Suns take rubber game, series with Augusta
AUGUSTA, G.A. - The Hagerstown Suns (14-5) plated two runs in the top of the 13th inning Wednesday night to defeat the Augusta Greenjackets (11-9) by a final of 5-3 in the rubber game of a three-game series. The 13-inning affair was the second longest game the Suns have played this season.
Catcher Craig Manuel drove in the two runs for Hagerstown in the 13th with a homerun over the right field wall, his first homerun of the season and the team's sixth. The Suns had battled back to tie the game at 3-3 with a two-out rally in the top of the ninth. Third baseman Drew Ward singled up the middle with LF Isaac Ballou standing at second to drive him home and knot the game. It was the second time in the contest the Suns had had to battle back to tie the game.
RHP L.J. Hollins (2-0) collected the win for Hagerstown. He pitched the final three innings without allowing a run, surrendering just two hits and two walks while striking out two. RHP Carlos Alvarado (1-1) was charged with the loss for the Greenjackets. He threw one inning, giving up two earned runs on two hits. The teams combined to use 10 pitchers in the contest.
Hagerstown's first win in the series came in the second game, when the Suns came back from a three-run deficit to win 4-3. Hagerstown didn't take its first lead until the top of the ninth. Trailing 3-2 entering the inning, CF Rafael Bautista led off with a bunt single. The next batter, Ballou, tripled to left to tie the game at 3-3. Shortstop Wilmer Difo followed with a ground ball single up the middle to drive home Ballou for the winning run.
That allowed RHP Wander Suero (2-0) to earn the win. He pitched four scoreless innings in relief and allowed just two hits while striking out four. RHP Lucas Giolito started for Hagerstown and went four innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out five. LHP Jake Walsh pitched a hitless bottom of the ninth to record his first save of the year. RHP Raymundo Montero (0-2) suffered the loss and blown save for the Greenjackets.
In the first game of the series a three-run fourth inning for Augusta proved to be the difference. Left fielder Devin Harris began the bottom of the frame by hitting a double to left. A single and a walk followed to load the bases with no one out. After a force out at the plate, catcher Ty Ross hit a sacrifice fly to center field to break the scoreless tie. Center fielder Randy Ortiz then smacked a double to left to clear the bases and make it 3-0.
The Suns tried to claw back with a run each in the eighth and ninth, but in the end came up two runs shy falling by a final of 4-2. Starting RHP Nick Pivetta (2-2) was tagged with the loss for Hagerstown, going 4.1 innings and surrendering four earned runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out one. Starting LHP Christian Jones (1-1) picked up the win for Augusta. He threw six scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out six. RHP Luis Castillo recorded the save, his first of the season.
In total Hagerstown outscored Augusta in the series 11-10, and out-hit the Greenjackets 32-26. The Suns next head to Charleston, WV to begin a four game series with the West Virginia Power (7-10) that starts on Thursday, April 24. The Suns will send RHP Dixon Anderson (2-0) to the mound for his third start and fourth appearance of the year. He will square off against LHP Cody Dickson (2-1) for the Power. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.