SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns Hang on for 3-2 Win over Drive in Series Opener

Published on May 1, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (10-11) moved back to within a game of the .500 mark on Friday night thanks to a 3-2 win over the Greenville Drive (12-10). Greenville was one of just two teams to win a season-series against the Suns last year.

Hagerstown scored all three of its runs on Friday in the third inning. Shortstop Osvaldo Abreu led off the frame with a line drive double to left. Center fielder Alec Keller followed with a single to left, putting runners on the corners with none out. Abreu then came home from third on a missed catcher error by Greenville 1B Francisco Tellez on a pickoff attempt at first. That was followed by a single by catcher Matt Reistetter, and then RF Dale Carey drew a walk to load the bases. Back-to-back sacrifice flies drove in Keller and Reistetter to make it a 3-0 game.

That lead held up until the seventh, when the Drive plated both of their runs. Designated hitter Ben Moore hit a one-out single to left. Tellez then came to the plate and sent a double to left, putting two in scoring position. Following a strikeout, RF Carlos Mesa delivered a two-out single, which brought home both runners and made it a one-run game.

Greenville threatened with the tying run aboard in the ninth, but LHP R.C. Orlan closed the door by inducing a fly out and a ground out to end the game. That gave Orlan his third save of the season in his third attempt. Orlan threw three innings, surrendering both Greenville runs on four hits while striking out four. Orlan took over for starting RHP Phillips Valdez (2-1), who got the win for Hagerstown. Valdez tossed six shutout innings, giving up two hits while striking out four. Valdez has now thrown 12 innings over two starts at home this season without allowing a run.

Starting RHP Michael Kopech suffered the loss for the Drive. One day after his 19th birthday, Kopech lasted just 2.1 innings, getting charged for all three earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three. RHP Carlos Pinales and RHP Kuehl McEachern combined to keep the Suns scoreless the rest of the way.

These teams will continue their four-game series at Municipal Stadium on Saturday May 2. The Suns will send RHP Jefry Rodriguez (0-0) to the mound for his second start of the season. He will square off against LHP Dedgar Jimenez (0-0) for Greenville. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 1, 2015


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