Power double up Suns 4-2
HAGERSTOWN, MD - One night after the West Virginia Power (21-10, 58-42) were done in by a big fifth inning, they turned the tables and had a big fifth inning of their own on Monday night on their way to a 4-2 win over the Hagerstown Suns (14-17, 49-50). The West Virginia win evens the season series at 8-8, with just one game remaining in the regular season between the two teams.
Trailing 2-1 heading to the top of the fifth, West Virginia managed to get the first two hitters of the inning aboard with singles. A sacrifice bunt pushed both runners into scoring position, and a single to center field by 3B Jordan Luplow drove one run in to even the score at 2-2. First baseman Connor Joe then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 3-2, and Luplow advanced from first to second on the throw home. He then scored from second on a single up the middle by RF Michael Suchy to set what wound up being the final score.
Hagerstown was able to take the 2-1 advantage by plating a run in the bottom of the third. With one out DH Jose Marmolejos drew a walk, and he went from first to third on a single to right by RF Dale Carey. Marmolejos then scored from third on a wild pitch delivered by starting RHP Colten Brewer (3-8).
That was the second lead of the game for the Suns, as they also took a 1-0 advantage in the first. Shorstop Osvaldo Abreu smacked a one-out double to left, his league leading 29th double of the season. Two batters later Carey brought Abreu home with a double just out of the reach of CF Tito Polo.
The Power knotted the score at 1-1 in the second. Suchy led off the frame with a double to right. Following back-to-back groundouts, Elvis Escobar knocked in Suchy from third with an infield single to second. It was Escobar's 40th RBI of the season and his lone hit in the game. Suchy finished with three hits in the contest.
Brewer wound up with the win for West Virginia. He threw six innings and gave up the two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two. Starting RHP Justin Amlung (2-1) suffered the loss for Hagerstown. In his first start of the season, Amlung tossed 4.2 innings and surrendered four earned runs on eight hits while striking out one. RHP Dovydas Neverauskas pitched the final three innings for the Power to earn his second save of the season.
These teams will conclude their season series on Tuesday July 27 at Municipal Stadium. The Suns will send RHP Mario Sanchez (5-4) to the mound for his eighth start and 21st appearance this season. He will square off against RHP Austin Coley (11-5) for West Virginia. First pitch is scheduled for 11:05am. For tickets call 301-791-6266 or go to www.hagerstownsuns.com.