Suns drop first series of the season to Hickory
HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (1-3) followed their opening night loss to the Hickory Crawdads (3-1) by dropping two of the final three games of the four-game series. The three losses to the Crawdads in the series are more than the number of losses the Suns had against Hickory in all of 2014.
In the series finale on Sunday evening Hagerstown let a 3-0 lead slip away, in part because the Suns were held scoreless for five consecutive innings from the 3rd through 7th. It was mainly RHP Jefri Hernandez who shutdown the Suns offense during that middle inning stretch, as he worked three innings without allowing a hit or a run while striking out four. RHP Chris Dula (1-0) followed and got credit for the win despite blowing a save opportunity, as he let up one unearned run on three hits over two innings. RHP John Fasola recorded his second save of the series for the Crawdads by pitching a scoreless ninth. It was RHP Andrew Cooper (0-1) who suffered the loss in relief for Hagerstown. He surrendered two earned runs on three hits including one homer. RHP Drew Van Orden started for the Suns and gave up four runs (three earned) in five innings.
In game three of the series on Saturday night the Suns took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but could not hold on as Hickory notched a walkoff 2-1 come-from-behind win. Designated hitter Jose Trevino had the game-winning hit for the Crawdads, a one-out line-drive single up the middle that brought home CF Jose Cardona from third. Cardona had tripled to bring home the tying run and knot the score at 1-1.
The ninth inning rally spoiled what had been a terrific team pitching performance for Hagerstown until that point. RHP Luis Reyes got the start for the Suns and went five innings, surrendering just three hits and one walk while striking out seven. RHP Tyler Mapes followed by working three innings and giving up just two hits while striking out three to earn a hold. It was RHP David Ramos (0-1) who gave up both runs in the ninth and thus suffered the loss and blown save. RHP Nick Gardewine (1-0) pitched four scoreless innings of relief for Hickory to earn the win.
The Suns bats were the story in game two of the series on Friday night. Hagerstown pounded out 14 runs on 16 hits, including seven for extra bases. The longest smack of the night for the Suns was a two-run shot in the ninth off the bat of catcher Raudy Read. It was Read's first homer of the season and the team's third. Read finished the night with two hits and four runs scored. Five other Suns had mulit-hit games, and all but one starter recorded at least one hit.
Pitching wise it was RHP Ryan Ullmann (1-0) who wound up with the win for Hagerstown. He threw four innings in relief, surrendering one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four. LHP Connor Bach got the start and went four innings as well, giving up two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three. RHP Trey Lambert (0-1) got tagged with the loss for the Crawdads. In 1.1 innings pitched he allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits.
The Suns next head to Charleston, WV to begin a three-game series against the West Virginia Power (3-1) starting on Monday April 13. The Suns will send RHP Phillips Valdez (0-0) to the mound on Monday for his first start of the season. He will square off against LHP John Sever (0-0) for the Power. First pitch on Monday is scheduled for 7:05pm.