Suns lose high-scoring affair

HAGERSTOWN, MD (July 1, 2019) - The Suns were not able to overcome two big innings from the Grasshoppers offense in a 9-7 loss to Greensboro at Municipal Stadium Monday.
It was first a five-run fifth inning for the Grasshoppers (51-30, 7-5) against Hagerstown (33-49, 3-9) starter Joan Adon. After Greensboro loaded the bases with one out, Connor Kaiser delivered an RBI single to cut their deficit to 3-2. Mason Martin then followed with a 449-foot grand slam to right field to put the Grasshoppers on top 6-3.

Adon finished the day allowing six runs on five hits over 4.2 innings of work. He also walked five batters, . Suns pitchers walked a season-high 10 batters. Their previous season-high was seven.
The Suns tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, but Greensboro answered right back in the sixth and took the lead for good against Hagerstown reliever Trey Turner (L, 1-3). After a leadoff walk, Zac Susi delivered an RBI double to put the Grasshoppers on top and then Ji-Hwan Bae came through with an RBI double of his own to make it a two-run difference. After a strong first half, Turner has now taken the loss in three consecutive appearances. 
The Hagerstown bullpen did a good job after that keeping the Suns in the game. Jacob Howell entered in the seventh and worked 2.1 innings while allowing just one run that came in after he left the game. It came across in the ninth on an RBI groundout off the bat of Zack Kone against Chris Vann. However, the Hagerstown offense wasn't able to fight back one last time. 
It was the Suns who took the early lead in this one, scoring three runs in the second inning against Greensboro starter Steven Jennings. Jacob Rhinesmith crushed a two-run homer to right field to get Hagerstown on the board, and then Jackson Cluff scored on a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 lead. Jennings ended allowing three runs on three hits over four innings. 
Greensboro answered in the fourth, scoring on an RBI walk to Kaiser, but Adon was able to strand the bases loaded before giving up the big inning in the fifth. 
Those three runs to tie the game in the fifth for the Suns came against Greensboro righty Conner Loeprich (W, 2-3). After Justin Connell started the inning with a double, Kyle Marinconz brought him home with an RBI single. Then, with two on and one out, Drew Mendoza came up with a game-tying two-run double to left field. It was Mendoza's first professional, who was activated by the Suns today after being selected in the third round by the Nationals in June. 
The fifth was a rough inning for Loeprich, but he settled down after that and ended up working four innings out of the bullpen. The only other run he allowed was in the eighth when Cluff brought Israel Pineda home with a sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game. Yerry De Los Santos (S, 5) then came on to shut the door in the ninth. 
Tomorrow Hagerstown continues their series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. LHP Jackson Stoeckinger (1-2, 2.54 ERA) will get the ball for the Suns while RHP Osvaldo Bido (10-4, 3.19 ERA) toes the rubber for the Grasshoppers. 
The Suns are in the midst of a seven-game homestand against the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The stretch includes plenty of promotion, including Salute to America July 3. For tickets or more information visit hagerstownsuns.com or call 301-791-6266.