Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes

July 29, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release

The Suns aim to complete their first four-game sweep since June 26-29, 2017 in tonight's series finale vs the Columbia Fireflies at Segra Park at 7:05 p.m. RHP Tomas Alastre (3-10, 6.44 ERA) toes the rubber for Hagerstown, while Columbia opts to throw RHP Bryce Hutchinson (4-5, 3.44 ERA).

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LATE COMEBACK LEADS SUNS TO FIFTH STRAIGHT VICTORY: The Suns rallied late, scoring two runs in the seventh and two in the eighth, to extend their winning streak to five with a 5-3 victory over the Columbia Fireflies at Segra Park Sunday. Hagerstown (47-59, 17-19) trailed 3-1 heading into the seventh, but rallied for two runs to tie it. After Kyle Marinconz was hit by a pitch with one away, Phil Caulfield launched his third home run of the season to even the score. Cole Daily then started the eighth with a single, and Israel Pineda drove him home with a go-ahead RBI knock. The Suns later loaded the bases against Columbia (39-64, 15-22) reliever Cole Gordon (L, 1-1) and Trey Vickers drew a walk to force in another run. After taking the lead, Hagerstown went to Angel Guillen (S, 5) out of the bullpen, and the right-hander shut the door. Guillen tossed two scoreless innings with five strikeouts to lock down the victory and clinch the series for the Suns.All of Columbia's scoring in this one came in the first inning as the Fireflies offense jumped on Suns starter Jackson Stoeckinger. After back-to-back singles to start the attack, Walter Rasquin came home to score on an error that stemmed from a pickoff play at first base. Mark Vientos followed with an RBI double and then Chase Chambers delivered an RBI single to make it a 3-0 game.

DOWN, BUT NOT OUT: Last night, the Suns polished off a come-from-behind win for the second time in as many days. It is the first time the Suns have won back-to-back games where they trailed after four innings this season.

BROOM TIME?: If the Suns win tonight vs the Fireflies it would be their first four-game sweep since Hagerstown swept Delmarva June 26-29, 2017 at Perdue Stadium. The Suns have been swept in two, four-game series this year.

ALL I DO IS WIN-WIN: Joan Adon won his team-leading ninth game last night. The last Suns player to have 10 or more wins in a single season while donning a Suns uniform was McKenzie Mills, who accomplished the feat in 2017. Adon has now earned a win in three consecutive starts for the first time this season. The righty is tied with Rome's Alan Rangel for the second-most wins in the South Atlantic League this season, trailing just Osvaldo Bido , who has 11 for the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

IN THE VANN, AWAY FROM HOME: This season, Christian Vann has inherited 14 runners in 12 games. The 25th-round draftee has stranded all, but one of them (93%) on the basepaths. On average, Suns relievers strand 66% of inherited runners, the next-closest mark to Vann came from Aaron Fletcher, who stranded five of six inherited runners. Earlier this week, Fletcher, another lefty, made his Eastern-League debut with the Harrisburg Senators.

IRKING IRVIN: Jake Irvin's stellar second half continued last night. The Oklahaoma-product produced his third quality start in four appearances in the second half. His second half ERA is 3.23, compared to a 5.11 ERA in the first half of the season. His last start against Rome may have been his most effective start of the season. It was his seventh quality start of the season and he went six, shutout frames in his longest scoreless venture of the year. The righty also fanned six batters, the most he has had in a single game since June 30 vs Delmarva.

Sun Spots: Last night the Suns went 1-for-13 with RISP to drop this road trips average to .169 with runners threatening.

South Atlantic League Stories from July 29, 2019

• Corry Continues to Dominate, Jackets Beat Lexington 9-1 - Augusta GreenJackets
• 'Dogs Withstand 'Birds, Salvage Split - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Power Take Finale 4-3 over Braves in 10 Innings - Rome Emperors
• Heeeeeeerrrrre's Jhony, Brito Solid as RiverDogs Use Big Third to Finish Road Trip on a High Note - Charleston RiverDogs
• Legends Spoil No Hit Bid in Series Finale - Lexington Legends
• Parra Leads Tourists to Big Win in Hickory - Asheville Tourists
• Novoa Homers But 'Dads Fall - Hickory Crawdads
• Suns Sweep Fireflies in Four Games - Hagerstown Suns
• Columbia Closes out Homestand, Granadillo Records First Hit as Firefly - Columbia Fireflies
• Power to Host African American Heritage Night August 5 - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Bullpen Propels Power to Series Finale Win in Extras - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Bush and Schmidt Named Back-To-Back Pitchers of the Week - Asheville Tourists
• Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
• Pelletier Saves Games, Then Wins It - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• RiverDogs Go Nuts, Drop Helicopters Worth of Fun in Upcoming Homestand - Charleston RiverDogs
• Game Notes (July 29) - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Devin Sweet Provides Sour Afternoon for Rome - Rome Emperors

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