Hagerstown, MD - Steven Fuentes struck out seven hitters in three innings of relief, but the Hagerstown Suns fell to the West Virginia Power on Thursday night in a 13-2 loss at Historic Municipal Stadium. The Suns are 10-23 overall and will conclude the three-game series with the Power on
Hagerstown, MD - Steven Fuentes struck out seven hitters in three innings of relief, but the Hagerstown Suns fell to the West Virginia Power on Thursday night in a 13-2 loss at Historic Municipal Stadium. The Suns are 10-23 overall and will conclude the three-game series with the Power on Friday with a 7:05 PM first pitch.
The Power scored in the second inning against Suns starter Jackson Stoeckinger to take a 1-0 lead. Dylan Busby led off with a double to left and went to third when Rodolpho Castro flew out to center. With two outs, Kyle Watson singled to right, scoring Busby to give the Power a 1-0 advantage.
Busby homered for the second consecutive night, blasting a grand slam in the third inning with Stoeckinger on the bump. Oneil Cruz singled to right and Chris Sharpe reached on a force attempt, with Cruz going to third on a throwing error. Deon Safford drew a one-out walk and Busby clobbered a grand slam over the right-center field wall to give the Power a 5-0 lead.
West Virginia scored five more runs between the fourth and fifth innings to make it a 10-0 game, while starter Domingo Robles held the Suns hitless until the fifth inning. Brandon Boggetto broke up the no-no with a single to center field, moving to second when Alex Flores grounded out to short. Kameron Esthay was hit by a pitch and Armond Upshaw single to left, loading the bases for Hagerstown. Cole Freeman grounded into a fielder's choice with Upshaw being forced out at second, but Boggetto and Esthay scored to break up the shutout with the Suns trailing 10-2.
The Power capped off their scoring with three more runs in the sixth, but Fuentes entered the game in the seventh from the bullpen. The righty allowed two hits in the eighth but retired eight hitters in a row through the ninth with seven strikeouts.
Stoeckinger (1-3) took the loss, pitching four innings with eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts. A.J. Bogucki threw two innings in relief, allowing five runs and three earned on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Fuentes threw three scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits with seven strikeouts.
Notes: Fuentes' seven strikeouts tie a career-high in relief… The last time he did it was August 15, 2015 against the GCL Marlins… Garcia's team-high eight-game hitting streak ended tonight… Stoeckinger issued his first walk of the season in the third inning to Stafford… The 13 runs scored by the Power are the most by any Suns opponent this season… West Virginia had nine extra-base hits which are also a season-high… The eight runs allowed by Stoeckinger tie a career-high… The Suns have allowed 10 or more runs in a game five times this season… The Suns return to action on Friday against the Power with a 7:05 PM first pitch… It's 70's Disco Night at Historic Municipal Stadium… Hagerstown will send LHP Nick Raquet (2-3, 2.84 ERA) to the hill against Power RHP Sergio Cubilete (0-2, 15.43 ERA)… The broadcast can be heard, starting with the pregame show at 6:50 PM on www.hagerstownsuns.com by going to multimedia and "Listen Live" which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and Android... The broadcast is also available on the Hagerstown Suns Radio Network in the Tune-In Radio App.
