Home Runs by Keyes, Cuevas, and Martinson Topple Lexington in Game Three
Lexington RHP Mike Foltynewicz (5-10), the losing pitcher, allowed five runs in the 1st frame on five bas e hits. CF Chris Curran worked a walk, DH Blake Kelso lined an RBI triple to right center field, 2B Adrian Sanchez blooped an RBI single into right field, and after C David Freitas chopped a single into left field before RF Kevin Keyes cranked a three-run home run over the batter's eye in center field, his 12th four-bagger of the season.
Foltynewicz would go on to surrender eight earned runs on eight hits total through 2.1 innings, while walking one and fanning no one in his worst professional start.
Hagerstown tagged Foltynewicz for one run in the 2nd stanza on a first pitch solo home run off the stick of 3B Justino Cuevas, his first of the season. Cuevas tomahawked a drive off the glove of LF Ruben Sosa and over the wall for the second homer of the contest.
In the 3rd frame, the Suns struck for two more runs when Freitas led off with a double crushed off the left center field padding, Keyes tripled on a screamer a few feet to the left of where Freitas' drive landed in the left center alley way, and SS Jason Martinson lofted a sacrifice fly to center field.
Suns LHP Robbie Ray went the first three innings and allowed just one base hit, no runs, and one walk, while fanning four. Hagerstown RHP Sam Brown tossed a scoreless 4th frame, surrendering one hit. Although it seemed Brown would be the pitcher of record following Ray's exit after three innings, short of the 5.0 innings needed to qualify for the win, RHP Chris McKenzie would be decided the winning pitcher at the official scorer's discretion.
McKenzie (4-4) went 2.2 stanzas and allowed two unearned runs in the 7th inning as Sosa reached on a fielding error by Cuevas, who took over at second base for Sanchez, 2B Delino DeShields, Jr. ripped an RBI double to the gap in left center field and advanced to third base on a relay error by Martinson on an overthrown ball to home plate. DeShields, Jr. scored on an RBI groundout to shortstop by SS Ben Orloff.
Hagerstown threw two more runs on the board in the 8th inning on a two-run missile off RHP Juan Minaya rocketed the other way by Martinson. The longball was his team-leading 15th homer of the 2011 campaign.
Suns RHP Shane McCatty finished the winning effort with 2.2 scoreless innings that featured no hits, no walks, and one strikeout.
Tonight at Municipal Stadium the Suns faithful honored Nick Adenhart. The late Angels pitcher was celebrated for his service to the baseball world and the local community. A portion of all ticket sales and all proceeds from a silent auction will benefit the Nick Adenhart Memorial Fund. Every auction item sold, including autographed pieces from the Washington Nationals signed by Strasburg and Jayson Werth.
Adenhart, a Williamsport, Maryland native was killed in a tragic motor vehicle accident on the same evening in which he made his 2009 season debut. Adenhart had a stellar outing that featured 6.0 innings, in which Adenhart allowed just seven hits and no runs, while striking out five batters against the Oakland Athletics.
A plaque bearing Nick's name will hang next to the retired numbers on the outfield wall for all who visit Municipal Stadium to see in order to ensure Adenhart's memory and influence on our community is never forgotten.
The Game Four finale at Municipal Stadium on Wednesday night will feature a 7:05pm first pitch. Wall-to-wall radio broadcast coverage will begin with a 6:50pm Break Away 2 Sports Lounge Pre-game Show on WJEJ AM 1240. The pitching matchup will summon Washington Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg to the mound to face Legends LHP Luis Cruz (3-2, 4.18).
Strasburg will make his third rehabilitation appearance after undergoing Tommy John Surgery last September. This will be the second time Strasburg has pitched at Municipal Stadium after dazzling Suns fans with four strikeouts in 1.2 innings on August 7 and tossing 3.0 scoreless innings for the Potomac Nationals on August 12. The initial start in Hub City was Strasburg's first non-simulated professional game since being injured last summer in a contest against the Philadelphia Phillies after a stellar rookie campaign with the Nationals. It was the second largest crowd attendance recorded in the history of Municipal Stadium, the third oldest Minor League ballpark still in operation.
The Hagerstown Suns play at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, MD and are a Class "A" affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Season ticket packages, group outings, and corporate sponsorships are available by calling the Suns at 301-791-6266. Visit the Suns on the web at www.hagerstownsuns.com. The Suns are owned by Hagerstown Baseball, LLC.
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