from start to finish for a 7-1 win over the Senators. Jefry Rodriguez took the loss, giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk over five and a 1/3rd innings. Phillips Valdez spilled two more runs over the final two and 2/3rds innings on four hits. Jacob Wilson broke up the shutout with solo HR to lead off the 7th while Dan Gamache was the sole Harrisburg batter with multiple hits with a pair of doubles.
Potomac 9 Wilmington 2
• Sharp (W, 1-0) 5IP, 7H, R, ER, 0BB, 6K, HR
• Howard 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Wiseman 3-4, R, 2B, RBI
• Noll 2-4, R, HR, RBI
• Agustin 2-4, 2B, RBI
Potomac put up four in the 1st while Sterling Sharp lived up to his surname in a 9-2 victory over Wilmington. Ian Sagdal was the beer man and wore golden Sombrero as the rest of the lineup rapped out 13 hits, led by Rhett Wiseman with a double and two singles while Jake Noll homered for a second straight night. Sharp scattered seven hits (OK, fine: one went over the wall) but walked none and struck out six for his first “W” of the year.
Rome 3 Hagerstown 1
• Raquet (L, 0-1) 5IP, 5H, 3R, 2ER, BB, 3K
• Acevedo 3IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 3K
• Boggetto 1-1
• Esthay 1-4, 2B
The Suns were held to just two hits in a 3-1 loss to the Braves. Nick Raquet was strung for all three Rome runs on five hits and a walk over five innings while fanning three. Carlos Acevedo kept things close with three scoreless innings of relief. Boggetto, who pinch-ran for Cole Freeman after he was dropped by an HBP to the noggin, broke up the Braves’ no-no with an 8th-inning single. Kameron Esthay doubled in the 9th after an error to set up 2nd-and-3rd and one out but both Joey Harris and Armond Upshaw whiffed to end the game.
The way things are going, give Voth a couple of more starts like that one and he might just get called up to the big club as a RH reliever–which they desperately need.
Smith actually “fit in” as well as Collins, who I gather was supposed to be in the closer’s role. That one hurts even worse as Collins’s ST stats made it look like he could be a big contributor this year.
It was also infuriating that we received no word as to Suero’s status for a month after his ST injury only to see him placed on the Syracuse DL. So what do you think the chances are that we’ll see him pitch before July?
Interesting that Voth got the opening day nod. Given the age of the starters and the long season ahead I’m not sure I would convert Voth to relief if he proves to be effective.
It’s probably more significant who lines up with A J Cole. I’m not sure if Hellickson still has an out after 15 days, or if he would be ready to step in if AJ gets shelled again. If Hellickson is not the option, than the person who lines up close to AJ is probably the guy who would replace AJ. They’ll probably have Edwin Jackson and Fedde closest to the AJ spot.
Hellickson could get shelled just as easily as Cole. After all last season he allowed 35 dingers? I think they really needed and still need Ross to be there along with Fedde. Voth gives them more depth plus Milone is a viable left-handed option for the rotation. Hellickson was a good deal for depth but to keep him they have to promote him affecting Cole but giving the boys from Syracuse time to get some innings, especially rehabbing Ross. Crownover sure came out with a bang makes you wonder how long before he ends up in the AAA rotation.
You mean Joe Ross? He had TJ in July 2017 so we won’t see him in games for a couple of months at least, right?
Anyway AJ is getting skipped this time around so I guess we may see AJ come out of the bullpen in his next appearance.
The Nats have Hellickson until at least May 1st. Hellickson is also not listed on Syracuse’s roster at the moment. Leads me to think he will replace Cole in the rotation this week.
Tough night for Cole freeman.
Committed 3 errors and took a pitch in the head.
Why so secretive about the Chief’s roster this season? Other than what was up with Hellickson what else was there?
The starting C in MLB got hurt, the backup C in MLB was going on paternity leave very soon, and they were hesitant to DFA Enny Romero so they kept him around a little while longer.
Look at it another way, what is the advantage in announcing the Syracuse roster in advance?
Some players who ended up in AA might have been thinking they would be in Syracuse as major league depth … Bautista and Drew Ward come to mind. I guess you are right … however typically the last roster announced is Potomac’s as that is where players go when they can’t make the cut for AAA and AA?