Suns end homestand with 5-3 loss to Shorebirds

HAGERSTOWN, M.D. - The Hagerstown Suns (5-2) could not complete their first series sweep of the 2014 season as they fell to the Delmarva Shorebirds (3-4) on Wednesday night 5-3. Despite the loss the Suns completed their first homestand with a 5-2 record.

 

The Shorebirds jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Wednesday and never looked back, despite the Suns coming within a run in the seventh. The first two Delmarva runs came in the second inning. Designated hitter Conor Bierfeldt drew a leadoff walk. Third baseman Drew Dosch followed with a double to right, which plated Bierfeldt to make it 1-0. Dosch wound up scoring the second run of the frame on a sacrifice fly by catcher Austin Wynns.

 

Delmarva added to its lead in the third on a groundout by 1B Trey Mancini with runners at second and third and just one out. The Shorebirds stretched their lead to four in the top of the fifth thanks to a two-out single by Dosch, which drove in RF Mike Yastrzemski from third.

 

It was in the bottom half of the fifth when the Suns finally got on the board. Center fielder Rafael Bautista drove in the first run for Hagerstown with a one-out triple to center field. A double by 2B Wilmer Difo followed, allowing Bautista to easily score from third to make it 4-2.

 

Hagerstown made it a one run game in the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, catcher Spencer Kieboom grounded out to drive home Bautista from third. However, that's as close as the Suns would come and Delmarva added an insurance run in the eighth when Josh Hart hit an RBI single up the middle, thereby setting the final score at 5-3.

 

Starting LHP Steven Brault (1-1) earned the win for the Shorebirds. He went six innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out seven without walking a batter. Starting RHP Austin Voth (0-1) suffered the loss for Hagerstown. He pitched 4.2 innings, surrendering four earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six. RHP Jimmy Yacabonis threw a scoreless ninth for the Shorebirds to record his second save of the season.

 

The Suns next head out on a seven game road trip beginning with a four game series at Lakewood that starts on Thursday, April 10. The Suns will send RHP Lucas Giolito (0-0) to the mound for his second start of the year. He will square off against RHP Tyler Viza (0-1) for the BlueClaws. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm.