Suns double-up Lakewood 8-4
HAGERSTOWN, M.D. - The Hagerstown Suns (27-17, 65-46) put together two three-run innings and totaled 13 hits in an 8-4 win over the Lakewood BlueClaws (18-26, 44-67) on Monday night. With the win the Suns are now 10-4 against the BlueClaws this season.
Lakewood took a 3-0 lead to begin the game. The first five BlueClaws hitters reached base in the first inning. Right fielder Brian Pointer led off the game by drawing a walk. Shortstop Angelo Mora then hit a line drive single to center field, pushing Pointer to second. Both Mora and Pointer advanced on a wild pitch, and LF Domonic Brown (the Phillies outfielder who was playing in a rehab game with Lakewood) drove Pointer home with a single to left. A fielding error by 1B Shawn Pleffner then allowed DH Willie Carmona to reach base and Mora to score. First baseman Art Charles drove in the final run of the inning with a double to center field.
Hagerstown battled back to tie the game at 3-3 in the second. Designated hitter Wander Ramos started the inning by reaching on a throwing error by 3B Mitch Walding. Third baseman Mike McQuillan then singled to right, which sent Ramos scampering to third. Left fielder Estarlin Martinez brought Ramos home with a single up the middle. The next batter, catcher Pedro Severino, drove in the final two runs of the frame with a double to left.
After each team scored a run in the third, (Lakewood's run coming from a solo homerun by Brown) the Suns went ahead for good in the fifth. Ramos and McQuillan hit back-to-back doubles with two outs to put Hagerstown ahead 5-4.
In the seventh the Suns opened the game up. Second baseman Tony Renda hit a leadoff single to right. Pleffner followed with a double, which drove Renda home. Ramos knocked Pleffner in with a ground ball single up the middle. An error on an attempted pickoff of Ramos allowed him to go from first to third. Ramos scored from third on a Martinez single to round out the scoring for the game.
RHP Pedro Encarnacion (8-7) started and got the win for Hagerstown. He went five innings and surrendered four earned runs on five hits. Starting RHP Miguel Nunez (8-8) took the loss for the BlueClaws. He pitched five innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out one. RHP Gilberto Mendez came into the game with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth to record his seventh save in eight tries this season.
The Suns continue their three-game series against the BlueClaws at Municipal Stadium on Tuesday, August 6. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05p.m. Hagerstown will send LHP Brett Mooneyham (7-3, 2.48) to the mound for his 19th start of the season. He will be opposed by RHP Jonathan Musser (1-6, 5.57) for Lakewood.