SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns Down BlueClaws in the Ninth

Published on July 1, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


For the third consecutive night, the game between the Hagerstown Suns (3-5, 39-39) and the Lakewood BlueClaws (5-2, 47-30) came down to the ninth inning. Unlike the first two games, however, it was Hagerstown scoring last and taking a 6-4 victory on Thursday.

The Suns once again got on the board first, as Jeff Kobernus singled to lead off the game. With Kobernus running on the pitch, shortstop Francisco Soriano grounded out to third base. Kobernus never slowed down and attempted to reach third, and first baseman Jonathan Singleton's throw back across the diamond went into the stands, allowing Kobernus to score.

The 1-0 lead did not last, however, as Jonathan Villar led off the bottom of the first with a triple to right-center field and scored on a ground out two batters later, tying the game.

A crazy sixth inning, led to Lakewood taking a 2-1 lead. Jiwan James singled to lead off the frame. Suns starter Graham Hicks then appeared to have James picked off of first base, but Soriano dropped a throw on the ensuing rundown, allowing James to reach second base.

With Hicks holding the ball on the mound, James broke for third and the Suns starter threw the ball away, the second error of the inning, plating James and giving Lakewood a 2-1 lead.

Hagerstown responded with three runs in the top of the seventh. Kobernus led off with a single, Soriano followed with a walk and Justin Bloxom's one-out single to right field brought in Kobernus and sent Soriano to third base. Soriano then scored on an RBI fielder's choice from JP Ramirez, giving Hagerstown a 4-2 lead.

Once again, Lakewood responded quickly. A two-out walk issued by Suns reliever Wanel Vasquez to Stephen Batts brought Villar to the plate as the tying run. Villar then hit a fastball down the middle over the right-field fence tying the game at 4-4.

The score remained knotted until the top of the ninth inning. Facing Lakewood closer Jordan Ellis (3-3), Bloxom was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Destin Hood reached on an error by third baseman Adam Buschini. DH Brett Newsome followed with a two-RBI double to center field, giving the Suns a 6-4 lead.

Patrick Arnold (2-2), who had already worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning for Hagerstown, struck out two batters without allowing a run in the ninth to finish the game.

Arnold earned the win with his two innings of work. The right-hander took over from Vasquez who allowed two runs in his one inning of work. Suns starter Graham Hicks worked the first six innings for Hagerstown and allowed just two runs, with only one earned, while striking out three.

Jonathan Pettibone started for the BlueClaws and allowed one run over five innings of work.

The Suns and BlueClaws will play the fourth game of their five-game series on Friday at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, NJ at 7:05 p.m.

Check out the Hagerstown Suns Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 1, 2010


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