Suns hold off Legends, 9-8

    A late Lexington rally fell one run short, and the Legends lost the opener of a four-game series to the Hagerstown Suns 9-8 Thursday night in Hagerstown.   Kelvin Gutierrez drove in four runs for the Suns.

                Hagerstown took the early lead with three runs in the third inning, two scoring on a single by Gutierrez.

                Lexington did not score until the sixth, when a two-out double by Samir Duenez scored D.J. Burt from first base.

                The Legends tied the score at 3-3 in the seventh.   Ben Johnson was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a ground out by Travis Maezes.   After Marten Gasparini struck out, Tanner Stanley singled to center, scoring Johnson, and Stanley moved to second base on a throwing error by center fielder Victor Robles. Michael Hill, who had four hits in four at bats, doubled, scoring Stanley with the tying run.

                Hagerstown answered with five runs in the bottom of the seventh to take an 8-3 lead.   Gutierrez and Rhett Wiseman each had two-run singles in the inning.

                Lexington's Roman Collins led off the top of the eighth with a triple, and Duenez followed with a run-scoring double. After Chase Vallot lined out to third, a balk allowed Duenez to advance to third.   Johnson struck out, but Maezes followed with his fifth home run in 17 games as a Legend, cutting the lead to two at 8-6.

                The Suns added a run in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Edwin Lora walked, stole second and came home on a single by Robles.

                Hill led off the top of the ninth with a single, and Burt was hit by a pitch. Collins grounded out as the runners moved up to second and third. A ground out by Duenez scored Hill, and Vallot's single brought Burt home, making the score 9-8. Reliever Mick VanVossen retired Johnson on a pop fly to Gutierrez at third to end the game.

                Tommy Peterson (3-1), who replaced starter Matt DeRosier in the sixth inning, worked two innings and got the win, though he blew the save opportunity. VanVossen earned his third save.

                Legends starter Emilio Ogando (4-3) was the losing pitcher.

                Game two of the four-game series will be played Friday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.