Suns Fall 5-4 to Grasshoppers in Rain Shortened DH

Hagerstown, MD - Alex Flores had two hits and two RBIs for the Hagerstown Suns in a 5-4 loss to the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Saturday night in a rain shortened double header at Historic Municipal Stadium. The second game of the twin-bill was canceled after heavy rain fell at the ballpark between games. The Suns are 0-2 in the second half and 27-43 overall and will hit the road on Sunday with a 5:05 PM first pitch against the Delmarva Shorebirds to begin a three-game series.

The Grasshoppers got out to an early lead in the first against Suns starter Seth Romero. Thomas Jones led off the game with a bunt for a single and went to third on two ground balls. Lazaro Alonso walked and Romero uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Jones to score, giving Greensboro a 1-0 lead. Greensboro scored again on Romero in the second with Garvis Lara sending a two-out double to right to score Isael Soto who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.
The Suns finally broke through in the fifth inning against Greensboro starter Edward Cabrera. With one out, Alex Flores doubled to left and scored when Armond Upshaw singled to left, making it a 2-1 game. Kameron Esthay replaced Upshaw at second, but Yasel Antuna struck out to end the frame.
Hagerstown took the lead in the sixth against Cabrera and Grasshoppers reliever Gabriel Castellanos. Cole Freeman walked and stole second, moving to third on a wild pitch. Luis Garcia walked and Cabrera was pulled from the game as the lefty Castellanos came out of the bullpen. Jake Scudder was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Freeman scored when Omar Meregildo grounded into a fielder's choice at third to tie the game with runners at first and second. With two outs, Flores cleared the bases with a triple to right, giving the Suns a 4-2 advantage.
Greensboro took the lead back for good in the top of the seventh against Suns reliever Sam Held. Jones was hit by a pitch and Jose Devers doubled to left, moving Jones to third. Jhonny Santos homered to left-center field on the second pitch of his at-bat, giving the Grasshoppers a 5-4 lead, which was the final score.
Romero went four innings in a no decision and allowed two runs on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Held (2-3) went three innings in a loss, allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout.
A storm moved in on Historic Municipal Stadium just as game two was about to begin, and heavy rains pushed back the start of the game. Shortly after a decision was made to cancel the game, which will not be made up. The Suns and Grasshoppers do not play each other again in the 2018 regular season.
Notes: Flores had his sixth multi-hit game of the season… It was also his fifth multi-RBI game of the year… Jake Scudder extended his hit streak to six games… Yasel Antuna has a three-game hit streak… Garcia extended his on-base streak to eight games… Freeman has a seven-game on base streak… Hagerstown and Greensboro wrapped up their season series with the Grasshoppers taking the series 8-5… The Suns are 1-1 in specialty jerseys this season… The Suns begin a three-game series against the Delmarva Shorebirds on Sunday with a 5:05 PM first pitch… Hagerstown will send RHP Tomas Alastre (3-2, 4.77) to the mound against Shorebirds RHP Matthias Dietz (6-1, 3.07)…
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