SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

See-saw Battle in Delmarva Tilts to Shorebirds

Published on July 29, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


Salisbury, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (56-47, 16-17) engaged in a contentious struggle on Friday night with the Delmarva Shorebirds (37-35, 14-20) at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, resulting in an 8-7 victory for the ‘birds. The see-saw battle featured a bevy of lead changes and the end result was 15 runs and 13 base hits. Delmarva holds the series advantage with wins to Hagerstown's none.

The Suns leaped on the board with a three-run home run from RF Kevin Keyes, his tenth of the season, over both tiers of signage in left field in the 1st inning off LHP Tim Berry, who did not factor into the decision.

Berry's only hit allowed was that three-run shot to Keyes, while motoring through 5.0 innings and giving up two walks and striking out six.

Delmarva got two runs in the 3rd inning on a two-run missile from C Joe Oliveira over the left center field wall. The long-ball was Oliveira's first deep fly of the season.

Suns LHP Ryan Demmin did not get a decision after allowing three runs, two earned, on three base hits in 4.2 innings.

The Shorebirds captured their first tie of the game on a controversial call in the 5th frame when DH Michael Ohlman lofted a pop fly up the right field line and although it appeared Keyes dropped the ball on a bucket catch attempt in foul ground, it was ruled that Keyes was indeed in the field of play and it went for an error, allowing 3B Ty Kelly, who walked, to score.

The Suns struck back with a run in the 6th stanza off LHP Cameron Roth as DH David Freitas smoked a line drive passed Kelly at third base to score 2B Adrian Sanchez, as part of a four RBI night at the plate to jump on top 4-3.

Delmarva garnered their second tie of the contest in the 7th inning on a bloop RBI single that was trapped by Keyes in right field to score LF Jeremy Nowak, who singled to right field to get aboard.

Freitas slugged the Suns back in the driver's seat with his twelfth homer of the 2011 campaign cranked over everything in left center field with two runners aboard off RHP Randy Henry (4-0), the eventual winning pitcher. The three-run four-bagger plated 3B Blake Kelso, who drew a leadoff walk, and Sanchez, who got to first base on an error by Roth on a scoop attempt of a bunt.

With the Suns leading 7-4 in the bottom of the 8th inning, Delmarva brought eight men to the plate against RHP Wilson Eusebio (0-6), the losing pitcher, to take an 8-7 lead they would not relinquish. Eusebio walked 2B Michael Rooney, CF Mikey Planeta singled to center field, and 1B Riley Hornback was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Then, Oliveira lofted a fly ball to deep right field that Michael Taylor, who transitioned to right field from center field to begin the frame, misplayed allowing the ball to drop and spin passed him, scoring Rooney and Planeta. Next, Kelly

ripped a spinning low liner to SS Jason Martinson, who could not handle the ball's english, having the ball hit off his glove and into left center field. Hornback and Oliveira touched home to give the Shorebirds flock their lead.

For the second consecutive game, RHP David Walters (25 SV) earned the save as the fireman, his 25th of the season, with a one-two-three top of the 9th frame.

Game Three will feature a 7:05pm first pitch as the front leg of an eight-game road trip continues with the Delmarva Shorebirds hosting the Hagerstown Suns on Saturday night. Wall-to-wall radio broadcast coverage will begin with a 6:50pm Break Away 2 Sports Lounge Pre-game Show on the Suns radio flagship station, WJEJ 1240 AM. The starting pitching matchup will feature RHP Scott Copeland (5-9, 6.71) tossing against LHP Robbie Ray (2-1, 2.00).

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 29, 2011


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