HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Telmito Agustin slapped a two-out base hit in the bottom of the ninth and reached third after a stolen base and a passed ball, but the Hagerstown Suns (29-27, 67-58) couldn't drive in the game-tying run as the Lakewood BlueClaws (26-32, 66-62) held on for a 3-2
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Telmito Agustin slapped a two-out base hit in the bottom of the ninth and reached third after a stolen base and a passed ball, but the Hagerstown Suns (29-27, 67-58) couldn't drive in the game-tying run as the Lakewood BlueClaws (26-32, 66-62) held on for a 3-2 win at Municipal Stadium on Tuesday night.
Following the loss, Hagerstown remained three games behind the first-place Hickory Crawdads, who are now tied with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, in the South Atlantic League Northern Division second-half title race with 12 games remaining.
Blake Perkins drove in both runs for the Suns in the bottom of the second inning against Lakewood starter Bailey Falter (Win, 8-6). Following a pair of singles by Nick Banks and Anderson Franco , Perkins drove a two-out double to the wall in left field to give Hagerstown a 2-0 lead.
The BlueClaws snapped back in the top of the third as a rainstorm hit Hagerstown. Matt DeRosier (Loss, 2-4) allowed a leadoff home run to Daniel Brito and Gregori Rivero followed with a ground-rule double to right in the driving rain before the umpires called both teams off the diamond.
Following a one-hour-two-minute rain delay, DeRosier returned to the mound and committed a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt that allowed Rivero to score from second and tied the game at 2-2. Two batters later, Arquimedes Gamboa put Lakewood ahead for good with a grounder to first that Aldrem Corredor threw home to try and catch Williams at the plate.
A.J. Bogucki entered in the sixth to replace DeRosier, who finished with one earned run on five hits and six strikeouts in five innings of work. Bogucki combined with Jake Barnett to toss four scoreless innings of relief with three hits and four strikeouts.
Falter and the BlueClaws bullpen defended the 3-2 lead by retiring 15 Suns batters in a row. Agustin broke the slump with an infield single to second base in the ninth. Banks joined him on the corners with a two-out walk, but Will Hibbs (Save, 16) drew the game-ending flyout from Franco as the Suns suffered their eighth loss in the last 10 games.
The Suns continue their weeklong homestand on Wednesday with the second of three games against the Lakewood BlueClaws. Right-handed starter Carlos Pena (6-5, 5.12) goes to the mound at 7:05 p.m. in a matchup with Lakewood righty Luis Carrasco (0-2, 4.35). For tickets, call (301) 791-6266 or visit hagerstownsuns.com.
