Suns drop close one to Captains

June 12, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release

EASTLAKE, OH - Game one of a four-game series between the Hagerstown Suns (32-34) and the Lake County Captains (40-27) came down to the wire, but it was the Captains who came out on top 3-2. Lake County scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead, and held Hagerstown scoreless in the top half of the ninth to seal the victory. With the win, Lake County keeps a two-game lead over the Greensboro Grasshoppers with just three games to play in the first half of the season. The scoring started in the top of the fifth inning, as the Suns struck first when right fielder Michael Burgess singled and was eventually brought in on a bunt-single by second baseman Valerio Heredia. The RBI was Heredia's first of the season.

Unfortunately for the Suns, the lead was short-lived as Lake County struck for two of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning on three hits and one error. Only one earned run was credited to starter Colton Willems, but the Suns fell behind 2-1. Hagerstown knotted the score at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning. After third baseman Stephen King singled and catcher Travis Reagan advanced him to third with a single of his own, Heredia came through again, this time with a single to left field that drove in King.

Neither team scored in their next trip to the plate, setting up the winning run in the eighth by the Captains. Both starting pitchers threw well, though neither factored into the decision. Willems went six innings, allowed two runs but just one earned and struck out three batters, while Captains' starter Ryan Morris pitched five and allowed just one earned run. Morris also struck out three in his time on the mound. Joanniel Montero (1-2) earned the win after allowing one run in three innings of relief, while Edulin Abreu (2-1) took the loss for Hagerstown as he allowed one run in two innings of work. Vinnie Pestano collected his 14th save of the season with a perfect ninth inning for Lake County.

The Suns and Captains will play game two of their four game set on Friday, June 13th at 7:05 p.m.

South Atlantic League Stories from June 12, 2008

• Legends take fourth straight - Lexington Legends
• Captains magic number down to two - Lake County Captains
• Braves chewed out by RiverDogs - Rome Emperors
• Augusta takes key series from Tourists - Asheville Tourists
• Crawdads can't overcome strong pitching performance - Hickory Crawdads
• Drive win again; now won 13 of 15 - Greenville Drive
• Gnats claim walk-off winner - Savannah Sand Gnats
• Grasshoppers take fifth straight - Greensboro Grasshoppers
• 'Jackets take rubber game - Augusta GreenJackets
• Suns drop close one to Captains - Hagerstown Suns
• 'Power'less against the Grasshoppers - Charleston Dirty Birds
• BlueClaws blanked in loss - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Shorebirds drop Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Intimidators fall to Legends in series opener - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Cipriano Activated from Disabled List - Columbus Catfish
• Catfish Hosting Military Appreciation Night, Father's Day Catch - Columbus Catfish
• Hoppers to Unveil MegaMascot at Friday Press Conference - Greensboro Grasshoppers
• Augusta and Asheville Split Double-Header - Augusta GreenJackets
• Tip-A-GreenJacket Luncheon Big Success at Stonecrest - Augusta GreenJackets

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