SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Late Rally Falls Short As Suns Lose Fourth Straight

Published on August 8, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (20-28) ended a 28-inning scoreless streak with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning and two more in the bottom of the ninth on Friday, but in the end the rally came up one run short as the Suns lost 4-3 to the Lakewood BlueClaws (31-17)

Lakewood started the scoring in the top of the third inning as two doubles and a walk led to two runs against Hagerstown starter Tom Milone (0-1). On the night, Milone allowed three runs, two earned in six innings of work as the lefthander took the loss.

It was the one unearned run against Milone that proved to be the difference in the game. Lakewood DH Michael Durant led off the top of the fourth inning with a double, two batters later catcher Luis Arzeno hit a one-out fly ball to centerfielder Mark Gildea. Durant tagged up from second base and Gildea's throw to third got away from the cutoff man, Jose Lozada allowing Durant to score.

Dan Leatherman took over for Milone in the seventh inning and promptly surrendered a run on two hits and a stolen base, pushing the score to 4-0 Lakewood.

For the first seven innings of the game, Lakewood's pitching staff kept the Suns off the scoreboard. After starter Vance Worley (2-1) pitched five scoreless, Zach Sterner came in and held the Suns in check in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Suns finally broke through on Sterner in the eighth as Jake Rogers led off with a walk and after reaching second base on a fielder's choice moved up on wild pitch and scored on an errant throw to third by Arzeno. The run was the first for the Suns in the three game series, and snapped a 28-inning scoreless streak.

The Suns made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth after reliever Justin Phillabaum retired the BlueClaws in order in the top half of the inning.

Tim Pahuta led off the final frame with a single and was driven in on a double by Sean Rooney. Rooney advanced to third on a fielder's choice and Stephen King walked before Garret Bass singled to left field, driving in Rooney and bringing the Suns to within one run. With one out, and the winning run on first base, Gildea hit a sharp grounder to the left side, but Lakewood's defensive wiz Freddy Galvis made a sliding back-handed grab to start a 6-4-3 double-play to end the threat.

The Suns and BlueClaws will play the finale of their four game series on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

The Hagerstown Suns play at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, MD and are a Class "A" affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Ticket packages and 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 Los Angeles based Mandalay Baseball Properties.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 8, 2008


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