Eight-Run Seventh Sinks the Suns

July 22, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release

The Asheville Tourists (16-11, ) scored eight times in the bottom of the seventh inning en route to defeating the Hagerstown Suns (10-17) by a score of 13-4 on Thursday.

The Suns, for the third time in the series, scored first with a run on three hits in the top of the third inning. Unfortunately, for the third time of the series, the lead did not hold up for Hagerstown.

Asheville scored once off Suns starter Graham Hicks (1-3) in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1.

Hagerstown responded well, notching a run in the top of the fifth inning against Asheville starter Jonathan Vargas (3-7), but again the Tourists responded quickly.

In the bottom of the fifth, Hicks allowed two runs on three hits before being replaced with one out in the inning by Wanel Vasquez.

After Vasquez worked a scoreless sixth, the Tourists bats came to life in the bottom of the seventh. Vasquez allowed three consecutive hits to start off the inning before being replaced by Kyle Morrison.

Morrison retired the first batter he faced, but Suns third baseman Steven King committed an error on the next ball put in play to extend the inning and the Tourists took advantage.

Seven more Asheville hitters came to the plate after the error, and when the dust settled the Tourists had scored eight runs on six hits, one walk, one hit by pitch and the error by King to take an 11-3 lead.

Suns DH JP Ramirez did hit a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning, but it was for naught as Asheville got a home run of their own from Nolan Arenado in the bottom of the eighth en route to two more runs and a 13-4 advantage.

Hicks took the loss after allowing three runs in four and one third innings of work. The lefty allowed five hits and five walks while striking out two.

Vargas earned the win for Asheville by tossing five innings and allowing just two runs.

Coty Woods pitched the final four innings of the game, surrendered just two runs and earned the save in his Asheville debut.

The Suns and Tourists will play the final game of their four-game series on Friday at 7:05 pm.

• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...

South Atlantic League Stories from July 22, 2010

• Power Win In 15 - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Power Outlast Gnats 7-6 in 15 Innings Thursday - Savannah Sand Gnats
• 'Dads Rally in Eighth to Beat Shorebirds, 7-5 - Hickory Crawdads
• Late Runs Doom Shorebirds in 7-5 Defeat - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Claws Bats Break out of Slump, Clobber Charleston 10-1 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Early Runs Sink Braves - Rome Emperors
• Eight-Run Seventh Sinks the Suns - Hagerstown Suns
• Clark Gets Record-Breaking Save as Legends Win 3-2 - Lexington Legends
• Salute to Cleveland Sports History This Saturday - SAL1
• GreenJackets Bats Stifled in 8-1 Setback - Augusta GreenJackets
• Lakewood Washes Charleston, 10-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
• Pitching Keys Drive's Victory Over Kannapolis Again - Greenville Drive
• Late Hit Sinks Intimidators 3-1 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Heredia Activated from DL, Shive Transferred to Staten Island - Charleston RiverDogs
• Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, July 22 at West Virginia 7:05 - Savannah Sand Gnats
• Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Goonies Appreciation Night with Chunk Next Thursday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Drive's "Green Day" to Celebrate Greenville's Birthday - Greenville Drive
• Helton Not Coming To Asheville - Asheville Tourists

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Hagerstown Suns Stories

• 2020 Season Shutout
• Suns Release 2020 Promotional Schedule
• World Series Club Brimming with Suns
• Yoos Wins Trainer of the Year
• Suns Drop Final Game 10-5