HAGERSTOWN, MD (April 11, 2019) - The Hagerstown Suns used a five-run first inning to send the crowd home happy in the home opener with an 8-2 victory over the Asheville Tourists Thursday night at Municipal Stadium. Hagerstown's (3-5) bats were hot early, putting up five runs on four hits. Gage
HAGERSTOWN, MD (April 11, 2019) - The Hagerstown Suns used a five-run first inning to send the crowd home happy in the home opener with an 8-2 victory over the Asheville Tourists Thursday night at Municipal Stadium.
Hagerstown's (3-5) bats were hot early, putting up five runs on four hits. Gage Canning and Israel Pineda hit back-to-back singles. Jacob Rhinesmith walked to load the bags with Suns. Asheville's starter, Shelby Lackey (L, 0-1) missed the mark with Gilbert Lara at the plate. Lackey issued a bases-loaded walk to bring in the Sun's first run of the night. Soon after, KJ Harrison kept his bat hot with a two-run double to make it 3-1 Hagerstown. Pablo O'Connor brought in a run on a groundout and Kyle Marinconz finished off the busy inning with an RBI double for a 5-1 advantage.
Asheville struck first in the top of the first first. Willie MacIver brought home Terrin Vavra with a sac fly following a Grant Lavigne single. Vavra launched a double to start.
Zeroes on the board followed until the sixth when the Suns found the stroke again. Following a Harrison single, Marinconz hit his second double of the evening for the sixth run of the night. Harrison reached third on a groundout and brought home by Cody Wilson . Wilson hit a line drive right to Tourist reliever PJ Poulin . Poulin deflected it but the deflection gave Harrison plenty of time to score for run number seven.
Both clubs scored runs in the eighth frame. Asheville scored one a MacIver double while Hagerstown touched home plate with a sac-fly by Marinconz.
Carson Teel (W, 1-1) earned the win in relief with innings of work. Jake Irvin pitched 4.2 innings of one-run ball in the no decision with three strikeouts.
The Suns continue their series with the Asheville Tourists tomorrow. RHP Francis Peguero (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the year for the Suns. LHP Alfredo Garcia (0-1, 11.57 ERA) gets the nod for the Tourists. First pitch is at 6:05 pm with gates opening at 5:05 pm. Tomorrow, the first 500 fans through the gates of Municipal Stadium will receive a Suns magnet schedule. For tickets visit HagerstownSuns.com or call (301) 791-6066.
