SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Rehabbing Chico Jump Starts Suns to Victory

Published on June 14, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


HAGERSTOWN, MD -- With all eyes on Matt Chico in the first Major League rehab appearance at Municipal Stadium this season, the rest of the Hagerstown Suns (29-30) played supporting cast to perfection on Sunday afternoon, complementing an excellent start by Chico in a 6-0 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds (32-27).

Chico pitched four innings of scoreless, two-hit ball for Hagerstown in his second start for the team as he looks to make his way back to the Washington Nationals following surgery on his left elbow. Chico made 31 starts for Washington as a rookie in 2007, compiling a 4.64 earned run average.

Sunday, the Suns staked Chico to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Jose Lozada led off with a single through the left side of the infield, and catcher Derek Norris shot a double off the wall in left centerfield for his South Atlantic League-leading 46th run batted in of the season. Norris moved to third on a wild pitch, and Suns manager Matt LeCroy showed some aggressiveness while coaching third base, sending Norris home to score on a shallow fly to left by first baseman Tyler Moore.

A triple by second baseman Steve Lombardozzi in the third inning sent Lozada home to score again, and Chico left the game after four innings with a 3-0 lead. Chico mastered the Shorebirds without striking out a batter, taking advantage of flawless defense by his temporary teammates to keep Delmarva off the scoreboard. Moore and third baseman Steven Souza each turned in diving stops at the corner infield positions, and Hagerstown turned its league-leading 62nd double play of the season.

Patrick McCoy (2-1) took over for Chico in the fifth and allowed just two hits over the remainder of the game to extended his scoreless streak to 14 and a third innings. McCoy lowered his earned-run average to 1.85, which leads the team.

The Suns gave McCoy some insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh when centerfielder Chris Curran shot a two-run single up the middle and Lombardozzi knocked in Curran for a 6-0 lead.

Having won the four-game series against Delmarva, Hagerstown travels to Lake County for three games in two days, starting with a doubleheader on Monday. The Suns will return to Municipal Stadium on June 16 to take on the first-place Lakewood BlueClaws, and the 7:05 p.m. game will be Wacky Wednesday at Municipal Stadium, with select 12 oz. domestic drafts selling for just $1.00 apiece.

The Hagerstown Suns play at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, MD and are a Class "A" affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Ticket packages and sponsorships are available by calling the Suns at 301-791-6266. Visit the Suns on the web at www.hagerstownsuns.com. The Suns are owned by Los Angeles based Mandalay Baseball Properties.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 14, 2009


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