Saturday’s News & Notes

Rochester 5 Syracuse 4 (5 inn.)
• Clay 2IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 3K
• Mandel (L, 1-6) 2IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 0K
• Brown 3-3, 2R, 2B, RBI
• Moore 2-3, R
• Game 2:01, Delay 2:00

The Red Wings beat the rain and the Chiefs, 5-4 in five innings. Starter Caleb Clay took the loss, tagged with three runs on three hits and a walk over two innings. His night was finished after rain interrupted play for 75 minutes between the 2nd and 3rd innings. Syracuse tied it at 3-3 with a pair of runs but Rochester answered with two in its half of the 4th. The Chiefs pulled within one in the 5th, but left the tying run at 3rd when the rains came again. After 45 minutes, the game was called.
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Akron 3 Harrisburg 1
• Gilliam (L, 3-4) 6IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 4K, HR
• McCoy 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Souza 1-3, R, HR, BB, RBI
• Bloxom 1-3, 2B

The Senators pitching is the best in the league, but couldn’t toss another shutout as the Aeros took this one, 3-1. Steven Souza Jr. cranked his team-leading 14th homer in the 1st, but it was one of just three hits Harrisburg would manage. Rob Gilliam turned in six decent innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts, but took the loss.

Lynchburg 8 Potomac 2
• Purke 4⅓ IP, 6H, 6R, 5ER, 4BB, 2K
• Holt 2IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 0K
• Ramsey 2-5, R
• Taylor 2-4, 2-2B, RBI

Matt Purke was lit up for six runs on six hits over four and 1/3rd innings as the Hillcats battered the P-Nats, 8-2. Purke walked four and struck out two, with four of the six hits going for extra bases (three doubles and a triple). Michael Taylor doubled twice (once to left, one to right) to lead Potomac’s nine-hit attack, which sputtered in the clutch with an 0-for-7 mark with RISP. As for my thoughts on Purke, an opinion/essay today for Last Night In Woodbridge.

Hagerstown 8 Hickory 2
• Turnbull (W, 4-2) 6IP, 5H, 0R, BB, 8K
• Self 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Mesa 3-4, R, HR, BB, 3RBI
• Schill 0-1, 3R, 3BB

Hagerstown took the rubber game of the series and reclaimed first place with an 8-2 win over Hickory. Starter Kylin Turnbull, who was dreadful in his previous outing, pitched six shutout innings, giving up a walk and five hits and struck out eight for his fourth win for the Suns. Led by Wes Schill, the Suns drew nine walks and made the most of their nine hits to score eight runs, highlighted by a Narciso Mesa’s two-run blast in the 3rd.

Tri-City 3 Auburn 1
• Orlan 5IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 5K
• Cooper (L, 0-1) 2IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, BB, K, HR
• Gunter 2-4, R, HR, RBI
• Masters 2-4, 3B

Auburn outhit Tri-City 9-5, but the ValleyCats outscored the Doubledays, 3-1 to take the series, 2-1. Starter R.C. Orlan tossed five scoreless innings and let up three hits, walked none, and struck out five. Andrew Cooper took the loss, giving up a two-run shot in the 7th that proved to be the gamewinner. Cody Gunter homered while going 2-for-4 for the sole Auburn run.

GCL Nationals 11 GCL Mets 6
• Pivetta 2⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 3K
• Suero (W, 2-1) 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Abreu 3-4, R, 2B, BB, 4RBI, SB
• Ruiz 2-4, R, HR, 3RBI

The G-Nats scored five runs in the bottom of the 8th to take this one, 11-6. Adderling Ruiz’s three-run blast highlighted the final “ups,” as the G-Nats offense pounded out 16 hits total, led by Osvaldo Abreu, who went 3-for-4 with a double, walk, a run scored, and four RBI. Nick Pivetta got the start and walked two and struck out three over two and a 1/3rd scoreless and hitless innings. Wander Suero got the win, pitching the final two innings with a hit and a walk allowed and two strikeouts.

DSL Nationals 5 DSL Orioles2 2
• J. Ramirez 4IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 3K, HR
• Pena (W, 2-1) 3IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 4K
• Serrata 2-4, RBI
• Florentino 1-3, 2R, 2B

The D-Nats scored three times in the 3rd and added insurance runs in the 8th and 9th for a 5-2 win over the DSL Orioles2. Jean Ramirez got the start, allowing both D-Orioles2 runs on three hits, no walks, and struck out three. Yefri Pena got the win with three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and a walk while setting down four on strikes. John Feliz gave up two hits over the final two innings but let in no runs for the save. Brayan Serrata led the offense with a 2-for-4 game, followed by Darryl Florentino at 1-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.