Suns Score Late to Top Shorebirds, 3-1
Hagerstown, MD - The Hagerstown Suns (19-12) manufactured three late runs and held the Delmarva Shorebirds (15-17) quiet over the final eight innings to win game one, 3-1, on Thursday at Municipal Stadium.
The Shorebirds struck first in the first inning. Gregory Lorenzo was hit by a pitch to open the game. He stole his team-high 14th base of the season. Tucker Nathans followed with a line drive single to left-center to advance Lorenzo to third. Then, Joel Hutter lifted a sacrifice fly to center to give the Shorebirds a 1-0 lead.
The Suns knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth. Khayyan Norfork and Pedro Severino hit back-to-back singles to left field to begin the inning. Then, Stephen Perez dropped a bunt single to load the bases. Tony Renda followed with a grounder to short to score Norfork.
The Suns grabbed their first lead in the sixth. Brandon Miller drew a lead off walk. Wes Schill and Khayyan Norfolk followed with consecutive bunt singles to load the bases. Then, Pedro Severino hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Miller.
Shorebirds starter Matt Taylor gave up seven hits and one run over 5.1 innings pitched. He walked four batters and fanned three.
Hagerstown starter Dixon Anderson earned the win over six innings. He gave up seven hits and one run with five strikeouts.
The Suns added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Wes Schill singled to right to open the inning and advanced to second on a wide throw back to the infield by Lucas Herbst. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, Schill scored on a single to center by Severino.
The Suns bullpen held the Shorebirds to one hit over the final three innings.
The Shorebirds mounted a rally in the ninth inning. Adrian Marin drew a one out walk. Then, Anthony Vega singled. Two batters later, Tucker Nathans walked to load the bases. Hagerstown closer Robert Benincasa, who earned his seventh save, got Joel Hutter to pop out to first to end the game.
Shorebirds reliever Miguel Chalas was sharp over 2.2 innings. He allowed two hits and one unearned run.
The Shorebirds and Suns play game two of the series on Friday, May 10 at 7:05pm. RHP Branden Kline is the scheduled for the Shorebirds.