HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 13, 2019) - The Suns scored two runs with two outs in the eighth, but the rally was not enough to overcome an early deficit in their 6-3 loss to the Lakewood BlueClaws at Municipal Stadium Tuesday. Trailing 6-1 with two outs in the eighth inning, the Suns (54-67,
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 13, 2019) - The Suns scored two runs with two outs in the eighth, but the rally was not enough to overcome an early deficit in their 6-3 loss to the Lakewood BlueClaws at Municipal Stadium Tuesday.
Trailing 6-1 with two outs in the eighth inning, the Suns (54-67, 24-26) began to rally against the Lakewood (50-69, 22-27) bullpen. Israel Pineda delivered an RBI single and Kyle Marinconz followed with an RBI double to cut the deficit to three. But the BlueClaws then turned to closer Mark Potter (S, 8) who escaped the jam and then worked a scoreless ninth to secure the victory for Lakewood.
The first Hagerstown run came in the first inning. After Jackson Cluff led off with a double, Jacob Rhinesmith came through with an RBI single to tie the game at one. But the Lakewood pitching then shut down the Suns offense.
Kevin Gowdy got the start for the BlueClaws and tossed four solid innings. He then loaded the bases in the fifth, but Tom Sutera (W, 1-2) came out of the bullpen and pitched out of the jam without allowing a run. Sutera then lasted 3.1 innings in total and allowed just those two runs in the eighth.
The offensive attack for Lakewood started in the first when the second batter of the game, Malvin Matos, cracked his ninth home run of the season to put the BlueClaws up 1-0. After the Suns tied it in the bottom half, Lakewood took the lead right back in the third on a Luis Garcia RBI single.
In the fourth the BlueClaws kept the offense going when Ben Pelletier delivered a two-run shot to make it a 4-1 game. Suns starter Ryan Williamson (L, 4-1) lasted just those four frames and allowed the four runs on eight hits.
Christian Vann entered for the Suns in the fifth and gave up two runs, but both were unearned. Jonathan Guzman came into score on an error by Trey Vickers at third base and then Matos crossed the plate when McCarthy Tatum bounced into a double play. However, Vann did settle in and retire all six batters he faced in the sixth and seventh innings.
Pearson McMahan also had success out of the Hagerstown bullpen. The right-hander retired all six batters he faced over the final two frames and did his job in keeping the Suns in the game.
Tomorrow the Suns and BlueClaws will meet at 2:05 p.m. to close out the series with Bark in the Park. Hagerstown sends RHP Reid Schaller (2-2, 4.24 ERA) to mound while LHP Taylor Lehman (1-0, 1.56 ERA) gets the start for Lakewood. The Suns will then head on the road for four games before returning home to Municipal Stadium August 20.
