Game #113 Preview
Game #113 — Home Game #55
Hagerstown Suns (50–62, 20–222) vs Columbia Fireflies (42–67, 18–25)
Monday, August 5–7:05 p.m.
Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, MD)
FIREFLIES SWEEP SUNS IN ABBREVIATED DOUBLEHEADER
The Suns dropped two close games to the Columbia Fireflies while leaving 10 men on base in game two of the doubleheader at Municipal Stadium Sunday. Hagerstown (50–62, 20–22) fell 3–2 in the completion of a suspended game and then fell 6–4 in a full nine-inning affair against the Fireflies (42–67, 18–25). After playing six-and-a-half innings Saturday, a storm came through Municipal Stadium and the game was suspended with the score tied 2–2 and finshed Sunday afternoon. In the eighth inning Sunday, Guillermo Granadillo reached on a lead-off single against Pearson McMahan (L, 0–1), who was making his Suns debut. Later in the frame, Mark Vientos brought him home with an RBI single to put the Fireflies in front.
PITCHING MATCH-UP:
Hagerstown sends RHP Tomas Alastre (4–10, 6.19 ERA) to the hill, while Columbia counters with RHP Jose Butto (4–9, 3.78 ERA).
Alastre is making his second consecutive start against the Fireflies. He tossed five innings and allowed just one run while striking out seven. Butto is making his 20th start of the season, but his last start lasted only two innings despite not allowing a baserunner.
Suns Starters:
Jackson Cluff-SS
Justin Connell-RF
Drew Mendoza-1B
Israel Pineda-C
Phil Caulfield-DH
Cole Daily-2B
Tyler Cropley-LF
Trey Vickers-3B
Armond Upshaw-CF
Tomas Alastre-RHP
GAME NOTES:
MULTI-HIT MADNESS: Last night six of the nine batters in the Suns game two line-up recorded two hits. It led to the Suns having 12 hits despite the 2–4 hitters finishing 0–11 with three walks. Tyler Cropley had his fourth multi-hit game of the season and kept a three-game hitting streak alive that started July 21.
SORRY MS. JACKSON: In the last two games against the Fireflies, both Jackson Rutledge and Jackson Stoeckinger left a tied games prior to the bullpen earned the loss in both games. Both games saw Hagerstown debuts for Pearson McMahan and Alfonso Hernandez that led to them earning their first losses of the season.
ALL I DO IS WIN-WIN: Joan Adon won his team-leading 10th 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 has the second-most wins in the South Atlantic League, trailing just Osvaldo Bido , who has 11 for the Greensboro Grasshoppers.
CRONIN’S CRAFT: Lefty Matt Cronin has taken the South Atlantic League by storm. The former Razorback has now logged 10 innings with Hagerstown and has allowed just one earned run while holding oppenents to a .188 average. To add to that line, he’s fanned 20 batters utilizing a strong fastball, curveball mix. Friday he logged a career-high 2 IP.
BRING IN THE TROOPS: Thursday, Alex Troop spun 4.2 two hit innings while fanning five batters and allowing no walks. After a less-than-ideal start where the lefty gave up four runs in his first 7.1 innings pitched, he has allowed just one run in his last 7.2 innings.
IRKING IRVIN: Jake Irvin’s stellar second half continued last night. The Oklahaoma-product produced his fourth quality start in five appearances in the second half. His second half ERA is 3.40, compared to a 5.11 ERA in the first half of the season. He has dazzled in his last two outings against Rome, fanning 13 batters in 12 innings and allowing just three runs in the span.
SUN SPOTS: Yesterday the Suns left 10 runners on the base paths while finishing 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Hagerstown scored four runs despite having one of their highest hit totals of the year. During this homestand the Suns are 9-for-34 (.265) 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.