Suns blank Drive 4-0
HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (24-14, 68-40) limited the Greenville Drive (10-28, 44-63) to just two hits on Monday night, as the Suns shutout the Drive 4-0. It was the eighth shutout thrown by Hagerstown this season.
Starting RHP Reynaldo Lopez (1-1), who was making his return to the Suns rotation after spending the last month and a half with short season Auburn, struck out nine batters over six innings to earn the win. LHP David Napoli pitched the final three innings for Hagerstown to record his third save of the season. Starting LHP Daniel McGrath (4-5) suffered the loss for Greenville. He lasted just three innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three.
Hagerstown got its first run thanks to a solo homerun that just sneaked over the right field wall off the bat of 1B Jimmy Yezzo. That shot by Yezzo led off the bottom of the second inning. It was Yezzo's 10th homer of the season, giving him the team lead in long balls.
In the third the Suns stretched their lead to three. Third baseman Drew Ward began the frame by drawing a walk. Two batters later, Yezzo doubled to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Second baseman Brennan Middleton then hit a bloop single to right, driving in Ward from third to make it 2-0. Yezzo scored from third when the next batter, RF Wilman Rodriguez, laid down a sacrifice bunt.
The final Hagerstown run crossed the plate in the sixth. Again the inning began with a leadoff walk, this time drawn by Rodriguez. He stole second, and went to third on a single to right by CF Rafael Bautista. Rodriguez scored from third when LF Narciso Mesa hit a sacrifice fly to left.
These two teams conclude their four-game series at Municipal Stadium on Tuesday July 29. The Suns will send RHP Nick Pivetta (11-6) to the mound for his 19th start and 20th appearance of the year. He will square off against RHP Myles Smith (3-7) for Greenville. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.