SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns Salvage Final Game, But Lose Series to Lexington 3-1

Published on May 20, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


LEXINGTON, K.Y. - The Hagerstown Suns (32-12) managed to avoid a sweep by the Lexington Legends (21-24) with an 11-4 win in the series finale of a four-game series on Tuesday night. The win snapped the Suns four game losing streak, their longest losing streak this season.

Hagerstown put at least one run on the board in each of the final six innings on Tuesday, as the Suns came back from a 3-2 deficit. Hagerstown took the lead for good with a four-run sixth inning. Third baseman John Wooten hit a one-out single to short to begin the rally. That was followed by a double up the middle by catcher Spencer Kieboom. Then, 1B Jimmy Yezzo singled to short to drive in Wooten and knot the game at 3-3. Designated hitter Carlos Lopez broke the tie with a two-run double to left. Lopez scored the final run of the frame on an RBI single by 2B Brennan Middleton.

Starting RHP Nick Pivetta (7-2) earned his team-leading seventh win for the Suns by tossing 5.1 innings and surrendering three earned runs on nine hits while striking out three. Starting LHP Cody Reed (0-4) got tagged with the loss for Lexington. He threw 5.1 innings, and gave up six runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Lexington came back from an 8-1 deficit to take the third game of the series on Monday 10-8. The Legends rally began with a four-run fifth inning. Both RF Dominique Taylor and 2B Ramon Torres hit run producing triples in the frame, while Lexington sent a total of eight batters to the plate in the inning. The Legends added two more runs in the seventh on a two-run homerun off the bat of CF Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado. The comeback was completed in the eighth when Lexington pushed three more runs across the plate to take the two run lead that held up.

LHP Justin Thomas (1-4) wound up suffering the loss and blown save for the Suns. He pitched 1.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits while striking out two. LHP Luis Rico (2-4) got the win for the Legends. He threw 5.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit while striking out six.

The Suns were shutout and held to just one hit for the entire second game of the series on Sunday afternoon, as they lost a 1-0 pitchers duel. Starting RHP Jake Junis (5-2) worked eight hitless innings, striking out six to earn the win, while RHP Matt Alvarez pitched the ninth to record his first save of the year. Starting RHP Austin Voth (1-3) suffered the loss for Hagerstown despite allowing just one earned run on four hits over six innings. The lone Legends run crossed the plate in the second inning thanks to an RBI single by 3B Mauricio Ramos.

In game one of the series on Saturday night the Legends broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run bottom of the eighth. Left fielder Tyler Chism led off the Lexington half of the eighth with a double to center field. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Chism scored the winning run on a wild pitch by LHP Robert Orlan (0-1). First baseman Frank Schwindel knocked the other two runs in with a double to left to set the final score at 5-2.

Orlan suffered the loss for the Suns. He threw three innings and gave up four earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four. RHP Luis Santos (4-1) notched the win for Lexington despite blowing a save opportunity. He worked 2.2 innings, allowing two hits without getting charged for any runs.

In total Hagerstown outscored Lexington in the series 21-20, but was out-hit by the Legends 36-31. The Suns next head home to Municipal Stadium to begin a four game series with the Asheville Tourists (25-19) that starts on Thursday, May 22. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 20, 2014


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