Joey Wong Walk-Off Single Seals 11th Inning Tourists' Triumph
Tourists RHP Josh Slaats pitched very well but did not factor into the decision as the bullpen blew his win. Slaats tossed 7.0 stanzas and surrendered three earned runs on six hits, two walks, and fanned eight, allowing one home run.
Suns RHP Matt Swynenberg, came up shy of a quality start after spinning 5.2 innings and allowing four earned runs on seven hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Swynenberg gave up a pair of a home runs in the contest.
Hagerstown scored first with a trio of runs in the 4th frame when C David Freitas, who was 2-for-5 with two runs in the game, lined a double to left field before RF Kevin Keyes reached on afielder's choice groundball to third base, and then LF Randolph Oduber crushed a three-run home run to the trees behind the left field wall, his fifth dinger of the campaign.
Asheville countered with two runs in the home half of the 4th as 2B Brett Tanos was hit by a pitch and DH Corey Dickerson cranked a two-run home run blast to right center field, his 32nd screamer of the season.
The Tourists tagged the scoreboard for two runs in the 5th inning on a four-bagger by CF Rafael Ortega, a skyscraper over the blue monster in right field, his ninth longball of the season.
Down 4-3 over his duration on the mound, Suns RHP Greg Holt was strong, throwing 2.1 scoreless frames, walking one, and striking out a pair.
Off Asheville RHP Juan Perez (BS 9), who blew his ninth save, the Suns tied the game on an error by the RF Kyle Parker in the 8th inning. Freitas lofted a popup to shallow right field and Parker squeezed his glove too early and the ball ricocheted to the ground, allowing DH Blake Kelso, who doubled, to score.
The game went to extra frames as RHP Wilson Eusebio earned a scoreless 9th inning, striking out Dickerson and Wong.
In the 10th, Freitas launched his 13th homer of the year, a solo bomb to dead center field giving Hagerstown a 5-4 advantage.
The Suns could not celebrate long as Eusebio allowed LF Chandler Laurent to touch them all on a solo shot to left center , his third home in as many games, and 15th of the season.
After the winning pitcher, Bruce Kern (6-6), who allowed the homer to Freitas, held the Suns scoreless in the 11th inning, the Tourists took advantage in the last of the 11th.
The losing pitcher, RHP Sam Brown (2-6), induced a groundout to third base off the bat of Parker, but issued back-to-back walks to Dickerson and C Dustin Garneau. Then, 1B Mark Tracy was hit by a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Suns Manager Brian Daubach brought summoned to the infield CF Michael Taylor to prepare a wall of three men on the right side of the infield diamond and two on the push side to the lefty batting Wong. After a long at-bat, Wong chopped a game-winning RBI single up the first base line to summon home Dickerson and finish off the Hagerstown sweep.
After an off-day on Wednesday, the Suns will prepare for the final homestand of the 2011 campaign as Hagerstown welcomes the Lakewood BlueClaws (Philadelphia Phillies) to Municipal Stadium beginning with a 7:05pm first pitch on Thursday night. Hagerstown will bring RHP Chris McKenzie (4-6, 6.80) to the mound against Lakewood RHP Garett Claypool (4-7, 3.63) in the series opener. Live radio broadcast coverage will begin with the 6:50pm Break Away 2 Sports Lounge Pre-game Show on the Radio Flagship of Suns Baseball, WJEJ AM 1240.
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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