SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns Notes

Published on July 4, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


About last series... The Hagerstown Suns (9-6, 53-32) fell in the rubber game of a three-game series against the Lakewood BlueClaws (5-10, 32-53) on Thursday night 4-1. It marked the first time all season that the BlueClaws have taken a series from the Suns, though Hagerstown still controls the season series against Lakewood 12-4.

The BlueClaws took control of Thursday's game with a three-run fourth inning. Lakewood hit two triples in the frame before the first out was made. Right fielder Herlis Rodriguez got the first three-bagger to leadoff the inning. He scored on an RBI single by SS Malquin Canelo. Then, CF Carlos Tocci sent a triple to right, driving in Canelo to make it 3-1 Lakewood. Tocci wound up scoring from third on a wild pitch.

That one big inning of offense was enough for starting RHP Tyler Viza (3-11) to earn the win. He threw six innings, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out four. Starting RHP Jake Johansen (4- 3) was tagged with the loss for Hagerstown. He pitched four innings, surrendering four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out four. RHP Ulises Joaquin tossed a scoreless ninth for the BlueClaws to earn his sixth save of the season.

The one Suns win in the series was an 8-1 victory in game two on Wednesday night. The game was called after the top of the ninth inning due to rain. Hagerstown pounded out 12 hits in the contest, and everyone in the lineup reached base. Three of the 12 hits belonged to DH Carlos Lopez, who finished with his first three-hit game of the year. He also scored two runs and was one of two players to have a multi-RBI game.

Starting RHP Lucas Giolito (4-2) kept the Lakewood bats silent for most of the night to earn his second win in-a-row. He threw a season-high seven innings, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out five. Starting RHP Ranfi Casimiro (2-7) suffered the loss for the BlueClaws. He pitched seven innings, surrendering five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out three.

In game one of the series on Tuesday night Hagerstown was held to just one run on two hits in a 2-1 loss. Despite allowing two runs over seven innings, starting RHP Nick Pivetta (10-4) suffered the loss for the Suns. He gave up eight hits and one walk while striking out four. One of the hits was a solo homerun hit by BlueClaws RF Dylan Cozens in the sixth inning, which turned out to be the winning run. Starting RHP Yacksel Rios (2-0) picked up the win for Lakewood. He went eight innings, allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks while striking out four. RHP Matthew Hockenberry pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

In total Hagerstown outscored Lakewood 10-7 over the course of the series, but the BlueClaws out-hit the Suns 22-20.

On the Mound... LHP Brett Mooneyham will be heading to the hill this evening for the Suns. He is making his third start and appearance this season for Hagerstown. He last pitched on June 28 at home against Delmarva, tossing five innings and allowing one earned run on two hits and tow walks while striking out three.

He also allowed just one earned run in his first start with Hagerstown this year, which came on June 23 at home against Lexington. In that outing he worked four innings and surrendered three hits and two walks while striking out five. Mooneyham began this season in Potomac after spending most of last year with the Suns. In Potomac this season Mooneyham went 2-4 with a 7.36 ERA in 10 games (seven starts). In 33.0 innings worked with the Nationals, Mooneyham gave up 33 runs (27 earned) on 35 hits including two homers. He walked 35 and struck out 18. Mooneyham also pitched two games with Auburn this year before coming to Hagerstown. Tonight he goes up against LHP Jeff McKenzie for Kannapolis. McKenzie is making his second start and appearance this season for the Intimidators. His first start came on June 29 at home against Charleston. In that contest he pitched five innings, surrendering one earned run on five hits including one homer. He walked one and struck out two. McKenzie started the season with the Great Falls Voyagers, the White Sox short-season team in the Pioneer League. Over the course of two starts with Great Falls, McKenzie went 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA as he allowed four runs (two earned) in 11.2 innings pitched.

Introducing the Intimidators... The Suns and Intimidators are playing the ninth of 18 games against each other this season and the fifth of 14 that will take place in Hagerstown. The Suns are 4-4 against Kannapolis this year, including a 3-1 record against the Intimidators at Municipal Stadium. The Intimidators are currently 40-42 overall and 11-4 in the second half, good for a tie for second place in the Northern Division second half standings. Kannapolis is currently 12th in team batting with a .248 average and fifth in pitching with a team ERA of 3.62.

Listen Live... All Suns home games this season will be broadcast live with play-by-play provided by Eli Pearlstein on hagerstownsuns.com. Just click on the "Listen Live" or "Listen Live on Tunein Radio" link on the drop down menu when you scroll over the "multimedia" tab at the top-middle of the home page. Games can also be heard on your Iphone or android phone with the Tunein Radio app.

Check out the Hagerstown Suns Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 4, 2014


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