Suns go long in 11-2 win over BlueClaws

HAGERSTOWN, M.D. - The Hagerstown Suns (7-6) used a three homerun attack on Tuesday to defeat the Lakewood BlueClaws (3-10), 11-2. The Suns had hit just two homeruns all season prior to Tuesday's game.

 

The first of the Suns three homeruns was hit in the bottom of the fourth. With runners at first and second and one out, CF Wander Ramos sent a ball flying over the left field wall for his first homerun of the season in his first game back since being activated from the disabled list earlier in the day.

 

Two innings later, 1B Shawn Pleffner sent a ball over the center field wall with LF Estarlin Martinez standing at third to make it a 5-2 ballgame. Pleffner was playing in his second game with the Suns since being called up from extended spring training.

 

The final Suns homerun of the night came in the bottom of the seventh off the bat of RF Brandon Miller. His shot was a grand slam homerun with two outs, his second homer this season. That put Hagerstown up 10-2, and essentially sealed the win.

 

Lakewood scored its two runs in the fifth and sixth. In the fifth CF Carlos Tocci and catcher Chace Numata hit back-to-back singles to begin the inning. They both advanced a base on a groundout to short by DH Tyler Greene, and Tocci scored when SS Roman Quinn singled to right. In the sixth a wild pitch by RHP Brian Dupra (1-0) allowed 1B Art Charles to score from third, making it a 3-2 game at the time.

 

Dupra got the win for Hagerstown. He entered the game with two outs in the first inning after Suns starter RHP Ivan Pineyro got hit by a line drive off the bat of RF Brian Pointer. Dupra ended up pitching 5.1 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on eight hits, while walking one and striking out three. Starting RHP Shane Watson (0-1) suffered the loss for Lakewood. He threw five innings, surrendering five earned runs on six hits including two of the homers. He walked two and struck out four. RHP Will Hudgins threw three scoreless innings of relief for the Suns to earn his first save of the year.

 

The Suns wrap-up their three game series with the BlueClaws on Wednesday April 17. Hagerstown will send LHP Brett Mooneyham (1-0) to the mound for his third start of the season. He will square off against RHP Kevin Brady (0-1) for Lakewood. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05pm.