HAGERSTOWN, Md. - The Hagerstown Suns (68-59, 30-28) snapped a five-game losing streak with a hit parade on Thursday night that included two triples and a pair of homers in a dominating 11-5 win over the Lakewood BlueClaws (67-63, 27-33) at Municipal Stadium. Following the victory, Hagerstown remained four games
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - The Hagerstown Suns (68-59, 30-28) snapped a five-game losing streak with a hit parade on Thursday night that included two triples and a pair of homers in a dominating 11-5 win over the Lakewood BlueClaws (67-63, 27-33) at Municipal Stadium. Following the victory, Hagerstown remained four games out of first place in the SAL Northern Division with 10 games remaining.
Lakewood jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Suns starter Ben Braymer (Win, 2-2). Darick Hall followed his seven RBI performance on Wednesday by plating a run in the top of the first with a groundout to second and Austin Listi immediately followed with an RBI single. A throwing error by Braymer in the second led to an unearned run as Adam Haseley beat out a double-play grounder to allow Gregori Rivero to score from third.
Mauricio Llovera (Loss, 1-4) failed to record the shutdown inning as the Suns loaded the bases against him in the bottom of the second. Telmito Agustin singled to center before Anderson Franco and Angelo La Bruna both drew walks. Blake Perkins tied up the game with a three-run triple down the right field line to make it 3-3 after two frames.
Llovera loaded the bases with Suns again in the third after one-out singles by Tres Barrera and Nick Banks plus a free pass to Franco. Branden Boggetto stayed patient and picked up his second RBI in seven games with the Suns on a two-out, bases-loaded walk that gave Hagerstown its first lead, 4-3.
The Suns ballooned their advantage to 7-3 in the fourth inning against BlueClaws reliever Casey Brown. After Perkins and Carter Kieboom walked to lead off the frame, Aldrem Corredor landed the second run-scoring triple of the ballgame to right field as both runners came home. Two batters later, Banks ripped an RBI single to the wall in right and just barely missed out on a double with a headfirst slide into second base. Banks went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.
In the top of the fifth, Hall launched his third homer in two days but Braymer steadied the ship in by striking out three of the next five batters he faced. The 23-year-old lefty exited after seven complete innings with three earned runs on ten hits and matched his career high of eight strikeouts in back-to-back starts.
Hagerstown went deep twice in the seventh against Gustavo Armas. Barrera lifted his fifth home run of the year over the 30-foot wall in center field and two batters later, Agustin powered another shot over the big green wall. Barrera went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, Agustin finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Perkins led the Suns with 3 RBI to match his season high.
Hayden Howard pitched the final two frames and allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout. For the second time in the three-game series against Lakewood, the Suns issued no walks.
On Friday, the Suns begin their final road trip of the regular season in the opener of a three-game trip to play the West Virginia Power. Suns right-handed starter Brigham Hill (0-1, 5.40) matches up against Power righty Stephan Meyer (3-0, 2.67) at 7:05 p.m. The Suns return home to Municipal Stadium on Tuesday, August 29 for the final regular season homestand with three games against the in-state rival Delmarva Shorebirds, Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and four games against the Lexington Legends. For tickets, call (301) 791-6266 or visit hagerstownsuns.com.
