Friday’s News & Notes

Syracuse 2 Charlotte 0
• Lannan 9IP, 8H, 0R, 0BB, 10K
• Hoffpauir 2-3, 2B, RBI
• Carroll 2-4, R, 2B

The reigning I.L. pitcher of the week is making a bid for a repeat honors, as John Lannan tossed an eight-hit shutout for a 2-0 Syracuse win, its third straight. The 27-y.o. southpaw gave up eight singles but no walks and struck out a season-high 10 batters in his final start for the Chiefs. Next stop: Washington. Jarrett Hoffpauir went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI to lead the Syracuse offense, despite getting ejected in the bottom of the 5th.

Richmond 5 Harrisburg 4
• Broderick (ND) 6IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 0BB, 2K, HR
• Frias 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Nelo (BS, 4; L, 1-6) ⅓IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 0K, HR
• Solano 2-4, R
• Bynum 1-3, R, 2B, BB, RBI

Make that 25 one-run losses as the Senators coughed up a walkoff loss in Richmond, 5-4. Hector Nelo blew his fourth save and took his sixth loss, giving up a leadoff homer in the 9th to achieve the former, then three singles and a walk with one out to earn the latter. The implosion handed a no-decision to Brian Broderick, who pitched six frames, gave up six hits and allowed three runs, no walks, and struck out two.

Carolina 3 Potomac 1
• Gilliam (L, 1-2) 7IP, 7H, 3R, 2ER, BB, 3K, HR
• McCatty 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, K
• Souza 2-2, R, BB, SB
• Fernandez 1-3
• Hague 1-4, 2B

After making the playoffs in three of the last four seasons (2008, 2010, 2011), the Potomac Nationals will be going home after Labor Day, thanks to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Carolina Mudcats. Starter Rob Gilliam turned in quality start of three runs allowed over seven innings on seven hits and a walk. The offense, however, was held to just four hits and put just three runners into scoring position; the lone run coming in the 2nd on a Steve Souza Jr. leadoff single, a steal of second with an error on the throwout attempt to take 3rd, and a wild pitch to send P-Nat outfielder home.

Greensboro 12 Hagerstown 2
• Rauh (L, 3-3) 2IP, 7H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 0K
• Bates 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Burns 3-4, R, SB
• Ramsey 2-3, 2B

With seven runs in the first four innings, first-half champs Greensboro made a 12-2 statement to Hagerstown, should the Suns survive the weekend. The Grasshoppers jumped all over starter Brian Rauh for five runs on seven hits and three walks over the first two innings to hand the 21-y.o. his third loss at Low-A. The bullpen fared no better as only Colin Bates emerged unscathed from the 12-run, 18-hit onslaught. Billy Burns (3-for-4) led the Suns offense with three singles and a stolen base. The loss, combined with a wins by Hickory and West Virginia, holds the magic number steady at four with four games to play. Hagerstown finishes up the regular season with a four-game set against playoff-bound Asheville starting tonight at Municipal Stadium.

Mahoning Valley 8 Auburn 6
• Pineyro 3⅔ IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 3K, HR
• Harper (H, 3; L, 0-1) 1⅓ IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 2K
• Medina (BS, 1) ⅔ IP 1H, R, ER, BB, 2K, 2-2 IR-S
• Martinez 3-5, R, 2B
• Schill 2-5, R
• Ramos 1-3, 2BB, 2RBI

That uneasy feeling isn’t that convenience-store hot dog you ate last night, it’s the realization by now that with Auburn’s 8-6 loss to Mahoning Valley, the Nationals farm just might get shut out of the postseason. The Scrappers rallied for four runs in the bottom of the 8th against relievers Bryan Harper (loss) and Silvio Medina (blown save). Starter Ivan Pineyro was touched for four runs on six hits, including a three-run home run in the 4th that erased an early 4-1 Doubledays lead. Estarlin Martinez led the 10-hit Auburn offense with a double and two singles and a run scored. Like the Suns, the Doubledays magic number remained unchanged at six, with the second-place Muckdogs winning for the sixth straight game. NYPL wild-card leader Brooklyn lost to stay tied with Auburn at 42-28. Roster moves: LHP Blake Monar placed on the 7-day DL, retroactive to Au. 28; RHP Ronald Pena has been recalled from the GCL Nationals.