SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns bow out in 13-inning thriller

August 15, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


COLUMBUS, GA -The Hagerstown Suns (21-33) and the Columbus Catfish (29-21) needed four extra innings to decide the first game of their four game series on Friday, August 15th. In the end, a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the 13th inning gave Columbus a 3-2 win.

Columbus opened the scoring with two runs, one earned, in the bottom of the second inning against Suns' starter Brad Meyer. Meyers settled down from there, and did not allow another run in his five innings of work, while striking out five hitters.

The Suns got on the board in the top of the fifth inning, as Garrett Bass singled and eventually scored on a ground out by Mark Gildea.

Hagerstown tied the game in the sixth inning as Jose Lozada reached on an error and was driven in by Travis Reagan's infield single.

The score stayed tied through the ninth inning as reliever Dan Leatherman was superb in relief for the Suns. Leatherman ended up tossing four shut-out innings, allowing three hits and striking out two.

Things got a bit rocky for Leatherman in the bottom of the ninth as a lead-off double by Quinn Stewart was followed by a sacrifice bunt by Chase Fontain. Leatherman fielded the bunt and opted to throw to third but Stewart slid in safely, putting the winning run 90 feet away.

After Leatherman intentionally walked a batter to load the bases, the righthander from Frederick, MD managed to get the next three batters out on a groundball that second baseman Blake Stouffer threw home in time to get Stewart, a strikeout and a lazy fly ball to left field.

Justin Phillabaum relieved Leatherman in the 10th inning and survived jams in the 11th and 12th innings, though the Suns offense failed to score on the Catfish bullpen.

After Columbus reliever Justin Garcia (3-5) retired the Suns in order in the top of the 13th inning, utility player Robert Jacobsen (0-1) came in to pitch for Hagerstown.

In the bottom of the 13th, Jacobsen surrendered a lead-off single and hit a batter before a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out. Omar Luna then laid down a suicide squeeze as Henry Wrigley came in to score from third base, giving the Catfish the victory.

Garcia picked up the win in relief.

The Suns and Catfish will play game two of their four game series on Saturday, August 16 at 7:00 P.M.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 15, 2008


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