SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns Suffer One-Run Loss to Kannapolis, 5-4

Published on August 30, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (29-33, 64-66) coughed up a three-run lead on Sunday afternoon, falling to the Kannapolis Intimidators (27-34, 62-68) by a final of 5-4. The loss drops Hagerstown's record in one-run games this season to 17-16.

The winning run for the Intimidators crossed the plate in the top of the eighth. With the score knotted at 4-4 and two outs in the inning, 3B Cody Daily smacked a double to center field. Then, wildness set in for Suns LHP David Napoli (6-5). With Catcher Daniel Gonzalez at the plate, Napoli delivered a wild pitch, which allowed Daily to head to third. Gonzalez wound up drawing a walk, bringing 2B Ethan Gross to the plate. With Gross at the dish, Napoli again delivered a wild pitch, allowing Daily to trot home from third and score what wound up being the winning run.

The Suns built their initial three-run lead by plating three runs in the bottom of the second. First baseman Matthew Page drew a walk to begin the inning, and that was followed by back-to-back singles from LF Dale Carey and 3B Conor Keniry. Keniry's single brought home Page from third to make it 1-0. There was also a fielding error by RF Michael Suiter on Keniry's single, which allowed Keniry to advance to second and Carey to head to third. Carey scored from third on a sacrifice fly to center field, though on the throw home to get Carey there was another error, allowing Keniry to move to third with just one out. Keniry also scored on a sacrifice fly, making it 3-0 Hagerstown.

The Intimidators were able to respond right away with one run in the third. Daily and Gonzalez hit back-to-back singles to begin the frame. Following a fly out by Gross, Suiter drew a walk to load the bases. Left fielder Hunter Jones then came to the plate, and he drew a walk as well, pushing Daily across the plate to make it 3-1.

The score remained 3-1 until the fifth, when Kannapolis took its first lead. All it took was one swing of the bat by CF Louie Lechich, who smoked a line drive three-run homerun over the right field fence to make it a 4-3 game. It was Lechich's team-leading sixth homerun of the season, and the first long ball hit by either team in the series.

Hagerstown knotted the score at 4-4 in the sixth. Catcher Raudy Read led off with a double, and moved to third on a groundout to first. He scored from third on a sacrifice fly to right by Carey, making it three runs on the day brought home by sacrifice flies for the Suns.

Napoli got tagged with the loss for Hagerstown. In three innings pitched in relief he allowed the one earned run on two hits, two walks, and two wild pitches while striking out four. RHP Connor Walsh (1-3) earned the win in relief for the Intimidators. He threw 1.1 innings, giving up one hit and one walk while striking out four. LHP Johnathan Frebis pitched the final 1.2 innings for Kannapolis to earn his first save of the season.

These teams will continue their five-game series at Municipal Stadium with game three on Monday, August 31. The Suns will send LHP Connor Bach (6-4) to the mound for his 19th start and 25th appearance this season. He will square off against RHP Jose Brito (1-2) for Kannapolis. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm. For tickets call 301-791-6266 or go to www.hagerstownsuns.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 30, 2015


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