Suns fall in series finale, but take 2 of 3 from Lakewood
LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The Hagerstown Suns (43-23) could not complete the three-game sweep of the Lakewood BlueClaws (26-39) on Wednesday night, as the Suns fell in the series finale 10-2. The win for the BlueClaws is just their second in 13 games against the Suns this season.
Lakewood blew the game open on Wednesday with a seven-run eighth inning that saw 10 batters come to the plate. The BlueClaws were ahead 3-2 entering the frame, so that allowed starting RHP Mark Leiter (5-5) to earn the win and LHP Cody Forsythe to record the save. Leiter went 7.1 innings, giving up two unearned runs on five hits while striking out seven. Forsythe tossed 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two. Starting RHP Jefry Rodriguez (0-2) suffered the loss for Hagerstown. He worked five innings, surrendering three runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out four.
In game two of the series on Tuesday night Hagerstown held Lakewood to just one hit as the Suns blanked the BlueClaws 2-0. It was the fourth shutout pitched by Hagerstown this year, and the one hit is the fewest an opponent has had against the Suns all season. Starting RHP Austin Voth (4-3) tossed seven innings for Hagerstown to earn his third win in a row. He gave up the one hit, and walked one while striking out six. RHP David Ramos pitched the final two innings to record his first save of the year. Starting RHP Tyler Viza (2-8) got tagged with the loss for Lakewood. He went seven innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while striking out two.
It took 12 innings for the Suns to escape with a 5-3 win in game one of the series on Monday night. Left fielder Isaac Ballou drove in the winning run in the top of the 12th with a line drive single to right. Ballou scored the second run of the frame when DH Drew Ward smacked a triple to center field.
Hagerstown used a season-high six pitchers in the contest, and it was LHP Joseph Webb (2-1) who wound up getting the win. He threw one scoreless inning in relief, allowing one hit and striking out two. LHP Jake Walsh kept the BlueClaws off the scoreboard in the bottom of the 12th for his seventh save of the season. RHP Lucas Giolito started for the Suns and tossed four scoreless and hitless innings, giving up three walks while striking out six. RHP Tyler Buckley (1-2) suffered the loss for Lakewood. He pitched one inning, surrendering two earned runs on two hits and one walk.
In total Lakewood outscored Hagerstown 13-9 over the course of the series, but the Suns out-hit the BlueClaws 23-19. The Suns next head home to Municipal Stadium to begin a four-game series with the Greenville Drive (31-34), which starts on Thursday, June 12. LHP Hector Silvestre (2-3) will make his 11th start of the season for Hagerstown. He will match up against LHP Daniel McGrath (1-3) for Greenville. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 7:05pm.