SAL1 Hagerstown Suns

Two Dozen Hits Lauch Suns Past Tourists

July 19, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release


HAGERSTOWN, MD -- After out-hitting the Asheville Tourists (16-7) in each of the first two games of their weekend series but coming up winless, the Hagerstown Suns (7-17) kept the base knocks coming on Sunday afternoon, piling up two dozen hits to finally subdue the Tourists in a 15-3 victory.

The 15 runs and 24 hits were both easily season highs for the Suns, who trailed 3-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning before exploding for 12 runs over their final three turns at bat.

The offensive outburst started quietly, with back-to-back bunt singles by centerfielder Chris Curran and left fielder Valerio Heredia to lead off the bottom of the sixth setting up the Suns for a five-run inning. After second baseman Steve Lombardozzi walked, catcher Derek Norris singled to tie the game and first baseman Tyler Moore doubled home two runs to give Hagerstown the lead for good. A sacrifice fly by right fielder Charlie Fermaint and run-scoring single from third baseman Travis Keithley gave the Suns a 7-3 lead going into the seventh.

The breakthrough inning came just in time for Hagerstown starter Brad Peacock (4-8), who fought through a three-run Asheville second inning to log six innings and record the victory.

The Suns were not done scoring after the sixth, however, as a leadoff walk from Curran in the seventh was followed by seven straight Sun singles that produced six runs. Twelve Hagerstown batters came to the plate in the inning, and every player in the Suns lineup reached base safely at least once in the frame.

In the eighth, Hagerstown added to its 13-3 lead on a towering two-run homer by Moore that snuck just inside the left-field foul pole to put the Suns up 12 runs.

Moore was the star among stars for the Hagerstown offense on the afternoon, in a game in which every hitter who finished the game for the Suns had a multi-hit day. Moore went three-for-six with three runs scored and five runs batted in, pushing his season RBI total to 57. Fermaint was the only Sun to out-hit Moore, piling up three singles and a double and driving in a pair of runs.

Lombardozzi, Norris, and designated hitter Robby Jacobsen added three hits apiece, with Norris scoring three times and driving in two runs to increase his South Atlantic League-high RBI total to 68. Heredia, Keithley, Curran, and shortstop Nick Arata all picked up a pair of hits.

Hagerstown also drew seven walks on the afternoon, including two for Norris, who reached base in five of his six plate appearances. The Suns added four stolen bases, and took advantage of three Asheville errors.

Hagerstown will look to secure a split of the four-game series with the Tourists in the series finale on Monday night at 7:05 p.m.

The Hagerstown Suns play at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, MD and are a Class "A" affiliate of the Washington Nationals. 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 July 19, 2009


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