SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Tempers Flare As Suns Sweep Captains

Published on June 29, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


EASTLAKE, OH - A bench-clearing altercation in the bottom of the sixth inning and six ejections marred a very close game as the Hagerstown Suns(8-3) beat the Lake County Captains (4-7) 4-3 on Sunday, June 29th, sweeping the two game series at Classic Park.

Tempers started to heat up in the top of the sixth inning with the Suns leading 4-2, as Boomer Whiting and Dan Lyons were hit by back-to-back fastballs from Captains reliever Josh Judy. After the second bean-ball Judy was ejected from the game along with Captains Manager Aaron Holbert. Holbert was automatically ejected due to Judy's actions.

After the Captains had already closed the gap to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Suns Terrence Engles hit Lake County catcher Michael Valadez in the back and was immediately ejected along with Suns Manager Darnell Coles. Valadez then took matters into his own hands, charging the mound as both benches and bullpens cleared.

Suns catcher Sean Rooney attempted to restrain the bigger Valadez and things seemed to cool down as the umpires and coaching staffs calmed the scene at the mound, but Valadez escaped the grasp of a Lake County trainer and charged into the midst of the Suns once more. After a few frenetic moments, calm was eventually restored, and in the end Valadez along with Suns reliever Chris Lugo were ejected from the game.

Overshadowed by the tension was the fact that the game was very close. The Suns scored three times in the second inning and once more in the fifth for their four runs before Lake County responded with two in the fourth and then one in the sixth.

Ryan Harrison got the start for Hagerstown and was effective, allowing just two runs, one earned, in three and two thirds innings of work.

After Engles ejection, Dan Leatherman and Kyle Gunderson combined to shut down the Lake County offense over the last three and one third innings of the game. Gunderson earned his second save of the two-game series, giving him five on the season. Leatherman (1-0) earned the win in relief.

The Suns will now return to Hagerstown for another two game series, this with the Lakewood BlueClaws starting at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, June 30th. Gates will open at Municipal Stadium at 6:05 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 29, 2008


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