HICKORY, N.C. - Blake Perkins spoiled a combined no-hitter for the Hickory Crawdads (32-21, 59-64) with a leadoff single in the eighth inning as the Hagerstown Suns (28-23, 66-54) settled for two hits in a 3-0 road loss that dropped them three games behind the first-place Crawdads in the South
HICKORY, N.C. - Blake Perkins spoiled a combined no-hitter for the Hickory Crawdads (32-21, 59-64) with a leadoff single in the eighth inning as the Hagerstown Suns (28-23, 66-54) settled for two hits in a 3-0 road loss that dropped them three games behind the first-place Crawdads in the South Atlantic League Northern Division second-half standings with 17 games remaining.
Following a one-hour-six-minute rain delay, Hickory starter Michael Matuella (Win, 4-6) tossed five hitless innings while walking five Suns. Perkins walked in each of his first three at-bats before singling to second base in the top of the eighth against reliever Kaleb Fontenot (Hold, 4). Nick Banks led off the ninth with a single to left field before C.D. Pelham (Save, 10) struck out the side to end the ballgame.
Matt DeRosier (Loss, 2-3) ran his scoreless streak to 20 1/3 innings before Andretty Cordero lined an infield RBI single to third base that scored Eric Jenkins. The Crawdads added two more runs in the fourth on a solo homer by Yohel Pozo and an RBI single to left field by Brendon Davis. DeRosier left after 5 2/3 innings, three earned runs, six hits, two walks, and six strikeouts.
Carlos Pena pitched the final 2 1/3 innings in relief and allowed one hit with a walk and two strikeouts, but the Suns failed to mount a rally as they matched their season low with two base hits in nine innings. Hagerstown was previously held to two hits in a 6-0 home loss to the Charleston RiverDogs on July 14.
Hagerstown remains in a second-place tie with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, three games behind the first-place Crawdads. On Friday, the Suns return to Municipal Stadium to begin a seven-game homestand with four games against the Kannapolis Intimidators. The Suns are partnering with Potomac Edison to light up the skies above Hagerstown during a postgame fireworks spectacular on Friday night. To purchase Suns tickets, call (301) 791-6266 or visit hagerstownsuns.com.
