Suns Drop Three of Four in Lakewood

August 28, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release

LAKEWOOD, NJ - The Hagerstown Suns (29-31, 64-64) could not score after the second inning on Friday night, falling to the Lakewood BlueClaws (33-27, 66-62) by a final of 4-1. The win secured the series win and the season series win for the BlueClaws, while the three losses for Hagerstown in the series officially eliminated the Suns from postseason contention.

On Friday night Lakewood took the lead for good with a three-run frame in the bottom of the fifth. That propelled starting RHP Will Morris (6-0) to the win. He went seven innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits and one walk while striking out four. Starting RHP Erick Fedde (0-2) suffered the loss for the Suns. He threw five innings, surrendering three earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four. RHP Matt Hockenberry picked up his second save of the series and his 16th of the season by tossing a scoreless ninth while striking out two.

In the third game of the series on Thursday night the Suns held Lakewood scoreless for the first eight innings en route to a 3-1 win. Starting RHP Andrew Lee (3-0) set the tone for Hagerstown by giving up just two hits and no walks while striking out five over five innings to earn the win. LHP David Napoli followed, going 2.2 innings without allowing a run and striking out four. RHP Koda Glover earned his fourth save of the year, despite surrendering one run in the ninth. In 1.1 innings he gave up the one earned run on three hits while striking out three. Suns pitching totaled 12 strikeouts in the game, one shy of the team's high for a game this season. Starting RHP Shane Watson (1-5) suffered the loss for the BlueClaws. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out one over five innings.

In game two of the series on Wednesday night 1B Damek Tomscha broke a 6-6 tie with a solo homerun over the left field wall in the bottom of the eighth to give Lakewood the 7-6 win. Hagerstown had two homeruns of its own in the game, including a grand slam by RF Jeff Gardner in the second inning. It was RHP Ryan Brinley (1-2) who gave up the game-winning homerun to Tomscha, and thus he got tagged with the loss. In one inning in relief that was the only hit he allowed. RHP Jason Zgardowski (3-1) earned the win for the BlueClaws. He threw one inning in relief, giving up one hit and striking out one. Joey DeNato struck out two in a scoreless ninth to earn his 10th save of the season.

In the first game of the series on Tuesday night the Suns fell behind 6-0 after three innings and could never recover, dropping the game by a final of 6-3. All six Lakewood runs were charged to Suns starting RHP Justin Amlung (3-3), who got tagged with the loss. Despite his early struggles Amlung wound up pitching seven innings for a second consecutive start. He allowed nine hits, walked one, struck out two, and five of the six runs charged against him were earned. Starting LHP Austin Davis (4-5) earned the win for the BlueClaws. He threw five innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six. Hockenberry earned his first save of the series with a scoreless ninth.

In total Lakewood out-scored Hagerstown 18-13 in the series, and the BlueClaws outhit the Suns 31-25. The Suns next head back home to Hagerstown to take on the Kannapolis Intimidators (24-34, 59-68) in a five-game series beginning on Saturday, August 29. The Suns will send RHP Luis Reyes (6-7) to the mound on Saturday for his 24th start and appearance this season. He will square off against RHP Kelvis Valerio (1-2) for Kannapolis. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 7:05pm.

South Atlantic League Stories from August 28, 2015

• Vallot's Walk-Off Homer Gives Legends 6-4 Win - Lexington Legends
• Intimidators avoid four-game sweep and fourth straight loss - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Drive Rally to Defeat Grasshoppers, 6-4 - Greenville Drive
• Gnats Grand in 6-4 Win over Tourists - Asheville Tourists
• Crawdads Steal Series Finale from RiverDogs, 5-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
• Power Take Series from the GreenJackets A Big Fourth Inning Allows the Power to Take the Fourth and - Augusta GreenJackets
• Suns Drop Three of Four in Lakewood - Hagerstown Suns
• Power Inches Closer to Playoffs with 5-1 Victory - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Morris Dazzles, Claws Top Suns 4-1 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Morris Dazzles, Claws Top Suns 4-1 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Legends to Host 2016 SAL All-Star Game - Lexington Legends
• RiverDogs Nearing Record-Setting Finish in the Stands - Charleston RiverDogs
• WV Power Game Notes: August 28, 2015 at Augusta - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Miss Babe Ruth's Retirement Party to be a Red Carpet Night - Greensboro Grasshoppers
• Shorebirds Announce 2016 Schedule - Delmarva Shorebirds

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