SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns Notes

Published on July 7, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


About last game... The Hagerstown Suns (11-7, 55-33) fell behind big early on Sunday evening and could never recover, dropping a 12-7 final to the Kannapolis Intimidators (12-6, 41-44) in the third game of a three-game series. Despite the loss, the Suns won the series two games to one.

The Intimidators assault began with a five-run first inning. Center fielder Adam Engel began the game with a bunt basehit. Second baseman Christian Stringer followed with a two-run homerun that cleared the right field wall, his fourth homer of the season. Then, 3B Trey Michalczewski hit a double to center field and two batters later RF Jacob Morris walked. Catcher Brett Austin drove both runners in with a ground ball double to center field to make it 4-0. Austin scored the final run of the frame on a single off the bat of DH Carl Thomore.

Hagerstown responded right away with two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to three. Center fielder Rafael Bautista started the inning by drawing a walk. Back-to-back singles by SS Wilmer Difo and 3B Drew Ward followed, the second of which plated Bautista. Difo scored from third when 1B Jimmy Yezzo hit into a double-play with the bases loaded and no outs. After the double- play, DH Carlos Lopez lined out to third to end the threat.

The score remained 5-2 until the fourth, when another long ball by Stringer increased the lead to six. Kannapolis put up another three spot in the sixth to take their largest lead of the night, 11- 2. In that sixth inning doubles by Engel and 1B Danny Hayes, and a single by Michalczewski all produced runs.

Hagerstown put up a run each in the bottom of the sixth and seventh to make the score a bit more respectable, but the Intimidators answered right back with a run of their own in the eighth. The final three runs for the Suns came in the bottom of the ninth, when Lopez went yard over the left field wall with two on and two outs. It was Lopez's second homer of the year, and the second hit in the game by Hagerstown.

Starting RHP Nick Pivetta (10-5) wound up getting tagged with the loss for the Suns. He lasted just 3.1 innings, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three.

Starting RHP Jordan Guerrero (6-0), making just his second start of the year for Kannapolis, earned the win. He went five innings, surrendering two earned runs on six hits and five walks while striking out two.

On the Mound... RHP Lucas Giolito will be heading to the hill this evening for the Suns. He is making his 14th start and appearance this season. He last pitched on July 2 at Lakewood, tossing seven innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits while striking out five. It was the eighth time this season Giolito has allowed one or fewer earned runs in a start, and the seven innings pitched was a career-high. Tonight is his fourth appearance against Lakewood. He is 2-0 against the BlueClaws and has given up just one earned run over 16.0 innings worked against them this season.

At home this year Giolito is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in six starts. Overall this season he has tossed 61.2 innings, surrendering 18 runs (15 earned) on 40 hits including six homers. He has walked 21 and has struck out 66. Tonight he goes up against RHP Ranfi Casimiro for Lakewood. Casimiro is making his 17th start and appearance this season. He last pitched against Giolito on July 2 in Lakewood. Casimiro suffered the loss in that game as he allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out three. This is Casimiro's fifth start against the Suns this season.

Home vs. Road... Hagerstown is 31-14 at home this season (compared to 24-19 on the road). The Suns are hitting .280 at home (.262 on the road) and have a 3.52 ERA at home (3.86 ERA away).

The Book on the BlueClaws... The Suns and BlueClaws are playing the 17th of 27 games against each other this season and the seventh of 13 that will take place in Hagerstown. The Suns are 12-4 against Lakewood this year, including a 5-1 record against the BlueClaws at Municipal Stadium. The BlueClaws are currently 6-12 in the second half, good for last place in the Northern Division second half standings. Lakewood is currently tied for 10th in team batting with a .250 average and 13th in pitching with a team ERA of 4.98.

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 7, 2014


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