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SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns, Legends Split Doubleheader As Harper Hits First Minor League Home Run

April 13, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


Lexington, KY-Perfection never lasts forever. The Hagerstown Suns (6-1) and Lexington Legends (3-4) split a doubleheader on Wednesday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, ending a 6-game winning streak for the Suns to open the 2011 South Atlantic League campaign. In Game One of the twin bill, the Suns received another terrific starting pitching outing from RHP Cameron Selik (1-0), who mirrored his Opening Night start by tossing 5.0 scoreless innings, surrendering four hits and two walks, while striking out five en route to the victory. Both clubs played to a stalemate as the pitching duel ensued. Lexington's RHP Mike Foltynewicz (0-2), the losing pitcher, was also solid, going 6.0 frames, allowing one earned run on five hits, and striking out three.

The offense for the Suns finally broke through in the top of the 6th inning when 1B Mills Rogers, within a 2-for-3 night at the plate, lofted an RBI double into the gap in right field, scoring 2B Adrian Sanchez, who was hit by a Foltynewicz offering to put the Suns on top 1-0. The lead would hold for Hagerstown, and RHP Wilson Eusebio (1 SV) would come on to earn a two-inning save in the 6th and 7th innings to close the first game of the doubleheader out, while fanning three.

In the backend of the twin bill, the Suns offense surged early, scoring in each of the first three innings. In the 1st frame, on a DH Randolph Oduber fielder's choice ground ball to second, SS Blake Kelso, who singled would score. Then an inning later, a passed ball that got through C Roberto Pena allowed CF Wade Moore to race home. Moore got on base with a single to left field.

In the 3rd inning, with 2B Adrian Sanchez on first base after a single to center field, RF Bryce Harper ripped a line drive home run off RHP Ruben Alaniz the opposite way over the left center field wall, a 2-run four-bagger, his first home run in the full-season Minor League ranks. This was Harper's lone hit of the game, but certainly a memorable one.

The Legends would answer with two runs of their own in the last of the 3rd inning when 1B Tyler Burnett and 2B Delino DeShields Jr. hit their first home runs of the season, both solo shots off LHP Paul Applebee, the losing pitcher of record. Burnett's blast was pulled over the party deck in right field. DeShields Jr. deposited his drive over the left center field wall. Applebee (0-1) went 4.2 innings and five earned runs on six hits, while striking out five and walking two.

Later, in the last of the 5th frame, Lexington exploded for four runs, all with two outs, brining nine men to the plate. Applebee walked two to load the bases and gave way to RHP Sam Brown. Inheriting three men on base, Brown allowed a 2 RBI single to DH Chris Wallace, scoring Burnett, who walked, and 2B Ben Orloff, who singled to left field. Then on a strange play, Brown seemingly struck out 3B Jhonny Medrano, but as the Suns defense left the field of play, the baserunners Enrique Hernandez, who walked, Wallace, and Medrano kept running and Hernandez came into score the Legends third run of the inning. The official ruling was a wild pitch by Brown. Before the conclusion of the stanza, RF Adam Bailey laced an RBI single to left field, scoring Wallace to put up a four spot for Lexington. The Legends would gain a 6-4 advantage and would not relinquish the lead.

LHP Gabriel Garcia (1-0), the winning pitcher, entered the game in the 4th inning and pitched through the 6th allowing no runs, one hits, one walk, while striking out four. RHP Jorge De Leon (1 SV) came in for his first save of the season by inducing a 1-2-3 inning.

The Game 4 finale between the Suns and Legends is slated for 7:05pm tomorrow as LHP Matt Grace (1-0) will duel with LHP Brad Dydalewicz (NR) at Whitaker Bank Ballpark

The Hagerstown Suns play at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, MD and are a Class "A" affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Season ticket packages, group outings, and corporate sponsorships are available by calling the Suns at 301-791-6266. Visit the Suns on the web at www.hagerstownsuns.com. The Suns are owned by Hagerstown Baseball, LLC.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 13, 2011


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