Game #108 Preview
Game #108 — Home Game #50
Hagerstown Suns (48–59, 18–19) vs Rome Braves (49–58, 19–19)
Wednesday, July 31–7:05 p.m.
Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, MD)
SUNS SWEEP FIREFLIES IN FOUR GAMES
The Suns bats started early to upend Columbia 5–1 to complete a four-game sweep at Segra Park Monday evening. The four-game sweep was Hagerstown’s (48–59, 18–19) first sweep of that nature since the took a series from the Shorebirds from June 26–29, 2017 in Delmarva. The Suns are also currently riding a six-game winning streak — their longest streak of the season. Tomas Alastre (W, 4–10) pitched a gem, working five, two-hit innings before leaving the game in the sixth with no one out and the bases loaded, but Jacob Howell entered, his team in front 4–1 and induced a line-into a double play gloved by Trey Vickers to eventually get out of the inning without allowing any more damage. Howell finished the outing spinning two flawless frames vs the Fireflies (39–65, 15–23) before Matt Cronin worked through a scoreless eighth and Gabe Klobosits closed the door. The bats got started early again. Jackson Cluff tripled to lead-off the first and the next batter, Justin Connell drove a sacrifice fly to center field to break the scoreless tie. The Suns offense was not satisfied there though. Vickers chopped a base knock off starter Bryce Hutchinson (L, 4–6) to plate Israel Pineda, who doubled to get aboard.
PITCHING MATCH-UP:
Hagerstown sends RHP Jake Irvin (6–7, 4.34 ERA) to the hill, while Rome counters with RHP Alan Rangel (9–5, 4.39 ERA).
Irvin is making his third start of the season against Rome. In the previous two, including his last time on the bump, he has allowed only one earned run and struck out nine batters over 12 innings. Rangel has made two starts against Hagerstown and made his last start against the Suns. In the previous two outings, Rangel has allowed three earned runs over 13 innings
Suns Starters:
Jackson Cluff-SS
Justin Connell-LF
Drew Mendoza-1B
Jacob Rhinesmith-RF
Israel Pineda-C
Phil Caulfield-DH
Cole Daily-2B
Trey Vickers-3B
Armond Upshaw-CF
Jake Irvin-RHP
GAME NOTES:
IRKING IRVIN: Jake Irvin’s stellar second half continued last night. The Oklahaoma-product produced his third quality start in four appearances in the second half. His second half ERA is 3.23, compared to a 5.11 ERA in the first half of the season. His last start against Rome may have been his most effective start of the season. It was his seventh quality start of the season and he went six, shutout frames in his longest scoreless venture of the year. The righty also fanned six batters, the most he has had in a single game since June 30 vs Delmarva.
BROOM TIME: The Suns win Monday vs the Fireflies was their first four-game sweep since Hagerstown swept Delmarva June 26–29, 2017 at Perdue Stadium. The Suns have been swept in two, four-game series this year.
MOVING MARINCONZ: Kyle Marinconz was promoted to Potomac yesterday. The Suns infielder had been clubbing the ball in the second half, compiling a .278 average, which was 20 points higher than his first half average. Marinconz turned the corner in June. He has launched four of his five homers and maintained a .292 batting average in that time.
ALL I DO IS WIN-WIN: Joan Adon won his team-leading ninth game last night. The last Suns player to have 10 or more wins in a single season while donning a Suns uniform was McKenzie Mills, who accomplished the feat in 2017. Adon has now earned a win in three consecutive starts for the first time this season. The righty is tied with Rome’s Alan Rangel for the second-most wins in the South Atlantic League this season, trailing just Osvaldo Bido , who has 11 for the Greensboro Grasshoppers.
IN THE VANN, AWAY FROM HOME: This season, Christian Vann has inherited 14 runners in 12 games. The 25th-round draftee has stranded all, but one of them (93%) on the basepaths. On average, Suns relievers strand 66% of inherited runners, the next-closest mark to Vann came from Aaron Fletcher, who stranded five of six inherited runners. Earlier this week, Fletcher, another lefty, made his Eastern-League debut with the Harrisburg Senators.
Sun Spots: Monday the Suns went 2-for-9 with RISP to drop this road trips average to .175 with runners threatening.
ON THE AIR: Suns home games and select road games can be heard at bit.ly/SunsRadio where John Kocsis Jr. and Connor Newcomb bring you the call, beginning with the Suns pre-game show at 6:50 p.m.
