Suns Beat Fireflies for Sellout Crowd, 3-2

June 1, 2017 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - South Atlantic League home run leader Daniel Johnson put the Suns (32-21) ahead for good with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third and a huge crowd at Municipal Stadium urged Hagerstown to a 3-2 win over the Columbia Fireflies (27-24) on Thursday night.

A sellout crowd of 6,217 packed into the 87-year-old ballpark for Tim Tebow's first visit to Hagerstown. The 29-year-old Fireflies left fielder, playing his first full season of professional baseball, finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles.

Columbia took a 2-0 in the third after Tebow scored on a two-run homer by Desmond Lindsay, but the Suns rallied for three runs in the bottom of the frame. Blake Perkins pulled a double to right field, scoring Telmito Agustin from second base, and Johnson followed two batters later with his eleventh home run of the year.

Johnson tallied the only multi-hit game for the Suns, finishing 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. Columbia starter Gary Cornish (Loss, 0-1) struck out six Suns, but the three-run third inning cost him a win in his season debut.

In the fourth inning, Johnson made a dazzling defensive play. Fireflies cleanup hitter Dash Winningham tried to stretch his single into a double, but the gifted right fielder grabbed the ball off the wall with his bare hand and threw a strike to second base, where shortstop Paul Panaccione applied the tag.

A pair of Hagerstown pitchers named Mills combined for nine innings. Starter McKenzie Mills (Win, 5-2) picked up his team-leading fifth victory of the season after striking out five 'Flies in six innings and Jordan Mills (Save, 4) allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings. The relief ace worked around a hit-by-pitch and a passed ball in the top of the ninth to strand the tying runner at second base.

The four-game series in downtown Hagerstown continues on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Right-handed starter James Bourque (1-3, 4.87) goes to the mound first against the Fireflies. The Suns are expecting record-breaking crowds throughout the weekend. VIP seats are sold out for the series and only a few reserved seats and general admission tickets are still available.

The Suns recommend buying tickets online and printing them at home through HagerstownSuns.com . Any ticket holders using Municipal Stadium Will Call are encouraged to pick up their tickets before noon on the day of the game.

South Atlantic League Stories from June 1, 2017

• Suns Beat Fireflies for Sellout Crowd, 3-2 - Hagerstown Suns
• Augusta Blanks Legends 4-0 - Lexington Legends
• Beer City Beats Lakewood 8-5 - Asheville Tourists
• Rome Upend West Virginia, 5-4 - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Late Rally Propels Rome Past West Virginia - Rome Emperors
• Two Claws Homers Not Enough; Tourists Top Claws 8-5 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• 'Birds Back Wells Early over Crawdads - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Drive Take Down RiverDogs 3-2 in Series - Greenville Drive
• RiverDogs Let One Slip Late in Greenville - Charleston RiverDogs
• Lindsay Homers in Loss to Hagerstown - Columbia Fireflies
• Adolfo Homers as I's Bounce the Hoppers - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Adolfo Named White Sox Minor League Player of the Month - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Historic "Hatfield and McCoy Feud" Comes to Baseball - Lexington Legends
• Fireflies Game Notes: June 1 at Hagerstown (Game 51) - Columbia Fireflies

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Hagerstown Suns Stories

• 2020 Season Shutout
• Suns Release 2020 Promotional Schedule
• World Series Club Brimming with Suns
• Yoos Wins Trainer of the Year
• Suns Drop Final Game 10-5