Suns drop series in West Virginia 2-1
CHARLESTOWN, WV - The Hagerstown Suns (28-18, 72-44) fell in the rubber game of a three-game series against the West Virginia Power (22-24, 42-72) on Wednesday night by a final of 7-2. The loss hands the Suns their first series loss since a three-game set against Lakewood from July 1 -3.
On Wednesday West Virginia broke the game open in the second inning with a four-run frame. The Power compiled five hits in the inning, all of them singles, and also drew one walk. Hagerstown starting RHP Wirkin Estevez (0-2) had to leave the game with an arm injury in the middle of that second inning. Despite throwing just 1.1 innings, Estevez still suffered the loss, as he was charged for five earned runs on five hits and one walk. Starting RHP Luis Heredia (2-4) pitched six innings for the Power to get the win. He allowed two earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two.
In the second game of the series on Tuesday night both teams combined for 26 hits as Hagerstown won a slugfest 10-6. The Suns broke a 2-2 tie and took command of the game with a six-run third inning, which was capped off by a two-run homerun from 2B Wilmer Difo. It was Difo's team-leading 11th blast of the season, and he also picked up his team-leading 74th and 75th RBI.
Starting RHP Lucas Giolito (8-2) was the beneficiary of the six-run third, and as a result picked up his sixth win in his last seven starts. Giolito tossed five innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits including one homer. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Starting RHP Dovydas Neverauskas (5-10) suffered the loss for West Virginia. He went just 2.1 innings, surrendering seven earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out one. RHP Sam Johns pitched the final 0.2 innings for Hagerstown to record his second save of the season.
In game one of the series on Monday night the Suns were held to just three hits in a 5-2 loss. All three of the Suns hits were extra-base hits, however, including two solo homeruns. The homeruns came from catcher Spencer Kieboom in the fourth, and 1B Carlos Lopez in the eighth. In between the long balls the Power scored five unanswered runs, including a four-run sixth. RHP Andrew Cooper (7-4) gave up all four of those runs in the sixth, and thus was charged with the loss. He lasted just 0.2 innings, and allowed the four runs on five hits and one walk. Starting RHP Buddy Borden (6-7) notched the win for the Power. He threw seven innings, surrendering one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four.
In total West Virginia outscored Hagerstown 18-14 over the course of the series, and the Power out-hit the Suns 29-26. The Suns next head home to Municipal Stadium to begin a four-game series with the Kannapolis Intimidators (24-22, 53-60), which starts on Thursday, August 7. RHP Reynaldo Lopez (1-1) will take the mound for Hagerstown for his fifth start and appearance for the Suns this season. He will square off against LHP Jeff McKenzie (2-3) for the Intimidators. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 7:05pm.