Suns begin playoffs with 6-1 win over Power
CHARLESTON, W.V. - The Hagerstown Suns (1-0) began their 2013 postseason with a 6-1 triumph over the West Virginia Power (0-1) at Appalachian Power Park. The win gives the Suns a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three semi-final series.
The Suns opened the scoring in the top of the third. Back-to-back singles by catcher Pedro Severino and SS Stephen Perez began the inning. A one-out walk to 2B Tony Renda loaded the bases for 1B Shawn Pleffner, who also wound up walking to drive in the first run of the frame. A wild pitch by Power starter RHP Tyler Glasnow (0-1) then allowed the second run of the inning to score, and DH Wander Ramos doubled the Suns lead when he belted a two-run double to center field to put Hagerstown ahead 4-0.
Each team plated a run in the sixth to keep the margin at four. In the top half of the inning Severino again led off with a single. Two batters later, CF Isaac Ballou hit a double to right, putting runners at second a third. Severino scored from third when Renda grounded into a force out at second to put the Suns up 5-0.
West Virginia quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning when CF Raul Fortunato smacked a two-out line drive double to left, which drove home RF Josh Bell from first. Later in the inning the Power stranded the bases loaded.
The final Suns run scored in the seventh. Right fielder Bryan Lippincott sent a two-out single to left. Lippincott advanced to second on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. He scored from second when LF Estarlin Martinez singled to left, setting the final score.
Starting RHP Austin Voth (1-0) tossed five scoreless innings for the Suns to earn the win. He allowed three hits while walking two and striking out five. Glasnow suffered the loss for West Virginia. He went 2.2 innings, giving up four earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five.
The Suns and Power continue their best-of-three semi-final series with game two on Friday, September 6. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05p.m. Hagerstown will send RHP Pedro Encarnacion (10-9, 3.58) to the mound for his 25th start of the year and first start of the playoffs. He will be opposed by RHP John Kuchno (9-5, 4.01) for West Virginia.