Sunday’s News & Notes

Syracuse 2 Pawtucket 1
• Clay 6IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, 2K
• Krol (W, 1-1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Kimball (SV, 1) 1IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Rahl 1-3, BB, SB, OF assist at HP (9th)
• Brown 1-4, RBI
• Marrero 1-4, HR, RBI

A solo shot in the 5th, 20 consecutive batters retired, and an outfield kill in the 9th were the keys to the Chiefs 2-1 win over the PawSox. Chris Marrero’s 11th HR proved to be the gamewinner in the pitcher’s duel. Caleb Clay got his 6th no-decision for Syracuse despite pitching his ninth quality start, letting in a run on two hits in the second inning, then retiring the last 14 batters he faced. Ian Krol and Mike Crotta each pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th and 8th innings to make it 20 in a row. Pawtucket struck for three singles in the 9th against Cole Kimball, who earned his 1st save for Syracuse thanks to Chris Rahl gunning down the tying run at the plate after the third hit of the inning.

Harrisburg 12 Richmond 3
• Karns (W, 10-6) 7IP, 6H, R, ER, BB, 7K, HR; 1-4, RBI
• Perry 2IP, H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, K
• Souza 3-5, R, 2-2B, 3RBI, HBP, SB(20)
• Hague 3-5, 2R, BB, 3RBI
• Bloxom 2-4, 2R, 2BB, 2

An eight-run 5th and seven strong innings from Nathan Karns powered Harrisburg past Richmond, 12-5. The 3-4-5 combo of Steve Souza Jr, Justin Bloxom, and Ricky Hague combined to go 8-for-14 with five runs scored and six RBI as the Senator offense notched 13 hits total. Karns became the third 10-game winner in the organization, giving up a run on a HR (14th in the minors, 19th overall), six hits, a walk, and seven strikeouts. With a 6-1 Erie loss to Bowie, Harrisburg’s magic number to clinch the E.L. West was reduced to one.

Potomac 7 Frederick 5
• Purke (W, 5-3) 5IP, 5H, 0R, 0BB, 5K
• Benincasa (SV, 17) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, K
• Taylor 4-4, 2R, 2-2B, HR, BB, SB, 5RBI, OF assist at 2B
• Keyes 3-5, 2-2B

Michael Taylor reached base five times, scored twice, drove in five, stole a base, threw out a runner, and saved 15% on his car insurance in a 7-5 Potomac win over Frederick. Kevin Keyes doubled twice and Justin Miller singled twice as the P-Nats rackek up 13 hits. Matt Purke tossed five scoreless innings, allowing five hits, no walks, and setting down five on strikes for win no. 5. The Keys rallied for five against the P-Nats relievers, “forcing” Robert Benincasa to work on back-to-back nights for another save, his 17th for Potomac.

Kannapolis 4 Hagerstown 1
• Johansen (L, 0-2) 4⅔ IP, 7H, 4R, 2ER, 3BB, 4K
• Pena 2⅓ IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Pleffner 2-3, BB
• Perez 1-3, 2B

Jake Johansen’s second start was slightly better than his first, but with an AWOL offense, the result was another “L” — 4-1 to Kannapolis. The Suns mustered just four hits against the Intimidators, with Shawn Pleffner collecting two of them. Johansen allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks while fanning four. West Virginia and Lexington were suspended with the Power leading 1-0 in the 3rd, but with the Sally League playoff format, Game One will be in Charleston regardless of whether there is a double-half winner.

State College 7 Auburn 4
• Simms (L, 0-3) 3⅓ IP, 10H, 6R, 6ER, 0BB, 3K, WP
• Joyce 3IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, HBP
• Masters 2-3, R
• Foat 2-4, 2RBI

State College scored six times in four innings before Auburn answered with two as the Spikes went on to a 7-4 win. John Simms was charged with all six runs on 10 hits, though he walked none and struck out three over three and a 1/3rd innings. Matt Foat and David Masters both had two singles, as did the rest of the lineup, which only walked once as the final two Doubleday runs scored with the help of two errors and a passed ball.

GCL Nationals 10 GCL Red Sox 3
• J. Rodriguez 5IP, 6H, 2R, 1ER, BB, 2K
• Derosier (W, 1-0) 2IP, 1H, 1R, BB, 0K
• Walsh 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, K
• R. Encarnacion 3-4, 2R, HR, 3RBI, OF assist at 1B
• Mejia 3-4, 2R, RBI, SB, 2E
• Bautista 2-4, RBI

After falling behind 3-0 in the top of 7th, the G-Nats sent 10 men to the plate in the bottom of the 7th. Eight of them scored. An inning later, two more circled the bases as the G-Nats defeated the G-Sox, 10-3 in Game One of the GCL Finals. Randy Encarnacion connected for a three-run homer, joining teammate Bryan Mejia in going 3-for-4 with two runs scored as the G-Nats pounded out 12 hits total, nine in the final two frames. Jefry Rodriguez got the start and gave up two runs, one unearned, on six hits and a walk while striking out two. Matt Derosier got the win with one run allowed over two innings. Jake Walsh closed out the game with two scoreless innings.