Suns drop final game of series to Kannapolis 12-7
HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (11-7, 55-33) fell behind big early on Sunday evening and could never recover, dropping a 12-7 final to the Kannapolis Intimidators (12-6, 41-44) in the third game of a three-game series. Despite the loss, the Suns won the series two games to one.
The Intimidators assault began with a five-run first inning. Center fielder Adam Engel began the game with a bunt basehit. Second baseman Christian Stringer followed with a two-run homerun that cleared the right field wall, his fourth homer of the season. Then, 3B Trey Michalczewski hit a double to center field and two batters later RF Jacob Morris walked. Catcher Brett Austin drove both runners in with a ground ball double to center field to make it 4-0. Austin scored the final run of the frame on a single off the bat of DH Carl Thomore.
Hagerstown responded right away with two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to three. Center fielder Rafael Bautista started the inning by drawing a walk. Back-to-back singles by SS Wilmer Difo and 3B Drew Ward followed, the second of which plated Bautista. Difo scored from third when 1B Jimmy Yezzo hit into a double-play with the bases loaded and no outs. After the double-play, DH Carlos Lopez lined out to third to end the threat.
The score remained 5-2 until the fourth, when another long ball by Stringer increased the lead to six. Kannapolis put up another three spot in the sixth to take their largest lead of the night, 11-2. In that sixth inning doubles by Engel and 1B Danny Hayes, and a single by Michalczewski all produced runs.
Hagerstown put up a run each in the bottom of the sixth and seventh to make the score a bit more respectable, but the Intimidators answered right back with a run of their own in the eighth. The final three runs for the Suns came in the bottom of the ninth, when Lopez went yard over the left field wall with two on and two outs. It was Lopez's second homer of the year, and the second hit in the game by Hagerstown.
Starting RHP Nick Pivetta (10-5) wound up getting tagged with the loss for the Suns. He lasted just 3.1 innings, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three. Starting RHP Jordan Guerrero (6-0), making just his second start of the year for Kannapolis, earned the win. He went five innings, surrendering two earned runs on six hits and five walks while striking out two.
The Suns next welcome the Lakewood BlueClaws (6-12, 33-54) to Municipal Stadium to begin a three-game series, which begins on Monday July 7. The Suns will send RHP Lucas Giolito (4-2) to the mound for his 14th start and appearance of the year. He will square off against RHP Ranfi Casimiro (2-7) for Lakewood. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.