HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 2, 2019) - The Suns took advantage of three key Rome errors and held on for a 4-2 victory over the Braves at Municipal Stadium Friday.With runners on first and second with one out and the scored tied in the fourth, Nic Perkins hit a chopper to Braves
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 2, 2019) - The Suns took advantage of three key Rome errors and held on for a 4-2 victory over the Braves at Municipal Stadium Friday.
With runners on first and second with one out and the scored tied in the fourth, Nic Perkins hit a chopper to Braves (50-60, 20-21) shortstop Carlos Paraguate . The infielder bobbled the ball and threw to first, but the toss was wide and got away from first baseman Griffin Benson . Jacob Rhinesmith never stopped running from second base and came around to score to give the Suns (50-60, 20-20) the lead.
In the eighth inning, the defense hurt Rome again. With two outs and the bases empty, third baseman Brendan Venter booted a ground ball and Israel Pineda to reach. Nic Perkins followed with an RBI double to make it a 4-2 game.
With the lead intact, Hagerstown went to the bullpen in the sixth and the releivers did not disappoint. Matt Cronin was the first arm that Patrick Anderson turned to, and the lefty tossed two scoreless frames. Cronin did not allow a hit and struck out four batters. Chandler Day (S, 1) came on in the eighth and was able to finish out the victory with two more scoreless innings. Day loaded the bases in the ninth with two outs, but escaped the jam to secure the series win.
The Braves scored first in this one, striking in the first inning against Suns starter Joan Adon (W, 10-3). Justin Dean singled to start the game, stole second, and then came in to score on a Braden Shewmake RBI single.
The Suns, however, answered back quickly. The red-hot Drew Mendoza delivered his second home run of the season, this one a two-run shot that put the Suns on top after Jackson Cluff was hit by a pitch to start the frame.
Adon allowed another run in the fourth on a Greg Cullen solo home run, but that was all the Braves could muster against the Suns righty. Adon went five innings and scattered four hits while striking out four and walking none. He outdueled Rome starter William Woods (L, 0-4), who went just four innings for Rome.
The Rome bullpen did its job to keep the score close, but the Suns bullpen was able to match them out-for-out. Ryan Shetter did the job for the Braves as the righty pitched four innings in relief and allowed just one unearned run.
Hagerstown will kick off a four-game series with Columbia tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. The Suns send RHP Jackson Rutledge (0-0, 8.10 ERA) to the hill while the Fireflies have yet to name a starting pitcher.
The Suns are in the midst of a seven-game homestand against the Rome Braves and Columbia Fireflies. The stretch includes plenty of exciting promotions, including a Juan Soto Bobblehead giveaway, Sunday Funday, Shark Weekend and Summer Camp Day. For tickets or more information visit hagerstownsuns.com or call 301-791-6266.
