Suns sweep double-header with Shorebirds

HAGERSTOWN, M.D. - The Hagerstown Suns (5-1) put up an offensive assault against the Delmarva Shorebirds (2-4) on Tuesday night, sweeping a double-header with wins of 10-2 and 7-1. The Suns out-hit Delmarva in the two games 20-10.

 

In game one of the double-header Hagerstown broke a 1-1 tie with six runs in the third inning. Three straight singles to start the inning loaded the bases with no one out. Second baseman Wilmer Difo drove in the first run of the frame by grounding into a force out at second. Center fielder Wilman Rodriguez then grounded out to short to drive in 3B Khayyan Norfork from third. A single by DH John Wooten brought home Difo to make it 4-1, and Wooten scored when RF Estarlin Martinez tripled to right. The final runs of the inning came on a two-run homerun off the bat of 1B James Yezzo to make it 7-1.

 

The final three runs of game one came when catcher Spencer Kieboom knocked a three-run shot out of the yard in the sixth inning. That provided more than enough run support for LHP Matthew Spann (1-0) to lock down the win. He pitched three innings of scoreless relief following a four-inning start by RHP Jake Johansen. RHP Austin Urban (0-1) suffered the loss for Delmarva, giving up seven earned runs on seven hits in three innings.

 

In game two the Suns put up two runs in each of the first two innings to take a 4-0 lead. In the first a double followed by three consecutive singles made it 1-0 with the bases loaded. Catcher Craig Manuel then drew a walk to force in a run and make it 2-0. In the second another Difo groundout drove in the first run of the frame. Three batters later Yezzo singled with runners at first and second and two outs to stretch the lead to four.

 

After Delmarva put up their lone run in the top of the fifth, Hagerstown responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame to seal the win. It was starting RHP Nick Pivetta (2-0) who got credit for the victory. He threw five innings, surrendering one earned run on three hits while striking out three. Starting RHP Luc Rennie got tagged with the loss for the Shorebirds, lasting 4.2 innings and surrendering seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits.

 

The Suns and Shorebirds conclude their three-game series in Hagerstown on Wednesday, April 9. The Suns will send RHP Austin Voth (0-0) to the mound for his second start of the year. He will square off against LHP Steven Brault (0-1) for Delmarva. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm.