SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Four-Run First Does in Suns in 5-3 Loss

Published on May 2, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (10-12) couldn't overcome a four-run first inning by the Greeenville Drive (13-10) on Saturday night, as the Suns fell by a final score of 5-3. The Suns are now 2-7 this season when allowing the first run in the ballgame.

The four-run first inning for Greenville began with two singles sandwiching a walk to load the bases with no one out. With RF Nick Longhi at the plate, Hagerstown starter RHP Jefry Rodriguez (0-1) then delivered a wild pitch, which allowed the first run of the inning to cross the plate and all runners to advance. Longhi wound up striking out, but the next batter, DH Rafael Devers, put the ball in play on a groundout to first. That allowed 1B Francisco Tellez to score from third and make it 2-0. Back-to-back singles followed, which wound up driving in the final two runs of the frame and giving Greenville a lead it would not relinquish.

The Suns did respond with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Right fielder Alec Keller led off the frame with a triple, his first of the season and the team's fourth of the year. Center fielder Dale Carey then brought him home with a double to left. Catcher Raudy Read made it three hits in a row with a single to left, driving in Carey from second to make it 4-2.

The score remained 4-2 until the fourth, when the Drive plated what wound up being its final run of the game. With two outs catcher Ben Moore smacked a fly ball to left, which LF Cody Dent lost in the lights. The ball wound up bouncing off the warning track up against the wall, and Moore was able to coast into third with a triple. Longhi then brought him home with a bunt ground ball single to third to make it 5-2.

Hagerstown again cut its deficit to two in the fifth. With a runner on first and one out, Read hit a ground ball to third. Third baseman Michael Chavis fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw to first was dropped by Tellez. That allowed both runners to get into scoring position. Designated hitter Jose Marmolejos then grounded out to second, bringing Carey home from third to set the final score.

It was Rodriguez who allowed all four first-inning runs for Greenville, and thus he got tagged with the loss. Rodriguez went three innings, giving up six hits and three walks while striking out three. LHP Dedgar Jimenez (1-0) got the start and win for the Drive. He threw five innings in his season debut, surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out five. RHP Reed Reilly pitched the other four innings for Greenville to record his first save of the season.

These teams will continue their four-game series at Municipal Stadium on Sunday May 3. The Suns will send RHP Austen Williams (3-1) to the mound for his fifth start of the season. He will square off against RHP Jamie Callahan (0-2) for Greenville. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05pm.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 2, 2015


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