Saturday’s News & Notes

Fresno 9 Tacoma 6
• Copeland (W, 3-2) 5IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 5BB, 3K, HR
• Blazek (H, 1) 1⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, 3-0 IR-S
• Hernandez 3-3, 2R, 2BB, HR, RBI, CS
• Noll 2-3, 2R, 2B, BB, SF, 2RBI, SB
• Cowgill 2-3, R, 3B, SH, RBI

Fresno blew a 4-1 lead but rallied for three in the 6th and held on for 9-6 win in the series finale. Grizzlies starter Scott Copeland muddled through five innings, giving up four runs on six hits—including his obligatory HR, #10 in 9GS—and five walks while striking out three, but was credited with the win nonetheless. Yadiel Hernandez reached base five times on two singles, two walks, and his 14th HR while Jake Noll and Collin Cowgill both went 2-for-3 to lead the Fresno offense.

Harrisburg 11 Reading 2
• Sharp (W, 5-3) 5IP, 10H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 4K
• Condra-Bogan 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Sagdal 3-4, R, 2B, BB, 3RBI, E(6)
• A. Sanchez 3-5, R, 2B, 2RBI
• C. Taylor 3-5, R, 2RBI

It was home sweet home for the Senators as they sent 14 batters up to the plate in the 5th and got nine of ’em in turn a 2-2 tie into an 11-2 demolition of the Fightins. The win also stopped a five-game slide and improved Harrisburg to 17-6 at City Island (vs. 13-10 on the road). Sterling Sharp danced through a minefield of 10 hits in five innings with only one double play. He walked none and fanned four while picking up his fifth win. Adrián Sanchez, Chuck Taylor, and Ian Sagdal combined for nine of Harrisburg’s 15 hits and seven of ten RBI as the Senators collected just three walks and did their damage with singles (12) devastating efficiency with RISP (9-for-13).

Frederick 8 Potomac 4 (10 inn.)
• Lee 5IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 5K, 2HR
• Reyes 2IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 2K
• German (L, 0-1) 3IP, 4H, 4R, 3ER, 0BB, 1K, HR
• Harrison 1-2, 3BB
• Agustin 2-4, BB

Not so much in Woodbridge, where winning is uncommon (8-16) and beatings are usually by the visitors (six losses by four or more runs), like last night’s 10th-inning meltdown that sent Potomac back into last place with an 8-4 loss. Andrew Lee got the start but labored through five innings on 88 pitches, with the first four Keys runs let in on four hits (two HR) and two walks, though he strike out five. Luis Reyes has transitioned from the worst starter to, let’s be honest, its best reliever lately with another two scoreless innings to run his streak to ten over his last four appearances. The loss went to Jhonatan German who was sent out for a third inning with a bullpen that’s been taxed this week like, well, um, Washington’s. German gave up the last four runs and three hits total to suffer the loss, his first at High-A. Telmito Agustin led the P-Nats hit column with two singles while K.J. Harrison drew three of the team’s seven walks, but three double plays got Frederick out of trouble, including a 1-5 DP with the bases full to end the 8th inning.

Hagerstown 3 Kannapolis 2 (10 inn.)
• Alastre 5⅔ IP, 4H, R, ER, 0BB, 7K
• Turner (W, 1-0) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 5K
• Marinconz 2-4, R, 2B
• C. Wilson 2-3, 2BB

The Suns got a gift in the 10th as the game-winning run came on a throwing error for a 3-2 win vs. the Intimidators. Tomas Alastre walked none for the first time in more than a month as he struck out a season-high of seven over five and 2/3rds. He gave up one run and four hits but came away with a no-decision, “thanks” to Ryan Williamson who let in an inherited runer and one of his own to blow the save. OT Turner struck out five over the last two innings to pick up the win, his first. Cody Wilson singled twice and walked twice while Kyle Marinconz singled, doubled and scored a run to power the Hagerstown offense.