Suns prevail in extras over Intimidators
HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (22-12, 66-38) won a back-and-forth game in 13-innings over the Kannapolis Intimidators (18-15, 47-53) on Thursday night by a final of 5-4. Hagerstown is now 7-1 in extra-inning games this season, and 14-3 when playing on Thursdays.
Third baseman John Wooten drove in the winning run for the Suns in the bottom of the 13th with a line drive single up the middle. Narciso Mesa began the frame with a single to center field, and he went to third on a single to right by 2B Wilmer Difo. Left fielder Isaac Ballou followed with a fly out to right, and that brought Wooten to the plate to deliver his heroics.
Wooten was responsible for driving in three other Suns runs in the game as well. In the bottom of the first with Hagerstown down 1-0, Wooten delivered a two-out double to right, which brought home Ballou from second to even the score at 1-1. In the third a sacrifice fly by Wooten evened the score at 2-2.
Wooten hit another sacrifice fly in the fifth, which at the time gave Hagerstown a 4-3 lead. It was part of a two-run inning for the Suns, as Ballou hit an RBI triple right before Wooten's sac fly brought him home for the go-ahead run. Ballou tripled in the first game of the series with Kannapolis on Wednesday night as well.
The Intimidators were able to come back from the 4-3 deficit and send the game into extras thanks to a solo homerun off the bat of Tyler Williams in the top of the eighth. It was Williams' seventh homerun of the season and the only long ball of the game for either team.
Kannapolis scored its first three runs in the first four innings. In the first DH Danny Hayes grounded into a force out at second with the bases loaded to drive in a run. In the second a passed ball by catcher Austin Chubb with the bases loaded allowed an unearned run to score. In the fourth a sacrifice fly by 3B Trey Michalczewski did the damage, plating Williams from third to put the Intimidators ahead at the time 3-2.
Despite pitching just 0.1 innings, RHP Andrew Cooper (7-2) got the win for Hagerstown. Cooper was the fifth pitcher used by the Suns. RHP Jake Johansen started for Hagerstown and went three innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and five walks while striking out three. RHP Brad Salgado (2-1) suffered the loss for the Intimidators. He went 3.1 innings, surrendering one earned run on four hits while striking out one.
These two teams conclude their three-game series at Municipal Stadium on Friday July 25. The Suns will send RHP Lucas Giolito (5-2) to the mound for his 16th start and appearance of the year. He will square off against LHP Andre Wheeler (1-2) for Kannapolis. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.