SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Cole Deals Aces, Suns Trump Shorebirds in Shutout

August 13, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


Salisbury, MD- In the series finale, the Hagerstown Suns (65-52, 25-22) benefited from exquisite pitching from RHP A.J. Cole (4-6), the winning pitcher, to trump the Delmarva Shorebirds (52-66, 17-31) in a 2-0 shutout at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Saturday night. The Suns finish the 2011 campaign at (12-7) in their head-to-head matchups with the Shorebirds. Hagerstown garnered their 12th shutout victory of the '11 season, tied for the most in the South Atlantic League with the Savannah Sand Gnats. The final volume of the "SAL's Battle for Maryland" featured a combined two runs, six hits, and no errors, and with an ace in the hole for the Suns in the form of Cole's right arm. Hagerstown was able to take three of four from the 'birds to earn the series win.

Cole's gem was the best performance of his professional career. The number four overall prospect in the Washington Nationals system (Baseball America) went 5.0 scoreless innings and allowed just one base hit, a soft single into shallow center field off the bat of 1B Jacob Julius to begin the bottom of the 5th inning. Cole, 19, struck out nine and fanned the side in the 3rd inning, besting the cuts of SS Garabez Rosa, LF Riley Hornback, and RF Mikey Planeta. Cole walked just one, CF Brenden Webb in the 4th inning. Cole was perfect through 3.0 stanzas and took a no-hitter into the 5th inning.

The Suns jumped on the board with one run in the 1st inning as SS Blake Kelso lined an opposite field triple to the right center field gap with one out. 2B Adrian Sanchez wrapped an RBI groundout to Rosa at shortstop to score Kelso.

LHP Jarret Martin (5-9), the losing pitcher of record, was almost as good as Cole, but that run allowed in the opening frame would prove to be his undoing. Martin surrendered just that one earned run over his duration on three hits while walking one and fanning six batters.

Suns RHP Wilson Eusebio, in his most dominant relief outing of the season, mowed down nine in a row, from the 6th to the 8th inning. Eusebio gave up no hits, walked no one, and struck out a trio.

Both clubs remained in a stalemate until the 9th inning. The Suns tagged RHP Kyle Simon for one run in the 9th stanza in his Shorebirds debut on an RBI double scorched to the right center field valley off the lumber of RF Kevin Keyes to score Kelso, who drew a leadoff walk.

Hagerstown RHP Dean Weaver (2 SV) earned his second save of the series and the season by tossing a scoreless 9th frame. Weaver fanned Planeta on an inside fastball, 2B Michael Mooney popped out to C Adrian Nieto in foul ground to the left of the batter's circle, and Webb struck a hard skip shot on one hop to Sanchez at second base to end the contest and the season series, giving Hagerstown the set victory after the Suns won three in a row.

The series opener in Hagerstown, Maryland at Municipal Stadium with the visiting Lexington Legends of the Houston Astros farm system will feature a Sunday afternoon 4:05pm first pitch to begin a four game homestand. Wall-to-wall radio broadcast coverage will begin with a 3:50pm Break Away 2 Sports Lounge Pre-game Show on WJEJ AM 1240. The pitching matchup will bring Suns LHP Ryan Demmin (2-2, 2.28) against Legends RHP Carlos Quevedo (7-4, 3.93).

The Hagerstown Suns play at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, MD and are a Class "A" affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Season ticket packages, group outings, and corporate 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 Hagerstown Baseball, LLC.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 13, 2011


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