Maya twirls gem for Syracuse; Cole earns honor in Potomac

Potomac Nationals right-hander A.J. Cole has been named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 29-May 5, 2013. Cole notched his first win of the season this week, going six innings with a season-high nine strikeouts. He allowed only four singles, no earned runs and walked none. The 21-year old returned to the Nationals from the Oakland A's in the tree-way trade with Seattle that sent outfielder Michael Morse to the Mariners. Cole is now 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in six starts with 34 strikeouts and six walks. * Veteran right-hander Yunesky Maya twirled a gem Monday in Triple-A Syracuse's 5-0 victory over Durham. Maya had career-high nine strikeouts, going 7 2/3 innings, scattering six hits and allowing no runs. He had only one walk for his first win of the season. Maya is 1-3 with a 5.89 ERA in six starts with 27 strikeouts and 12 walks. It was a nice turnaround for Maya, who had allowed at least five earned runs in four consecutive starts from April 14 to April 30. * Altoona edged Double-A Harrisburg 3-2, with Brian Broderick (1-3) allowing only three runs. Catcher Sandy Leon had two hits, the only hits for the Senators. * Low Single-A Hagerstown plays a doubleheader today against Rome. High Single-A Potomac is at Wilmington.