Hagerstown downs West Virginia for third straight win
HAGERSTOWN, M.D. - The Hagerstown Suns (8-5, 46-34) used a three-run first inning to propel themselves past the West Virginia Power (8-5, 45-38) 4-1 Tuesday evening. With the win the Suns have clinched the season series with the Power with one game remaining.
The Suns raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. With one out 2B Tony Renda walked. First baseman Shawn Pleffner then belted a two-run home run to right-center field, his third of the season. Right fielder Brandon Miller would follow up with a walk. Left fielder Estarlin Martinez would drive in Miller with a double to round out the scoring in the frame.
Hagerstown extended their lead to 4-0 in the sixth. Miller led off with a single to right field and would score on 2B Khayyan Norfork's double to make it 4-0. The double was Norfork's 11th of the season and the RBI was his 27th.
Still trailing 4-0 the Power would score their lone run in the eighth inning. Shortstop Max Moroff hit a leadoff double. After advancing to third on a fly out by LF Raul Fortunato, Moroff scored on a wild pitch by RHP Cody Davis to make it 4-1 which would hold up as the final score.
RHP Pedro Encarnacion (6-4) got the win for the Suns. Encarnacion pitched seven innings, allowing one hit while striking out six. RHP Tyler Glasnow (4-2) got pinned with the loss for West Virginia. Glasnow tossed four innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five. RHP Gilberto Mendez earned his second save of the season by pitching one inning and allowing one hit.
The Suns and Power will finish up their three-game series on Wednesday, July 3. RHP Ronald Pena (3-3) will take the mound for Hagerstown, making his 10th start of the season. RHP Luis Heredia (1-0) will get the start for West Virginia, making his third start of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.