SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns' Nieto Leads Rout of Crawdads 13-8

Published on August 23, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


Hagerstown, MD- On the same day our country was shaken by an east coast earthquake, the Hagerstown Suns (71-56, 31-26) offense was seismic in dispatching the Hickory Crawdads (72-53, 32-25) by the score of 13-8 in series game two. Both clubs swatted 14 base hits, while the Crawdads committed three errors they would not overcome. Washington Nationals LHP Doug Slaten made his fourth appearance with the Suns and pitched the 1st frame, allowing one earned run on three hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.

Crawdads LF Jacob Skole ripped the first pitch of the game for a triple off Slaten to the right field corner and scored on an errant pickoff attempt by C Adrian Nieto.

Two more runs scored for Hickory in the 2nd stanza when 2B Odubel Herrera lined a two-run single into center field. Herrera went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the contest.

Hagerstown LHP Matt Grace (12-6), the eventual winning pitcher, piggybacked Slaten and surrendered three earned runs on six hits in 5.0 innings, while walking three and fanning four.

The Suns tied the game with three runs in the 2nd inning as Nieto walked leading off and 1B Brett Newsome served a single into right center field. 3B Justino Cuevas lofted an RBI sacrifice fly to bring home Nieto to put the Suns on the board. On a dropped popup by Herrera DH Michael Taylor reached second base with Newsome motoring to third base. Then, CF Chris Curran cranked a two-RBI single into left center field to bring the score back even.

In the third inning, Newsome lifted an sac fly out to left field scoring SS Jason Martinson, who single to right field to get board, and Cuevas popped a double up the right field line to summon home Nieto.

Three more runs for the Suns came in the 4th inning on a bases clearing three-RBI double by Nieto sliced into the left center field alleyway. Nieto went 2-for-3 with three runs, four RBI, and a pair of walks.

Hickory RHP Luke Jackson (4-5), the losing pitcher of record, was tagged for eight runs, four earned on seven hits and five walks.

The 'dads scored one run in the 5th frame on an RBI single into center field by CF Josh Richmond to score 3B Christian Villanueva, who was 3-for-5 with two runs in the game.

Individual runs in the 6th and 7th innings were brought to fruition for the home club on a Nieto solo home run blast into the visiting bullpen behind the right center field wall and a wild pitch by RHP Andrew Doyle allowing Cuevas' double to come in from third base, giving the Suns a 10-3 lead.

The Crawdads grabbed one run in the 8th inning as 1B Jhonny Gomez got under a sac fly to bring in RF Alejandro Selen, who got on thanks to a wild pitch on a strikeout by RHP Greg Holt. In relief of Grace, Holt allowed one earned run on three hits.

The Suns blasted away for three more runs in the bottom of the 8th when RHP Jorge Marban gave up an RBI single to Cuevas lashed into right field and a two-RBI bloop double off the stick of Taylor that dropped up the right field line. Martinson, who singled to right field, Newsome, after a double up the left field chalk, and Cuevas came in to score.

Leading 13-5, Hagerstown RHP Sam Brown gave up three runs in the 9th frame on two hits and two walks, but struck out Gomez to end the ballgame and seal the victory.

The Suns will host the Crawdads on Wednesday evening for a 7:05pm first pitch and a 6:50pm Break Away 2 Sports Lounge Pre-game Show on the radio flagship of the Hagerstown Suns, WJEJ AM 1240. The Suns will bring RHP A.J. Cole (4-6, 3.43) to the mound to faceoff with RHP Nick Tepesch (6-4, 3.58). Wednesday night will be Chipotle Night at Municipal Stadium in which all fans who purchase either a general admission ticket or a reserve seat will receive a courtesy coupon for a free Chipotle meal, including a complimentary burrito or burrito bowl, chips, and a drink.

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 August 23, 2011


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