SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Extra Inning Slugfest in Delmarva Won by Suns

Published on July 31, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


Salisbury, MD-The Hagerstown Suns (57-47, 17-17) went toe-to-toe in series game three, an extra inning slugfest with the Delmarva Shorebirds (37-36, 14-21) at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Saturday night. The Suns grinded out an 8-6 victory in ten innings, benefiting from two of four errors committed by the Shorebirds in the contest within the 10th inning.

Suns LHP Robbie Ray, who did not receive a decision, was solid through 3.0 scoreless innings in which he allowed two hits, walked a pair, and struck out four.

Ray's opposite number, RHP Scott Copeland motored through 6.0 innings and surrendered three earned runs on two hits, with five walks and four strikeouts.

Delmarva scored six runs through act two, plating two runs in the the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings off RHP Colin Bates in his Suns debut. With runners on second and third base in the 4th frame, CF Mikey Planeta knocked a groundball to 3B Justino Cuevas, who threw off line to home plate, allowing 1B Adam Gaylord, who singled to center field, to score. Then, as part of a double steal, Planeta got in a rundown between first and second base, and 2B Michael Rooney, who doubled up the left field line, darted to home plate giving the ‘birds a 2-0 lead.

In the 5th inning, with the bases loaded, SS Garabez Rosa deadened an infield RBI single up the third base line, brining home 3B Ty Kelly, who singled to center field, before Gaylord lofted an RBI sacrifice fly to right center field summoning home RF Jeremy Nowak, who double to the right field corner.

The Suns cranked out three runs on one big, bases clearing, three-RBI triple to the right center field alleyway waving home CF Chris Curran, C David Freitas, and DH Kevin Keyes to cut the Delmarva lead to 4-3.

Shorebirds RHP D.J. Ferguson gave up two runs in the 7th stanza on an opposite field triple off the stick of SS Blake Kelso that scored RF Wade Moore, who singled to center field. On the relay throw from Rosa in shallow right center field, the ball skipped into the home dugout, allowing Kelso to glide to the plate as well. The Suns trailed 6-5 after the 7th inning.

Hagerstown captured an additional run off LHP Ashur Tolliver to tie the game 6-6, in the 8th frame, on an RBI sacrifice fly by Cuevas to Planeta in center field, set up by a walk worked by Freitas, and a double off the stick of Keyes down the left field line.

Suns RHP Dean Weaver (2-1), the winning pitcher of record, spun 2.0 scoreless innings that featured two hits, two walks, and one strikeout.

In the top of the 10th inning, Hagerstown took the lead with two runs after feeding on a pair of errors committed by Delmarva. Cuevas was hit by a pitch from the losing pitcher, RHP Travis Strong (0-2), before advancing to second base on an errant throw from Strong on a pickoff attempt. LF Mills Rogers poked a single out to shallow right center field, and Nowak threw the ball into the third base dugout, bringing home Cuevas. Then RF Wade Moore ripped an RBI single threw a draw-in infield defense to give the Suns an 8-6 lead they would not relinquish.

Suns RHP Tyler Hanks (1 SV) silenced the Shorebirds in the last of the 10th frame with a one-two-three inning to earn his first save as a member of the Hagerstown Suns.

The series game four finale will feature a Sunday afternoon 5:05pm first pitch with the Delmarva Shorebirds owning a two games to one lead on the Hagerstown Suns. Wall-to-wall radio broadcast coverage will begin with a 4:50pm Break Away 2 Sports Lounge Pre-game Show on the Suns radio flagship station, WJEJ 1240 AM. The starting pitching matchup will feature LHP Matt Bywater (0-1, 7.00) verses a Suns starter to be determined.

Check out the Hagerstown Suns Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from July 31, 2011


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.

OurSports Central