SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns provide late drama before falling, 7-5

Published on August 17, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


HAGERSTOWN, MD -- For a game that seemed out of reach almost as soon as it began, the Hagerstown Suns (16-32) managed to generate plenty of big moments in the late innings on Monday evening, but an early 6-0 hole proved too deep to dig out of in an eventual 7-5 loss to the Augusta GreenJackets (30-20).

Suns starter Paul Demny (2-10) walked the bases loaded with one out in the first, then gave up a three-run double to Augusta's Juan Perez to immediately dampen Hagerstown's hopes of securing a split of the four-game series with the GreenJackets.

The frustration mounted for the Suns on the offensive side, as they failed to score in the bottom of the first despite putting runners at second and third with no outs. After Hagerstown wasted a leadoff hit in the second, Demny was chased from the game in the top of the third, as the GreenJackets doubled their lead on another run-scoring Perez double and a two-run homerun to centerfield by Johnny Monell.

Trailing 6-0, the Suns were eased back into the game by their bullpen, starting with three and a third innings of shutout ball from Robinson Fabian, and followed up by Austin Garrett's pair of scoreless frames.

Meanwhile, in the bottom of the third, Hagerstown's lineup began to mount a comeback, with three one-out singles and a sacrifice fly from centerfielder Charlie Fermaint resulting in two runs.

The Suns cut their four-run deficit in half in the bottom of the seventh after Augusta reliever Justin Fitzgerald started the inning by walking three straight batters, then plunking Suns' first baseman Tyler Moore in the belt to force home a run. Fitzgerald was replaced by Ryan Verdugo, who immediately allowed an RBI single to Fermaint before settling in to retire Suns' right fielder Robby Jacobsen and pinch-hitter Steven Souza, both of whom came to the plate with an opportunity to give their team the lead.

James Simmons gave the GreenJackets an insurance run in the top of the ninth with a solo homer off Hagerstown right-hander Carlos Peralta, but the Suns were undeterred, bouncing right back with another scoring threat in the bottom of the inning.

After catcher Derek Norris led off the ninth with his third walk of the evening, Fermaint singled off Verdugo for the second time to put two runners on with one out. Verdugo was immediately replaced by Augusta closer Edwin Quirarte, who struck out Jacobsen before surrendering a run-scoring single up the middle to Souza, who made good in his second pressure at-bat of a ballgame he was scheduled to rest through.

With the GreenJacket lead cut to two, Hagerstown manager Matt LeCroy went to his bench for the second time of the night, bringing in Chris Curran as a pinch hitter with two outs and two men on. Curran grounded out meekly to Quirarte to end the Suns' final comeback attempt, and Hagerstown closed out its eight-game homestand with a disappointing record of 1-7.

Check out the Hagerstown Suns Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from August 17, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central