Suns complete doubleheader sweep with walk-off win

HAGERSTOWN, MD (June 11, 2019) - The Suns picked up two late-inning comebacks to sweep the doubleheader with the Lakewood BlueClaws at Municipal Stadium Tuesday.

Game 1

The Suns (30-35) took game one by a score of 4-3 on the back of another strong start from Joan Adon (W, 5-2). The righty allowed only two runs on two hits over five innings while striking out six. The only runs he allowed was on a Luke Miller two-run home run in the fourth inning. 

The long ball off the bat of Miller gave Lakewood (24-41) a 2-0 lead, but that lead would not last for long. In the bottom of the fourth, after a Justin Connell leadoff double, Jacob Rhinesmith delivered an RBI single against BlueClaws starter Tyler McKay (L, 2-4). Israel Pineda then stepped to the plate, and smacked a two-run homer into the Lakewood bullpen, his fourth of the season, to give the Suns a 3-2 lead. 
In the fifth, Jose Sanchez walked and Cody Wilson doubled, which chased McKay from the game after 4.1 innings pitched. Connell then came through with an RBI groundout off of reliever Gilmael Troya to extend the Hagerstown lead. 
The Hagerstown bullpen then continued its dominance to finish off the victory. Angel Guillen (S, 3) took over for Adon and spun two strong innings to finish things off. He did allow a run in the ninth on a two-out RBI double from Ben Pelletier, but the righty got Jake Holmes to roll one over to end the ballgame. Guillen picked up his third save of the year, which is good for second-most on the team. The Suns bullpen has now allowed only 36 runs over its last 135.2 innings of work, good for a 2.35 ERA over that span. 

Game 2

Game one was an exciting win, but it would be outdone by the theatrics in game two. With the Suns trailing 5-3 with two men on and two outs in the ninth, Kyle Marinconz crushed a three-run walk-off home run to right field to send Suns fans home happy with a 6-5 victory. 
It was Hagerstown's first walk-off home run since June 6, 2018, when Alex Torres walked it off against BlueClaws in the second game of a doubleheader. Funny how that happens. 
The rally in the ninth started with a Connell leadoff double and then a Lara single off of BlueClaws reliever Luis Ramirez (L, 0-1). The next two Suns battered were retired without driving in the runs, but then Marinconz came through with Hagerstown down to its final out. 
The Suns got the win, but not before the BlueClaws had a rally of their own. Hagerstown had a 3-2 lead heading into the fifth, but Lakewood scored two in the frame to take the lead against Hagerstown starter Tim Cate. Luis Garcia tied the game with an RBI triple and then Abrahan Gutierrez gave Lakewood the lead with an RBI double.
Before the Lakewood rally, the Suns were initially in line to pick up another comeback victory. The BlueClaws scored two in the first against Cate on RBI singles by Carlos De La Cruz and Cole Stobbe. The Hagerstown lefty worked five innings in this one, allowing four runs on eight hits, although he did strike out six batters.
The Suns responded in the first when Connell smoked a ball to left field for his third home run of the season. Then, in the third, Hagerstown took the lead when Gilbert Lara lined a triple into the left-field corner that brought home two runs. All three runs came against Lakewood starter Kyle Glogoski, but that was all he would allow over four innings of work. 
The Hagerstown bullpen kept the game close, but Jacob Howell did allow an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single from Miller. It was the first run Howell has allowed this season in 10 innings on the hill.  Jared Brasher (W, 1-0) stymed the BlueClaws inning, escaping a jam via a pick-off to keep it a two-run deficit. 
Hagerstown finishes its three-game series with the BlueClaws tomorrow at 7:05 p.m., and it's Bark in the Park at Municipal Stadium! RHP Jake Irvin (4-3, 4.61 ERA) toes the rubber for the Suns while RHP Jhordany Mezquita (2-4, 5.18 ERA) gets the nod for Lakewood. 
The Suns are in the midst of a seven-game homestand against the BlueClaws and the West Virginia Power. The stretch is filled with great promotions, including Bark in the Park, Thirsty Thursday, Pink Night and Sunday Funday! For tickets or more information visit hagerstownsuns.com or call 301-791-6266.