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SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Hagerstown Suns Game Notes

April 6, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


Last Night... The Suns fell to the Braves 5-2 on Thursday night, losing the season opener for the fourth-straight season dating back to 2015. Juan Soto provided a quick start for Hagerstown, driving a two-run shot in the first inning to give the Suns the lead. Rome answered back in the second inning against Hagerstown starter Brigham Hill (0-1), scoring three runs to take the lead. The trio of scores were all the Braves needed to secure the game behind a tremendous effort out of their bullpen, who went a combined 4.2 innings while holding the Hagerstown lineup to three hits without allowing a walk. Hagerstown struck out 12 times on Thursday as well, but Armond Upshaw produced out of the nine-hole by going 2-for-3 in his SAL debut.

Soto, Soto, Soto... Juan Soto is the highest ranked prospect on the Suns, regardless of publication, and for good reason. His homer on Thursday provided him with at least one hit in consecutive opening days, as he went 2-for-4 against Asheville in the opener in 2017. Against Rome, Soto is now 2-for-7 with both hits going for extra bases (one double and the homer) to go along with three RBIs, and two runs scored. Including last night, he's 7-for-19 (.368) in opening series in his career (Includ- ing 1 game in 2016 with GCL Nats, since they don't play full series) with a home run, four runs scored, three RBI, a walk, and two strikeouts.

The Roster... The 2018 Hagerstown Suns roster was released on Wednesday, and includes 11 returners from the 2017 season. Headlining this season's squad is Juan Soto, who ended up missing most of 2017 due to injury. Soto is the only top-100 prospect on the roster, but is accompanied by nine other ranked Nationals farmhands. In elders Luis Garcia and Yasel Antuna both are top-10 in the Nats system and hit over .300 with the GCL Nationals last season, and the teenagers jump to Class-A to start 2017. Brigham Hill, who is the opening day starter, is #17 on Baseball America's list while tomorrow's starter, Nick Raquet, is #16 on MLB.com and #21 on Baseball America's list.

About the Opponents... The Suns are 0-1 against the Braves in 2018 after the loss last night. Hagerstown and Rome faced each other six times in 2017, with the series split 3-3 at the end of the year. Sheldon Neuse hit the best in the season series, carrying a .364 average through the six games played, but the Suns mustered just one homer thanks to Daniel Johnson. Juan Yepez played in all six games of the series prior to being traded to the Cardinals, and he hit .308 while tying for the team- lead in RBIs against Hagerstown with four. Lucas Herbert played in ve games against Hagerstown, also logging a .308 average with two home runs and three RBIs. Tyler Watson gave the Suns their best start against the Braves, with Watson earning a win after tossing six-innings of four-hit ball without allowing a run and striking out eight. Hagerstown hasn't lost a season series to Rome since 2009, going 33-17 over that run and even swept the Braves in 2011. Since 2007 the Suns lead the season series 34-24, and the two teams did not play each other in the 2007 season. The Suns faced Rome on opening day for the third time since becoming a Nationals Af liate (2007). Hagerstown is 2-1 in those games with two games on the road and one played back at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown.

Tonight's Starter: RHP Nick Raquet takes the mound for the Suns in the second game of the season. Raquet (pronounced ruh-KAY) is currently ranked Baseball America's #21 National's prospect and MLB Pipeline's 16th. The righty spent his rst season in professional baseball (2017) mostly with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League, with one start coming at the GCL level prior to his call-up. He was a third-round pick out of William & Mary after his redshirt sophomore campaign, and transferred after one season with the University of North Carolina where he earned one win and made 12 appearances as a freshman. He sat out one season before regaining eligibility for the 2017 season. In addition, he also played in two collegiate summer leagues: the Cal Ripken League where he posted a 1.23 ERA and the Northwoods League where he had a 2.23 ERA. Raquet has never faced the Rome Braves or a Braves Af liate.

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