Suns complete four-game sweep of Kannapolis
HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (32-18, 76-44) scored one run in five different innings on Sunday evening as they completed a four-game sweep of the Kannapolis Intimidators (24-26, 53-64) with a 5-3 win. The sweep is the Suns first since a three-game sweep of the Delmarva Shorebirds from June 2 - 4.
Trailing 2-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth, Hagerstown managed to plate a run in each of its final four frames. In the fifth 2B Brennan Middleton drew a two-out walk. He advanced from first to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, and scored on a single up the middle by CF Rafael Bautista.
In the sixth the Suns broke the 2-2 tie thanks to an RBI double by catcher Austin Chubb. The double came with two outs, and was Chubb's fourth double of the season. It was again a two-out double that stretched Hagerstown's lead to 4-2 in the seventh. This time it was LF Narciso Mesa who drove in the run with his 10th double of the year.
The Intimidators cut their deficit to one again in the top of the eighth. Right fielder Chevy Clarke drew a walk to begin the frame. He then went to second on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on a single to left by 2B Christian Stringer. A sacrifice fly by 3B Trey Michalczewski brought Clarke home from third to make it 4-3.
That's as close as Kannapolis would get thanks to an RBI single to short by RF Wilman Rodriguez with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. The Suns first run of the game had crossed the plate in the first inning on a steal of home by SS Wilmer Difo. The first two Intimidators runs came on a two-run homerun by SS Toby Thomas in the top of the fifth.
RHP Ryan Ullmann (4-1) wound up getting the win for Hagerstown. He threw two innings in relief, giving up one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out one. LHP David Napoli pitched a scoreless ninth to record his fourth save of the season. RHP Tyler Barnette (2-8) suffered the loss for Kannapolis. He threw the final 3.1 innings for the Intimidators, surrendering three runs (two earned) on nine hits while striking out two.
The Suns next head to Salisbury, Maryland on Monday August 11 to begin a seven-game road trip with a three-game series against the Shorebirds (22-28, 60-59). The Suns will send RHP Lucas Giolito (8-2) to the mound for his 19th start and appearance of the year. He will square off against LHP Luis Gonzalez (6-1) for Delmarva. First pitch on Monday is scheduled for 7:05pm.