The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, dropped their second straight game to the Columbus Clippers with a 9-6 loss on Saturday night. Syracuse clawed its way back from a 9-0 deficit with a five-run seventh inning and a rally in the ninth, but the Clippers hung on for the victory.

Although Syracuse (23-26) and Columbus (23-25) combined for 14 total runs, neither team scored until the fifth inning. But the Clippers then broke a scoreless game open against right-hander Yunesky Maya. Russ Canzler doubled, Andy LaRoche singled and Matt Pagnozzi walked to start the inning.

Maya struck out Jason Donald on an inside-corner fastball for the first out, but center fielder Ezequiel Carrera laced a two-run double to right-center field, scoring Canzler and LaRoche for the game’s first two runs. Lonnie Chisenhall tacked on a sacrifice fly, upping the lead to 3-0, before Matt LaPorta was intentionally walked to bring up Jared Goedert. But Goedert would make the Chiefs pay by clubbing a three-run home run, putting Columbus ahead 6-0.

The Clippers tacked on some valuable insurance runs in the next two innings. Pagnozzi’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly scored Canzler for a 6-0 lead, with Maya exiting after five and two-thirds innings. In the seventh, Canzler’s run-scoring single and Pagnozzi’s bases-loaded walk each plated a run against right-hander Erik Arnesen.

But Syracuse launched an improbable late-game rally starting in the seventh. Jhonatan Solano’s infield single and Brett Carroll’s walk started the threat against Clippers starter Corey Kluber. Two batters later, Rivero ignited the inning with a two-run double. After a Josh Johnson single and Seth Bynum lineout, Jarrett Hoffpauir hit a pop-up to shallow center field for what looked to be the inning’s final out. However, Carrera dropped the ball for an error, with Rivero and Johnson scoring on the play to cut Columbus’ lead to 9-4. Dan Wheeler then came on in relief of Kluber, but Mark Teahen greeted the veteran right-hander rudely with a run-scoring single, capping the scoring in the inning.

In the ninth, the Chiefs loaded the bases with no outs against right-hander Cody Allen to bring the tying run to the plate. Johnson walked before Bynum and Hoffpauir lined back-to-back singles, bringing up the heart of the Syracuse order. But Allen settled down, retiring Teahen on a run-scoring groundout before Xavier Paul struck out and Solano popped out to end the game.

The Chiefs and Clippers will close out their four-game series on Sunday night at 6:30, with a fireworks show slated for after the game. Syracuse right-hander Tanner Roark and Columbus left-hander Drew Seddon are the scheduled starters.

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, returned to Alliance Bank Stadium on Thursday night with a 13-4 win over the Columbus Clippers. Corey Brown came within a double of the cycle, as the center fielder homered for the fourth game in a row to tie a Chiefs club record.

Brown’s first-inning blast to right field gave Syracuse (23-24) a 1-0 lead. Columbus (21-25) answered quickly against Chiefs starter Zach Duke with a pair of runs in the top of the second. However, the Chiefs batted around in the second inning, scoring five runs, and sent 11 hitters to the plate in a six-run third inning to take control of the game.

After Jhonatan Solano, Brett Carroll, and Carlos Rivero led the second inning off with consecutive hits to score two runs, Seth Bynum belted a two-run homer to give the Chiefs a 5-2 edge. Syracuse added on one more in that second inning when Mark Teahen plated Josh Johnson on a sacrifice fly.

In the third, Solano, Carroll, and Rivero all reached base again, and Bynum delivered another big hit. This time, he shot a double to right field which scored Solano and Carroll, while moving Rivero to third. That gave the Chiefs a 7-3 lead and forced Clippers starter Eric Berger out of the game. Jarrett Hoffpauir and Xavier Paul both tacked on run-scoring singles later in the inning, while Teahen added another run by drawing a bases-loaded walk. The Chiefs led 12-3 after three frames.

Syracuse scored once more in the seventh. Bynum led off with a single and Brown brought him home with a triple to center field. The Chiefs’ offense finished the night with 14 hits, highlighted by three each from Bynum and Brown.

Though Duke allowed four runs in six innings, Syracuse’s bullpen trio of Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Pat Lehman, and Josh Wilkie teamed up for three innings of scoreless relief.

Syracuse has now won seven in a row at home and 11 of its last 14 overall.

The Chiefs continue their series with the Clippers at Alliance Bank Stadium on Friday night at 7:00 when John Lannan faces off against Columbus’ David Huff.

 

 

The Senators (25-21) were knocked off by the Altoona Curve, 5-4, after Altoona put up all their runs in the first inning off Harrisburg starter Robert Gilliam (L, 1-5, 4.98). The Senators chipped away at the lead all day, including scoring in the eighth inning, but just couldn’t quite catch the Curve.

 

Gilliam recovered to throw six innings and was strong after his rough start, striking out six and not allowing another run, but the damage was done.

 

Former Nats farmhand Shairon Martis (3-0, 2.63) got the win for Altoona. He pitched six innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks, striking out six.

 

Harrisburg faces the Reading Phillies for a four-game homestand over the holiday weekend. Mike Ballard (1-3, 3.30) hosts Jonathan Pettibone (3-4, 3.59) in the first game Friday night at 7:00 pm at Metro Bank Park.

 

 

The P-Nats (18-25) were off Thursday. Friday they start a three-game road trip to Lynchburg to face the Hillcats. Trevor Holder (2-0, 6.00) pitches in the opener. HIs opponent is still unannounced.

 

 

The Hagerstown Suns (26-19) began a six-games-in-four-days series with the Lakewood BlueClaws (18-27) with a doubleheader sweep, winning game one, 2-0, before taking game two, 4-3, in eight innings at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, N.J., on Thursday night.

In game one, Suns starting pitcher Taylor Hill (4-3) delivered 6.1 shutout innings and struck out a career-high seven batters en-route to his fourth win of the season. Aaron Barrett (4) was called upon to record the final two outs of the game to earn his team leading fourth save.

Matt Skole’s RBI double in the fourth inning proved to be the game-winner and drove in his club-high 44^th RBI of the season. Later in the inning, Caleb Ramsey added an RBI sac-fly, his 28^th RBI of the season and 8^th in his last five games.

BlueClaws starter Ethan Stewart (0-5) suffered the loss despite allowing just two runs on four hits in a complete game effort.

After falling behind 2-0 early in game two, the Suns rallied to take the lead, 3-2, in the sixth inning with a Jason Martinson two-run triple and another go-ahead RBI hit from Skole. Lakewood’s Brian Pointer tied the game in the seventh inning with a solo home run, but the Suns bounced back in the eighth inning. Cutter Dykstra singled and then stole second and third base, and was eventually knocked in by Skole’s second game-winning hit of the day. Skole finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBIs to bring his season total to 46.

Game two starter Pedro Encarnacion did not factor in the decision, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on three hits and two strike outs. Reliever Colin Bates earned the win in his Suns debut, allowing one run in the final two innings of the game. BlueClaws reliever Colton Murray (1-2) took the loss.

The Suns will send LHP Kylin Turnbull (1-3) to the mound against Lakewood’s RHP Colin Kleven (3-3) in game three of the series on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, ended a successful road trip with a 7-0 win over the Toledo Mud Hens on Tuesday afternoon. Syracuse won its third out of four games in the series against the Mud Hens and fifth in eight games between Columbus and Toledo. Outfielder Corey Brown homered and drove in five of the seven runs in the victory, while starting pitcher Mitch Atkins allowed just two hits in six shutout innings.

Syracuse (22-24) jumped ahead early against Mud Hens left-hander Andy Oliver, who had allowed just 27 hits in 44 and one-third innings entering the game. Brett Carroll doubled to lead off the second inning, and Carlos Rivero, who played his first professional game at first base, singled him home just two pitches later. Jason Michaels followed with an infield single before Oliver recorded two outs, but Brown followed to smash open the inning. He crushed a three-run home run well over the right-field fence, putting the Chiefs on top, 4-0. Brown has now homered in three straight games.

The Chiefs then added to their lead in the sixth. With runners at first and third and one out, Michaels lined a single to center field, scoring Xavier Paul and knocking out Oliver. Left-hander Ryan Robowski then entered for his first Triple-A game of the year after a recent promotion from Double-A Erie. He immediately walked Seth Bynum and James Skelton, loading the bases for Brown. The center fielder added to his big day with a two-run single to center field, capping the scoring.

Meanwhile, Toledo (23-23) was held completely in check by two Syracuse pitchers. Atkins tossed six shutout innings of two-hit ball, walking two and striking out three, to earn his fourth win in eight starts. Atkins lowered his ERA to 3.07. Erik Arnesen then completed the final three innings without allowing a run to pick up his first save of the season.

Syracuse heads home after a scheduled day off to face Columbus on Thursday at 7:00. The Chiefs and Clippers will begin a four-game set.

 

 

The Senators and Altoona Curve game scheduled for Tuesday, May 22nd in Altoona has been postponed due to rain. The game will be made-up as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday, May 23rd beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona. Both games on Wednesday are scheduled for seven-innings.

The Senators send LH Danny Rosenbaum to the mound in game one and RH Rob Gilliam to the hill in game two. Altoona goes with RH Phil Irwin and RH Brandon Cumpton.

Potomac Nationals, High-A Carolina League

The Wilmington Blue Rocks used a three run eighth inning to beat the Potomac Nationals 4-2 in Delaware on Tuesday night. For the first time this season, the P-Nats lost a game they led after seven innings.

Potomac starter Robbie Ray cruised through the first two innings striking out five of the seven batters he faced. Ray had a 10 pitch second inning where he struck out the side. Wilmington did get to Ray in the third. With two outs and no one on, Whit Merrifield worked a walk then stole second. Geulin Beltre lined a single to center that scored Merrifild to give Wilmington a 1-0 lead.

Wilmington hurler Yordano Ventura was excellent for the Blue Rocks tossing four scoreless frames. The P-Nats got to him in the fifth. With two outs, Kevin Keyes stole second base. He then scored on a Blake Kelso single to tie the contest 1-1. Ventura did not get a decision pitching five innings striking out nine while allowing just one run on four hits and a walk.

Ray was very sharp as well as he struck out a season-high nine batters. He was relieved in the sixth inning by Rob Wort who got out of a two-on jam to keep the score tied 1-1.

The P-Nats took their first lead of the series in the seventh with Justin Bloxom smacking a double to left-center to start the frame. The next batter Kevin Keyes knocked in Bloxom on a single to centerfield and Potomac led 2-1.

But, for the first time this season with a lead late, the bullpen tandem of Wort and Cameron Selik could not close out a win with a lead after the seventh inning. In the eighth, Wort walked Brian Fletcher on four pitches to start the inning then Cheslor Cuthbert knocked a one-out single to put runners at the corners with one out. Selik replaced Wort and the first batter he faced was Roman Hernandez who hit a ground-rule double to left scoring Fletcher to even the score 2-2. Next up was Alex McClure who laced a single against a drawn in infield to center scoring both Cuthbert and Hernandez to give the Blue Rocks their first lead of the game 4-2.

Nick Rogers tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to preserve the win for Wilmington. It was just the second 1-2-3 inning for Potomac in the game. Rogers (1-0) struck out three over two innings. Wilmington as a team struck out 14 Nationals.

Wort (0-2) took the loss giving up his first earned run sine April 17th at Frederick. Selik blew a save for the first time in six chances this season.

The Nationals wrap up their series with Wilmington tomorrow at 11:05 AM with LHP Matt Grace (2-5, 7.34) getting the start for Potomac.

Hagerstown Suns, Low-A South Atlantic League

The Hagerstown Suns (24-18) and the Greensboro Grasshoppers (31-13) split their doubleheader on Tuesday night, with the Suns winning game one, 5-4, in ten innings and the Grasshoppers taking game two, 8-4, in seven innings at Municipal.

The Suns benefited from a walk off single off the wall by catcher Adrian Nieto in the tenth inning to complete a come-from-behind victory in the resumed portion of last night’s suspended game. It was Nieto’s second RBI hit of the game and it gave reliever Aaron Barrett (3-1) the win after suffering a blown save in the ninth. Greensboro’s Daniel Oliver took the loss.

In game two, Suns’ starter Brian Dupra suffered the loss as he was hit for eight runs in 1.2 innings pitched. Billy Burns went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and RBI, while Brett Newsome blasted his fifth home run of the season in the effort for Hagerstown. The Grasshoppers got a three-run homer from DH Matt Smith, followed by a grand slam from third baseman Josh Adams to pace their offense. James Nygren (2-1) earned the win out of the bullpen.

The Suns will conclude the series and home-stand during an RBC Wealth Management Education Day at Municipal Stadium on Wednesday morning at 10:35 a.m. when RHP Alex Meyer (2-3) makes the start for Hagerstown. LHP Charlie Lowell is scheduled to start the game for the Grasshoppers.

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, recovered from a walkoff loss with a 3-1 win over the Toledo Mud Hens on Monday afternoon. Corey Brown’s first-pitch home run gave the Chiefs an immediate lead, and five Syracuse pitchers combined to hold Toledo to just one run on four hits.For the second straight day, Brown opened the scoring for Syracuse (21-24) with a leadoff home run. The center fielder drilled Thad Weber’s first pitch over the right-center field wall, staking the Chiefs to an early 1-0 lead. Brown extended his team-leading total to nine home runs on the season.

The teams then traded zeroes through the end of the fifth inning, with Syracuse right-hander Tanner Roark matching Weber pitch for pitch. Roark tossed five scoreless innings to earn his third win of the season and extend a stellar streak. Over his last three appearances, the right-hander has thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings, lowering his ERA from 5.70 to 3.89 over the span.

In the sixth inning, the Chiefs added a pair of huge insurance runs. Josh Johnson laid down a bunt single on the first pitch of the frame, with Brown following with a bunt down the third base line. Third baseman Audy Ciriaco fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw sailed into the stands for a two-base error, putting runners on second and third with nobody out. Jarrett Hoffpauir then lined a sacrifice fly to center field, with Johnson scoring to extend the Syracuse lead to 2-0. Two batters later, Xavier Paul slammed a double into right field, scoring Brown for a third Chiefs run.

Toledo (23-22) scored its lone run in the seventh without the benefit of a hit. Ciriaco reached first base on a strikeout and dropped third strike against right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx, who departed after a Bryan Holaday groundout. Atahualpa Severino then entered and walked Quintin Berry to put runners on first and second, and a double steal moved runners to second and third. Justin Henry’s groundout to first base then scored Ciriaco, but Severino struck out Ryan Strieby to end the inning with no further damage.

Right-hander Rafael Martin tossed a scoreless eighth inning in just his second appearance in 12 games, and right-hander Hassan Pena cut down the Mud Hens in the ninth for his first save of the season.

Syracuse and Toledo will close out their series on Tuesday morning with another 10:30 start. The Chiefs will send right-hander Mitch Atkins to the mound against Mud Hens left-hander Andrew Oliver.

 

 

Monday night in Altoona the Senators offense struggled again in falling to Altoona 4-2. The Senators outhit Altoona, but couldn’t come up with the one big hit needed in the ballgame. Both teams committed costly errors in the game, with the Sens error directly costing them one, possibly two runs.

Altoona got on the board first, scoring a run in the second inning off Sens’ starter Jeff Mandel. Harrisburg tied the game in the second with Altoona committing two errors which allowed Tim Pahuta to score the tying run.

The game stayed 1-1 into the bottom of the sixth when the Curve loaded the bases with one out. Tony Sanchez hit a potential double-play ball to Manny Mayorson but the ball went through his legs for an error and allowed two runs to score giving Altoona a 3-1 lead.

They stretched the lead to 4-1 in the eighth when Matt Curry doubled in Jarek Cunningham off Hector Nelo. Harrisburg scored a run in the ninth when Jose Lozada tripled to start the inning then scored on a two-out single by Eury Perez. Lozada had three hits in the game.

The Senators had an opportunity to get back in the game in the seventh inning when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Jeff Kobernus bounced into an inning ending fielder’s choice.

Harrisburg falls to 23-20 with the loss while Altoona wins for the seventh straight game and improves to 20-22. Tuesday night LH Danny Rosenbaum is on the mound for the Senators against RH Phil Irwin for Altoona.

Potomac Nationals, High A Carolina League (18-23)

Behind a stellar start from Greg Billo, the Wilmington Blue Rocks shut out the Potomac Nationals 7-0 at Frawley Stadium on Monday Night. The Blue Rocks held the Nationals to just two-hits in their first meeting of the season in Delaware.

Against P-Nats starter Matt Swynenberg, Wilmington opened the scoring in the third inning. Juan Graterol led off the inning with a double and scored on a Whit Merrifield double to give the Rocks a 1-0 lead. Brian Fletcher knocked in Merrifield to increase the lead to 2-0 for Wilmington.

In the fifth, Wilmington blew the game open with four runs. With one out, Randolph Oduber misplayed a Merrfild line drive into a two-base error and the flood gates opened. Angel Franco hit a triple down the first base line scoring Merrifield increasing the lead to 3-0. Fletcher, Brett Eibner and Cheslor Cuthbert followed with hits and the Blue Rocks opened the lead to 6-0. Swynenberg (3-2) left the game after a double from Cuthbert giving up six runs over four and a third innings. He tied his season high with six strikeouts.

The Blue Rocks added another run in the sixth on a Graterol solo home run to lead off the inning. The first homer of the season for Graterol increased the Wilmington advantage to 7-0.

Blue Rocks starter Greg Billo was dominant from the start. He gave up just three base runners: two hits — one to Ricky Hague and one to Michael Taylor while also walking Taylor. Just two times, Taylor in the second and also in the fifth, Potomac was able to advance a player to second. Billo (4-3) got his second win of the year against Potomac in two starts. Billo along with reliever Leondy Perez were able to retire the final 15 Nationals.

Tuesday is game two of the series as Potomac will send LHP Robbie Ray (1-1, 11.25) to the hill for a 6:35 start. The P-Nats return home Monday to face the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Hagerstown Suns, Low-A South Atlantic League (23-17)

The Hagerstown Suns (23-17) and the Greensboro Grasshoppers (30-12) game on Monday evening at Municipal Stadium has been suspended due to inclement weather. The game was halted by the umpires in the top of the second inning with Greensboro leading, 1-0.

The Suns and Grasshoppers will complete the nine-inning suspended game as part of a doubleheader scheduled for Tuesday, May 22, at 5:05 p.m. Game two, the originally scheduled game for Tuesday, will begin approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one and will be played as a seven-inning game.

Tickets for Monday night’s suspended game will be honored for both games of Tuesday’s doubleheader, or may be exchanged for any future Suns’ regular season home game.

 

 

In the first inning, Bowie had an opportunity to score the first run for the third time in the series, when Steven Bumbry started the game with a double to right-field. After a sacrifice bunt moved Bumbry to third with one out, Demny retired the next two Baysox hitters he faced without allowing Bumbry to score.

Matching Demny through the first three innings was his counterpart, Bowie starter Bobby Bundy. Bundy retired the first ten, and eleven of the twelve that he faced. However, with Jose Lozada aboard in the fourth inning with the Sens’ first hit of the game, Tim Pahuta gave Harrisburg its first lead of the series, slugging a two-run home-run into the right-field bullpen.

Pahuta’s at-bat was followed by Destin Hood reaching base after being hit on an 0-2 offering from Bundy. The next hitter was Chris Rahl, and he too hit a two-run homer to right-field.

That was all the run support Demny would need. The East Bernard, Texas-native exited scattered two hits, and three walks on way to throwing eight scoreless frames. In the ninth, Garcia allowed the first two to reach, before striking out Manny Machado and then getting a double-play ground-out to end the game.

Next for Harrisburg is a four-game series in Altoona, beginning Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. RH Jeff Mandel takes the mound for Harrisburg against LH Nathan Baker for the Curve.

Potomac Nationals, High-A Carolina League

The Potomac Nationals scored three runs in the first inning in a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Mudcats Sunday afternoon at Pfitzner Stadium. In a spot start, Ryan Demmin tossed four scoreless innings for the P-Nats.

Potomac started their scoring in the first against Carolina for the second straight day. Francisco Soriano walked against Mudcats starter LHP Mike Rayl with one out. Soriano stole second then third and scored on a throwing error by Carolina catcher Dwight Childs when advancing to third to give the P-Nats a 1-0 lead. Justin Bloxom knocked a solo homer over the left field fence to increase the Nats lead to 2-0. It was his fifth blast of the season. Michael Taylor doubled to right-center field and scored on a two-out single by Randolph Oduber to increase the Nationals lead to 3-0.

The Nationals added another run in the fourth on a solo homer by Oduber — his fifth blast of the year. The shot out to left extended the P-Nats lead to 4-0. Rayl (3-5) ended his day tossing six innings with four runs and six hits against.

Demmin made his second spot start of the year for the Nationals and evaded trouble through four scoreless innings. He allowed runners in each inning but used a season-high five strikeouts to not allow a run.

The Mudcats would touch up the Nationals bullpen for two runs. Ronny Rodriguez hit a solo home run off of Shane McCatty to lead off the sixth to cut the lead to 4-1. Carolina added another tally on an unearned run in the seventh against Joe Testa to get within 4-2 of Potomac.

But Neil Holland shut the door on any Carolina comeback with two scoreless innings for the save. Holland got his first save of the season by retiring six of the seven batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings.

McCatty (1-0) was the first reliever out of the bullpen replacing Demmin and picked up his first win of the season.

Monday the Nationals start a six-game road trip in Wilmington for their first trip to Delaware of the season to face the Blue Rocks. Matt Swynenberg (3-1, 3.95) gets the start for the P-Nats with the contest set to start at 6:35.

Hagerstown Suns, Low-A South Atlantic League

The Hagerstown Suns (23-17) split their four game series with the Delmarva Shorebirds(20-22) after a 3-1 loss at Municipal Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Shorebirds starting pitcher Dylan Bundy (1-0) earned his first professional win, delivering four perfect innings against the Suns to begin the outing. Bundy went on to pitch five scoreless, allowing one hit, no walks and four strike outs. Reliever David Baker picked up his first save of the season.

Delmarva shortstop Mychal Givens went 2-for-4 with an RBI while right fielder Brenden Webb was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Defensively, Webb robbed J.P. Ramirez of a home run with a leaping catch in right field in the second inning.

Suns starter Kylin Turnbull (1-3) suffered the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits over five innings of work. Third baseman Matt Skole broke up Bundy’s perfect game with a double to lead off the fifth inning. Right fielder Steven Souza drove in the Suns’ lone run with a sacrifice fly.

The Suns will now begin a three game series with the first place Greensboro Grasshoppers at Municipal Stadium on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. Righty Nathan Karns (1-0) will start for the Suns.