SUNS SWING PAST GRASSHOPPERS, 9-5

GREENSBORO, NC – The Hagerstown Suns (10-12) picked up their second win in a row over the Greensboro Grasshoppers (12-10) at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, NC on Friday by a score of 9-5.

Hagerstown got on the board in the top half of the first inning as left fielder Francisco Plasencia singled to lead off the game and was driven home by first baseman Bill Rhinehart’s double.

Greensboro battled back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first off Suns starter Jeff Mandel, but they were the only three runs the Grasshoppers managed against the Hagerstown pitching staff in the game.

The Suns added four runs in the top of the third inning on three hits, including a triple by Rhinehart and a double by Burgess to take a two-run lead, and extended the difference to 7-3 in the top of the fourth inning as the Suns scored twice more.

The Suns added lone runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings, the last run coming off a solo home run for Michael Burgess. It was the second home run of the series for the Suns right fielder and his sixth of the season.

Mandel got the win for the Suns, pitching five and two thirds strong innings, and Luis Atilano worked the last three and one third for the save in his first appearance for Hagerstown.

Grasshoppers starter Cristian Martinez was tagged with the loss for Greensboro after surrendering seven runs, all earned, in five innings of work.

The Suns and Grasshoppers will play game three of their four game series on Saturday, April 26th at 7:00 P.M. at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, N.C.

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.