Suns split double-header with Lakewood, win series
HAGERSTOWN, M.D. - The Hagerstown Suns (31-9) split a double-header with the Lakewood BlueClaws (14-25) on Friday evening at Municipal Stadium, with Hagerstown winning game one 11-0, and the BlueClaws winning the second game 9-2. The Suns won the three-game series 2-1 and are now 9-1 against Lakewood this year.
In the first game of the double-header Hagerstown hit a season-high four homeruns. Left fielder Isaac Ballou began the long ball assault with a solo homerun in the first to put the Suns up 1-0. It was his third homerun of the year and was part of what wound up being a two-run inning.
In the second SS Wilmer Difo went yard with his first homerun of the season. It was a two-run blast with one out and put Hagerstown ahead 5-0. Difo then connected on another homer in the fifth, also of the two-run variety. This made it 9-0 Suns and Difo became the first player this year for Hagerstown to hit two homeruns in the same game.
The final long ball of the game came off the bat of 1B Jimmy Yezzo in the sixth. This set the final score at 11-0. It was Yezzo's second homer of the season and the team's 24th.
In his 2014 season debut starting LHP Sammy Solis (1-0) got the win for Hagerstown. He threw six innings and allowed four hits while striking out seven. Starting RHP Alejandro Arteaga (3-5) suffered the loss for Lakewood. He lasted just two innings, giving up seven earned runs on 11 hits including two homers. The Suns pounded out 15 hits total.
In the second game of the doubleheader the BlueClaws took the lead with a two-run fourth. With runners on the corners and no outs catcher Willians Astudillo hit an RBI single to short. Two batters later LF Samuel Hiciano drove in the go-ahead run with a single to left.
The game opened up in the fifth thanks to another big hit by Astudillo. He hit a double with the bases loaded to drive in all three runners and make it a four run game, 6-2. Astudillo finished the game with three hits and four RBI.
Starting RHP Mark Leiter (4-3) got the win for the BlueClaws. He worked five innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five. Starting RHP Andrew Cooper (4-1) suffered the loss for the Suns. Making his first start of the year, he went 3.1 innings, and gave up three earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two.
The Suns next head to Lexington, KY to take on the Lexington Legends (18-23) in a four-game series beginning on Saturday May 17. The Suns will send RHP Lucas Giolito (2-0) to the mound for his eighth start and appearance of the year. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.