Suns win fifth consecutive series
SALISBURY, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (21-11, 65-37) secured their fifth consecutive series win on Monday night with a 3-1 victory over the Delmarva Shorebirds (16-16, 54-47). Hagerstown won the four-game series with Delmarva three games to one, and the Suns now control the season-series with the Shorebirds 11-9.
On Monday Hagerstown plated all three of its runs in the third inning. Back-to-back one-out doubles by 2B Wilmer Difo and LF Isaac Ballou drove in the runs. That was all the support starting LHP Hector Silvestre (6-7) would need to notch the win. He surrendered just one earned run despite giving up nine hits and two walks over six innings. RHP Andrew Cooper threw the final three scoreless innings to earn his second save of the season. Starting LHP Steven Brault (7-7) took the loss for Delmarva. He threw six innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four.
In the third game of the series Sunday evening Hagerstown notched its second one-run win in a row with a 5-4 victory. The Suns scored a run each in the eighth and the ninth to pull out the come-from-behind win. Ballou crossed the plate for the winning run, coming home following a wild pitch by RHP Austin Urban. The run was charged, however, to RHP Garrett Cortright (0-1) who wound up suffering the blown save and the loss. He threw 1.2 innings and was charged for two earned runs on three hits and two walks. RHP Sam Johns (2-0) got the win for Hagerstown. He tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief, giving up three hits.
In game two of the series on Saturday night the Suns fended off a late rally by the Shorebirds to hold on for a 6-5 win. Hagerstown led 5-0 after five innings, but saw its lead diminished to one run after Delmarva plated two in the bottom of the eighth. Each team scored a run in the ninth to set the final margin. Starting RHP Lucas Giolito (5-2) went 5.1 innings and gave up two earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out nine to earn the win. RHP Cody Davis tossed the final 1.1 innings for the Suns to earn his second save of the year. Starting RHP Janser Severino (1-1) got tagged with the loss for the Shorebirds. He pitched five innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out four.
In game one of the series on Friday night the Shorebirds collected 17 hits en route to an 8-3 win. Starting RHP Jake Johansen (5-5) gave up four earned runs on 10 of those Delmarva hits and thus suffered the loss for the Suns. He went five innings and allowed three walks while striking out five. Starting RHP Hunter Harvey (7-4) picked up the win for the Shorebirds. He threw five innings, allowing one earned run on just two hits and no walks while striking out eight.
In total Delmarva outscored Hagerstown 18-17 over the course of the series, and the Shorebirds out-hit the Suns 49-29. The Suns next head home to Municipal Stadium to begin a three-game series with the Kannapolis Intimidators (17-14, 46-52), which starts on Wednesday, July 23. RHP Nick Pivetta (11-5) will take the mound for Hagerstown for his 18th start and 19th appearance this season. First pitch on Wednesday is scheduled for 7:05pm.