Suns Pick Up Two Wins on Saturday

The Hagerstown Suns (15-14) finished up a suspended game and then played a regularly scheduled contest on Saturday night versus the Greensboro Grasshoppers (14-14). The Suns used two ninth inning runs to take down the Hoppers 5-4 in the conclusion of the suspended game and then came from behind to take the victory in the nightcap 4-3.

The Suns and Grasshoppers were supposed to finish up their series back in North Carolina, but Mother Nature had other plans. With the game tied up at two after five, the final four innings were moved to Hagerstown.

Both teams would have the lead in the late innings in Hagerstown and in the top of the ninth, Greensboro turned to their closer Garrett Parcell with a 4-3 lead.

Parcell gave up a single to Suns second baseman Jake Smolinski and then plunked catcher Travis Reagan. Centerfielder Francisco Plascencia then moved both of them up on a sacrifice bunt. The Grasshoppers then elected to intentionally walk shortstop Dan Lyons and load the bases for the Suns leading hitter, Bill Rhinehart. The Hagerstown first baseman tied it up with a deep sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Smolinski and moving Reagan to third. The deciding run came in on a Parcell wild pitch with designated hitter Trevor Lawhorn at the plate.

Martin Beno came into the game for the Suns and retired the Grasshoppers in order for his third save of the year.

The Suns once again showed their resiliency in the regularly scheduled contest.

Greensboro got on the board first with a run in the third inning. Suns starter Cole Kimball gave up back-to-back singles and then walked consecutive batters to bring in the first run of the game.

Hagerstown answered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. Smolinski, centerfielder Stephen Englund, and Plascencia began the inning with three straight doubles to take the lead.

The Grasshoppers answered right back with two runs in the top of the fourth. Third baseman Adam Howard singled on a line drive to center field with one out. Kimball then walked catcher Jameson Smith before shortstop Emilio Ontiveros cleared the bases with a double to the gap in left center.

The Suns came back and held the lead for good with two runs in the sixth inning. Plascencia singled to lead off the inning. Dan Lyons was then hit by a Stu Alexander (3-2) pitch. Both players moved up 90 feet on a Rhinehart ground out to the right side of the infield. Leftfielder Aaron Seuss picked up a RBI ground out to the third basemen. Third baseman Steven Souza singled in the winning run to left field.

Reliever Atahualpa Severino (2-1) pitched two plus innings of scoreless baseball to pick up his second win of the year. Kyle Gunderson retired the final five batters to claim his first save of the year.

The Suns play game two of the series with Greensboro tomorrow at 2:05.

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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