SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Independence Day Walk-Off Win for BlueClaws

Published on July 4, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


Lakewood, NJ- On Independence Day at FirstEnergy Park, the Hagerstown Suns (47-35, 7-5) were downed in the bottom of the 9th inning by the Lakewood BlueClaws (40-40, 7-5) 3-2 on a long RBI shot to left center field off the bat of 3B Travis Mattair to send the home team to a walk-off triumph.

Suns RHP Taylor Jordan, who did not factor into the decision, was gunning for his ninth win of the season, and tossed 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, while walking two and fanning five.

Philadelphia Phillies RHP Brad Lidge, on a rehabilitation appearance with the BlueClaws, threw the first inning for Lakewood, and despite allowing back-to-back singles to DH Blake Kelso and 2B Adrian Sanchez, did not allow a run, while walking no one.

LHP Jessie Biddle piggybacked the start by Lidge and went 4.0 frames in which he allowed just one earned run on three hits, amidst surrendering five base-on-balls and striking out four.

The Suns tallied first with an RBI single from SS Jason Martinson, a looping line drive into left center field in the 3rd inning to plate the single of Sanchez.

Lakewood answered with two runs in the bottom half of the 3rd when 2B Carlos Perdomo singled the other way into right field with one out, LF Geancarlo Mendez ripped a single into left field, and CF Zach Collier knocked a seeing eye single that scooted through the right side of the infield to score Perdomo. 1B Jim Murphy would drill home Mendez on a hard grounder through the left side of the infeld.

The Suns tallied once in the 7th inning as Kelso punched a line drive single into right field before stealing second base. As Kelso glided cleat-first into the second base bag and the throw from Lakewood C Cameron Rupp ricocheted off the spike of Kelso into shallow left field. Kelso rounded third base and slid into home plate ahead of the throw from Mendez in left field.

BlueClaws RHP Juan Sosa relieved LHP Jay Johnson in the 9th inning and he intentionally walked C David Freitas to load the bases, producing a force out at any base, before inducing a flyout off the stick of RF Kevin Keyes to end the threat.

Suns RHP Wilson Eusebio, who pitched a scoreless 8th inning, with one out, gave up a double to Collier roped up the right field line, then intentionally walked Murphy, before unintentionally walking RF Domingo Santana. DH Anthony Hewitt was called out on strikes on an inside slider. Then, Mattair, with the bases loaded and two outs, hit a high, towering shot into deep left center field that caromed off a railing and fell to the playing field scoring the winning run in Collier. Originally, labeled a grand slam, a scoring change provided the fact that the ball fell back to the field surface and was not indeed a home run, thus making Mattair's walk-off hit an RBI single.

The Suns will be hosted by the BlueClaws for a 7:05pm first pitch on Tuesday night for game two. MiLB.com's broadcast coverage of the Hagerstown Suns Baseball Network will provide wall-to-wall coverage beginning with a 6:50pm Break Away 2 Sports Lounge Pre-game Show. The Suns will bring LHP Paul Applebee (5-2, 4.53) to face Lakewood RHP Garett Claypool (3-3, 3.16).

The Hagerstown Suns play at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, MD and are a Class "A" affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Season ticket packages, group outings, and corporate sponsorships are available by calling the Suns at 301-791-6266. Visit the Suns on the web at www.hagerstownsuns.com. The Suns are owned by Hagerstown Baseball, LLC.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 4, 2011


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