Walk-off walk leads to split series with Legends
LEXINGTON, KY - The Hagerstown Suns (22-21) walked home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning on Sunday afternoon, falling to the Lexington Legends (19-24) in a slugfest 14-13. It was just the second walk-off loss for the Suns this season, and the first since April 11 at Hickory.
With a runner at third and one out in the bottom of the 10th inning on Sunday, LHP David Napoli (2-2) intentionally walked two batters to load the bases and create a force at any base. However, Napoli could not regain command of the strike zone and wound up walking RF Elier Hernandez with the bases loaded to drive in LF Mike Hill from third and end the ball game. Napoli totaled five walks in just 1.2 innings of work to wind up with the loss. RHP Evan Beal (1-0) got credit for the win for Lexington. He threw 2.2 innings, giving up two unearned runs on one hit and three walks while striking out one. The Suns out-hit the Legends in the game 17-12 and came back from 7-1 deficit after just one inning had been completed to force the game into extras.
In the third game of the series on Saturday night Hagerstown ensured itself at least a split of the series by pounding out 13 hits en route to a 5-2 victory. Five different Suns had multi-hit games in the contest, with LF Jeff Gardner collecting the most (three) including two doubles. Both Legends runs came via the long ball, but Lexington wound up with just four hits in the game. Starting RHP Phillips Valdez (5-2) limited the Legends to three hits and two walks over six innings to earn the win. Starting LHP Colin Rodgers (1-4) got tagged with the loss as he allowed all five Hagerstown runs on 10 hits and three walks over five innings. RHP Justin Amlung pitched the ninth for the Suns to record his second save of the season, while LHP R.C. Orlan threw two scoreless frames to bridge the gap between Valdez and Amlung and pick up his first hold of the year.
In game two of the series on Friday night the Suns fell to the Legends 5-1 despite out-hitting Lexington 9-7. The Suns stranded 10 runners on base in the game, and starting RHP Luis Reyes (1-3) combined with LHP Brett Mooneyham to issue a total of seven free passes (six walks and one hit batter). Reyes suffered the loss for the Suns. His final line was five innings pitched, four earned runs allowed on five hits and three walks while striking out three. Starting RHP Zach Lovvorn (3-4) picked up the win for Lexington. He threw 6.2 innings and surrendered just one earned run on nine hits and three walks while striking out two.
In the first game of the series on Thursday night Hagerstown held on for a 3-2 win. The Suns scored a run each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth to go up 3-1, and then after allowing a run in the eighth to make it a one-run game, Hagerstown was able to close the door in the ninth with the potential tying run stranded at first. Napoli threw that ninth inning for the Suns, so he got credit for the save. He walked just one batter and struck out four in 1.1 innings of work. RHP Drew Van Orden (2-1) got the start and win for Hagerstown. He worked five innings, giving up one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out one. Starting RHP Torey Deshazier (3-3) took the loss for Lexington. In 6.0 innings pitched he surrendered all three Hagerstown runs on six hits including two solo homers. He also walked three and struck out two.
In total Lexington outscored Hagerstown 23-22 in the series, but the Suns outhit the Legends 46-27. The Suns next head to Greensboro, North Carolina to take on the Greensboro Grasshoppers (18-24) in a three-game series beginning Monday, May 25. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.