Monday’s News & Notes

Columbus 9 Syracuse 1
• Roark (L, 3-6) 3⅓ IP, 6H, 9R, 9ER, 6BB, 4K, HR
• Lehman 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, K
• Teahen 2-4, 2-2B, RBI
• Rivero 1-4, 2B

A five-run 3rd followed by a four-run 4th left little doubt that Columbus would win, 9-1, completing the three-game sweep. Tanner Roark’s scoreless inning streak was stopped at 16 full innings as the Clippers took advantage of the six walks he issued and connected for a three-run shot in the 3rd. The Chiefs managed just six hits, with Mark Teahen doubling twice and driving in the sole Syracuse run. The Chiefs head back out on the road four an eight-game stretch against Louisville and Indianapolis. Roster Moves: OF J.R. Higley was activated from the Potomac disabled list and assigned to Syracuse and got the start in CF (0-for-3), with RHP Rafael Martin assigned to the Temporary Inactive List. Corey Brown has reportedly been flown down to Miami to be activated if the Big Nats need him to replace Chad Tracy, who was hurt on Saturday afternoon. DC backstop Jesus Flores was lifted in the 7th inning last night in Atlanta with a hamstring injury but is not as likely to go on the DL, which means the Chiefs will probably continue to carry three catchers.

Harrisburg 6 Reading 5
• Mandel 6⅓ IP, 10H, 5R, 4ER, 0BB, 7K
• Frias (W, 2-3) 1IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, K
• Nelo (SV, 4) 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, K
• Valdez 3-4, 2R, 2B, 2HR, 3RBI
• Seabury 1-3, R, HR, 3RBI
• OF assists: Perez, HP; Rahl, 2B

Jesus Valdez and Beau Seabury combined for three HRs and six RBI as Harrisburg rallied from a 5-2 deficit for a 6-5 win over Reading. Starter Jeff Mandel was left in for for one batter too many, leaving in the 7th after a three-run triple, the 10th hit he gave up over six and a 1/3rd innings. Pat McCoy was able to strand the runner at third by striking out the first batter he faced and inducing a flyball to end the inning. Marcos Frias and Hector Nelo both flirted with disaster (two hits, a walk) but laid goose eggs for the win and save respectively.

Lynchburg 6 Potomac 1
• Olbrychowski 4IP, 3H, R, ER, 5BB, 5K
• Testa ⅓ IP, 0H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 0K, 2HBP, 2-1 IR-S
• Wort 1⅔ IP, H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, 3-3 IR-S
• Kelso 1-4, RBI
• Sanchez 1-3, R, 2B

The wheels came off in the 7th inning in Lynchburg as three relievers gave up five runs on four hits and two hit batsmen, turning a 1-1 pitcher’s duel into a 6-1 loss for Potomac, its 18th in 24 road games. Bobby Hansen Jr. was officially charged with the loss, but Joe Testa hitting two of three batters faced certainly didn’t help nor did an offensive output of just six hits and one walk. The P-Nats return home for four games against Myrtle Beach before a fourth series against the Hillcats this weekend (as previously reported, this year the Carolina League schedule is unbalanced on a per-half basis, with just six games against Wilmington and Carolina in the first half, 14 against the Pelicans, 12 vs. Lynchburg, and 11 vs. both the Dash and the Keys; only Salem is the “usual” 10 games per half — something that might affect the second-half playoff races, should the P-Nats mount their usual charge).

Hagerstown 7 Lakewood 6
• Dupra (W, 3-4) 5IP, 6H, 5R, 3ER, 0BB, 4K, 2HR
• Meza (H, 2) 3IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, BB, 5K
• Barrett (SV, 5) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Dykstra 3-4, R, 2B, SB
• Souza 3-5, R, 3B, 3RBI
• Goodwin 2-3, 2R, 2B, BB, RBI

A four-run fifth powered the Suns past the BlueClaws for a 7-6 win and a 5-1 series smackdown. Brian Dupra hasn’t shook the homer bug, giving up two — nos. 6 and 7, all given up in his last three starts — but got the win. Hagerstown pounded out twelve hits with Cutter Dykstra, Steve Souza and Brian Goodwin combining for eight of them while Matt Skole drew three more walk to push his league-leading total to 47 in 48 games. The Suns continue their road trip with a 500+ mile bus ride last night to Greensboro for a three-game series. Auburn shuffle: Prior to the game, RHP Brian Dupra was assigned from the Doubledays to the Suns, switching places with RHP Jason Smith