Suns 7th Walk-Off Win Comes on Wings of Taylor's 3-RBI Blast

Hagerstown, MD-On Thursday night at Municipal Stadium the Hagerstown Suns (49-36, 9-6) earned a 4-2 walk-off victory over the West Virginia Power (41-42, 6-9), their seventh win in a final at-bat this season, on a three-run home run from CF Michael Taylor in the bottom of the 9th inning. Both starting pitchers battled through act two of the contentious ballgame.

Suns RHP A.J. Cole, who did not factor into the decision, threw a career-long 6.0 scoreless innings and scattered three hits, while striking out seven and walking no one.

West Virginia LHP Zac Fuesser, who also did not receive a decision, spun 6.0 stanzas with no runs allowed, amidst walking none and fanning eight.

After a scoreless stalemate, the Power plated a pair of runs in the 7th inning on a solo home run from CF Mel Rojas, Jr. over the right center field wall, his fourth homer of the year. 1B Justin Howard drew a base-on-balls from RHP Wilson Eusebio, before DH Cole White ripped a single in front of RF Wade Moore moving Howard to third base. C Elias Diaz punched an RBI groundout to 1B Mills Rogers to summon home Howard giving West Virginia a 2-0 lead.

Hagerstown answered with one run after stretch time on an RBI double to left center field off the bat of Taylor, who had a 2-for-4, four RBI night at the plate. SS Jason Martinson, who walked, came into score the Suns first run of the ballgame, splicing the Power lead in half.

Power RHP Victor Black pitched 2.0 innings in relief of Fuesser and allowed one earned run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Suns RHP Dean Weaver (1-1), the winning pitcher, gunned through the 8th and 9th innings without allowing a run, allowing one hit and one walk, while striking out one before the ultimate hometown rally.

In the bottom of the 9th inning and one out, LHP Porfirio Lopez (1-3), the losing pitcher, entered the game coveting his third save of the season. With LF Sean Nicol, who singled, at third base, and 1B Mills Rogers at second base, who reached via a bloop double into the right center field gap, Taylor ripped his eighth four-bagger of the 2011 season over the right center field barrier to provide a walk-off triumph for the Suns. Lopez blew his first save of the season in providing the series opening win to the Suns.

Hagerstown will continue the four game series tomorrow. In game two, the Suns will host the West Virginia Power for 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 feature LHP Matt Grace (9-5, 4.50) facing LHP Colton Cain (5-6, 3.14).

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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