SUNS TAKE SERIES OPENER FROM BLUECLAWS

HAGERSTOWN, MD – The Hagerstown Suns (8-10) picked up their second straight victory on Monday night over the Lakewood BlueClaws (7-11), winning 6-2 at Municipal Stadium.

Suns starter Terrence Engles (3-0) threw five strong innings, allowing only one run to pick up the win. Right hander Martin Beno picked up his second save of the year with two innings of scoreless work.

The Suns jumped on BlueClaws starter Jacob Diekman early. Suns left fielder Francisco Plascencia led off the bottom of the first with a single. He moved to second on a swinging bunt by Bill Rhinehart. Designated hitter Aaron Seuss drove home Plascencia on a line drive to left field before right fielder Michael Burgess blasted his fourth home run of the year over the right field wall to give the Suns a 3-0 lead.
Diekman was took the loss for the BlueClaws, falling to 0-3 on the season.

Lakewood would get one back in the third. Leadoff hitter Freddy Galvis reached on a walk and advanced to third on a Joel Naughton single. After a D’Arby Myers strike out, Freddy Mitchell flew out to deep center for the sacrifice fly.

Hagerstown got the run back in the fifth as Plascencia smacked his second double of the night to deep center field. Suns shortstop Dan Lyons then singled sharply to left, and BlueClaws left fielder Michael Taylor mishandled the ball allowing Plascencia to score.

The BlueClaws cut the lead to two in the sixth. Derrick Mitchell doubled off the wall in left center and came around to score on two wild pitches by Suns reliever Randy Matias.
The Suns got two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded second baseman Jake Smolinski singled through the right side to drive in Rhinehart and Burgess.

The Suns and BlueClaws play game two of the series Tuesday night at 6:35 at Municipal Stadium.

The Hagerstown Suns play at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, MD and are a Class “A” affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Ticket packages and sponsorships are available by calling the Suns at 301-791-6266. Visit the Suns on the web at www.hagerstownsuns.com. The Suns are owned by Los Angeles based Mandalay Baseball Properties.