Thursday’s News & Notes

Syracuse Chiefs — OFF DAY
After an off day in Ohio, it’s another four games against Columbus before a 10-of-12 stretch at home against Buffalo, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Gwinnett, then a trip to Fenway to oppose the Pawtucket Red Sox in Boston’s annual “Futures at Fenway” promotion.

Harrisburg 1 Reading 1 — SUSP
Harrisburg’s game with Reading was suspended after eight innings last night with the score 1-1. Harrisburg tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the 6th on a Chris Rahl RBI single to extend the contest. Bryce Harper, Tim Pahuta and Devin Ivany are the first three batters set for the 9th when play resumes tonight at 6:05 p.m. The regularly scheduled game will be played afterwards.

Salem 10 Potomac 1
• Demny (L, 7-10) 4&8532; IP, 9H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 3K, HR
• Wort ⅓ IP, 2H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, K 2-2 IR-S
• Walters 1-3, R
• Lozada 2BB, SH

An eight-run fifth spelled doom for the P-Nats as the Salem Red Sox ran roughshod over them for a 10-1 victory. Six of the 16 base hits Salem collected went for extra bases, including a two-run homer off starter Paul Demny. The big fly was the 18th that Demny has allowed, which leads the Carolina League. The Potomac offense, however, continues to be more suited to a picture on a milk carton as it’s been missing for the past two games, with just three singles and an 0-for-8 mark with RISP. The loss drops Potomac to 21-17, four games behind first-place Frederick but six games ahead of third-place Wilmington.

Hagerstown 12 Hickory 0
• Demmin (W, 2-1) 6IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 5K
• Bates (S, 1) 3IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Keyes 4-4, 3R, 2-2B, 2RBI, BB
• Martinson 2-3, 2R, 2B, 2R HR, 3RBI, 2BB
• Nieto 1-5, R, 2R HR

Hagerstown whipped first place Hickory 12-0 last night in an all-around offensive effort. Hickory walked eleven batters and the Suns had eleven hits, six for extra bases. Adrian Nieto and Jason Martinson both had two-run blasts. Most importantly, the Suns benefited from clutch hitting. Eight of their twelve runs were scored on two-out RBI. Ryan Demmin and Colin Bates mystified the Crawdads and combined for a five-hit shutout. With the win, Hagerstown closes Hickory’s lead to 2½ games and improves to 20-18 in the Sally North.

Auburn-Connecticut — PPD
Rain postponed Wednesday night’s game between the Auburn Doubledays and Connecticut Tigers. It will be made up tonight with a pair of seven-inning games beginning at 5 p.m.

GCL Astros 3 GCL Nationals 2
• Encarnacion 5IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 7K
• Lee 2IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Mesa 2-5, R, 2B
• D Williams 2-4, RBI, SB

The G-Nats’ losing streak reached seven with a 3-2 loss in extras, tumbling them into a tie for last place. On a non-negative note, the team played an error-free game for the first time in four days. On a non-positive note, the G-Nats had 16 chances to hit safely with a runner on second or third and came through once, stranding 10 baserunners. Pedro Encarnacion lowered his ERA to 5.00 with five innings pitched and one run allowed on one hit and three walks while striking out seven. Narciso Mesa and Deion Williams each had two hits but the G-Nats were limited to just seven. The loss drops the elimination number to five with a 12-25 mark, 15½ games behind the G-Marlins in the GCL East.

DSL Rangers 5 DSL Nationals 2 — SUSP

Play was suspended with two outs in the bottom of the 3rd with the DSL Rangers leading 5-2. The two teams next meet on August 11, which is presumably when this will be completed.