Suns clinch series with Braves with 6-2 win

HAGERSTOWN, M.D. - The Hagerstown Suns (3-1) used a three-run sixth inning on Sunday to secure a 6-2 win over the Rome Braves (1-3). The win gave the Suns the season series win over the Braves for a second straight year.

 

First baseman John Wooten began the Suns half of the sixth inning by drawing a walk. He went to third on a double by DH Wilman Rodriguez. Following a pitching change, LF Estarlin Martinez grounded out to second to drive Wooten in from third and tie the game at 2-2. Following a walk to 3B Khayyan Norfork, SS David Masters reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Rodriguez to score from third and Norfork to move to third. Norfork scored the final run of the frame on a sacrifice fly by catcher Craig Manuel.

 

Rome scored their lone two runs of the game in the first inning on a two-run single by DH Jacob Schrader. Hagerstown responded with one run of its own in the bottom of the frame. CF Isaac Ballou led off with a triple and scored when Wooten grounded out to short with one out.

 

The Suns added an insurance run in both the seventh and eighth inning to set the final score. In the seventh 2B Wilmer Difo reached first on a one-out bunt single. He moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored when Rodriguez smacked a line drive single to left. In the eighth a leadoff walk to Norfork proved costly as he wound up scoring on a throwing error by Braves SS Johan Camargo.

 

RHP Dixon Anderson (1-0) pitched four scoreless innings in relief for Hagerstown to earn the win. He took over for starting LHP Hector Silvestre, who worked five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six. LHP Jared Dettmann (0-1) suffered the loss for Rome, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out three.

 

The Suns next begin a three-game series with the Delmarva Shorebirds (2-2) in Hagerstown on Monday, April 7. The Suns will send RHP Jake Johansen (0-0) to the mound for his first start of the year. He will square off against RHP Austin Urban (0-0) for Delmarva. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm.