SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns Shutout Braves in Second Road Contest of 2011 Season

Published on April 8, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


The momentum from an Opening Night 3-2 victory for the Suns in Rome, GA carried over into Friday night's Game Two, as Hagerstown shutout the Rome Braves by a score of 2-0 at State Mutual Stadium. The story of the evening was strong starting pitching for both clubs. Rome RHP Caleb Brewer, although erratic in the first frame evident by a throwing error and a wild pitch, threw 5.2 innings of no-hit offerings, while striking out two and walking four. For the Suns, LHP Matt Grace cruised through 6.0 innings and did not allow a run en route to a four strikeout performance. Grace did not walk a single batter. Grace's groundball-to-flyball ratio was granted a boost as he executed 13 groundball outs and zero flyball outs. LHP Blaine Sims (0-1), the losing pitcher of record, relieved Brewer with two outs in the top of the 6th inning.

Neither team scored until the Suns bats pushed across a run in the top of the 7th inning when DH Blake Kelso ripped an RBI single back up the middle to score SS Jason Martinson, who had drawn a two out walk. Sims gave up the go-ahead run to Kelso. Additionally, Hagerstown added an insurance run in the away half of the 8th as CF Wade Moore collected his first RBI of the season with a one-base knock through the right side of a drawn-in infield to score RF Bryce Harper, who received a leadoff base-on-balls.

Grace (1-0), the winning pitcher, would leave the game after the Kelso RBI, giving way to RHP Sam Brown, who tossed 2.0 scoreless frames, and gathered three strikeouts. LHP Chris Manno (1 SV) came into the ballgame in the 9th inning and struck out two batters to garner his first save of the 2011 season.

Harper, playing in his second full-season professional game went 0-for-3, but did score the Suns second run on Moore's base hit after working a walk.

The Suns are now (2-0) after receiving 11.0 innings of shutout pitching from their starting hurlers in the series, RHP Cameron Selik and Grace. The Braves went 0-for-5 as a team with runners in scoring position and fall to (0-2) on the 2011 season.

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 April 8, 2011


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