SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

All-Star pitchers to face off for first half championship

Published on June 24, 2005 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


The Hagerstown Suns will try to punch their ticket to the 2005 South Atlantic League playoffs this Saturday in the first half championship game against the Lexington Legends at 7:05 at Municipal Stadium.

The game will feature a duel between two of the best pitchers in the league, Gabriel Hernandez and Troy Patton. Patton, a flame-throwing left-hander, leads the league in ERA (1.45) and strikeouts (89) while Hernandez is seventh in ERA (2.32) and fourth in strikeouts (81).

Lexington and Hagerstown finished the first half of the regular season with identical 42-28 records creating the need for a one game playoff to decide who wins the automatic berth to the postseason.

In their 12 previous meetings the teams have been extremely evenly matched with each squad winning six contests and the Legends scoring just three more runs than the Suns.

Patton is 1-1 in three starts versus Hagerstown, but pitched masterfully in his last visit to Municipal Stadium. In that game, the former 9th round draft pick struck out a season high 12 batters and did not allow a single run.

In his last start against the Suns, Patton was bested by Hernandez in his only loss of the season. The five runs he surrendered remain the only runs he's allowed in his last 41 innings pitched.

For the Suns, Hernandez is making his first start after a brilliant complete game no-hitter against West Virginia last Sunday. The 19-year-old Floridian is 1-0 against Patton and the Legends, allowing just four earned runs in his three starts.

Despite both hurlers' dominance this season, something will have to give on Saturday. Hernandez is a perfect 4-0 at home with hitters batting just .138 against him and Patton is one of the best road warriors in the league with a 0.94 ERA in seven road starts and a 5-0 record.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 24, 2005


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