SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Suns Waste Early Lead, Lose in Extra Innings

Published on May 27, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


KANNAPOLIS, NC - The Hagerstown Suns (27-24) got off to a great start against the Kannapolis Intimidators (24-28) on Tuesday, May 27th, but the home team rallied late to take a 10-9 victory in the 11th inning.

The scoring started in the top of the second inning, as third baseman Stephen King walked, right fielder Michael Burgess singled and second baseman Jake Smolinski walked to load the bases. Catcher Travis Reagan singled to right field to score King, and left fielder Boomer Whiting drove in Burgess with a ground ball to the third baseman.

The Suns added five more runs off Kannapolis starter Kevin Skogley in the third on four hits including a two-run double by Burgess, to take a 7-0 lead.

Suns starter Luis Atilano did not allow a base-runner until the bottom of the fourth inning. A one-out error by normally sure-handed shortstop Dan Lyons, followed by two walks and a grand slam by DH Logan Johnson made it a 7-4 game. The grand slam by Johnson was the only hit allowed in the game by Atilano.

Kannapolis got a run in the fifth inning before the Suns answered with two of their own in the top of the sixth. After Lyons walked and reached third on a double by first baseman Bill Rhinehart, DH Aaron Seuss singled to right field, driving in both runners. The single was one of four hits for Seuss on the day.

The Intimidators completed their comeback by scoring one run in the bottom of the sixth and following with a three-run home run in bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game. The home run was Jim Gallagher's third of the season and came off reliever Kyle Gunderson.

The Suns threatened to score in the top of the eighth inning, but reliever Henry Mabee escaped unscathed after loading the bases with just one out.

In the ninth, Hagerstown reliever Atahualpa Severino gave up a single and a walk to start the inning. After Kannapolis catcher John Curtis put down a sacrifice to move the runners to second and third, Severino intentionally walked pinch-hitter Danny Jordan to load the bases before striking out right fielder Lyndon Estill and getting shortstop Luis Sierra to ground out and end the threat. Kannapolis ended it in the 11th inning off reliever Justin Phillabaum, when Estill came to the plate with one out and the bases loaded again. This time, Estill hit a 3-1 pitch off the wall in right field and Logan Johnson trotted home as the winning run.

Phillabaum ( pitched just one third of an inning, gave up three hits and an intentional walk to take the loss.

The Suns return to Municipal Stadium on Wednesday, May 27 to take on the Delmarva Shorebirds at 6:35 PM.

The Hagerstown Suns play at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, MD and are a Class "A" affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Ticket packages and 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 Los Angeles based Mandalay Baseball Properties.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 27, 2008


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