Suns pick up victory, player

August 02, 1998

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Hagerstown Suns took the lead so fast, the game almost wasn't tied.

Tony Peters put the first pitch of the game out of Watt Powell Park and the Suns never looked back, pounding out 17 hits in an 11-4 rout of the Charleston Alley Cats Friday night.

Hagerstown (18-23, 62-49 overall) won its fourth straight game in a virtual gift from the Alley Cats, who drove all night Thursday after a 15-inning loss in Hickory, N.C., and didn't get to the park Friday until two hours before game time.

The Suns were also the recipients of a new pitcher. The Toronto Blue Jays, Hagerstown's parent club, traded Tony Phillips to the Mets Friday night in a straight trade for prospect Leoncio Estrella, who has been pitching for the Mets' South Atlantic League team in Capital City (Columbia, S.C.).

The Suns are probably glad to have Estrella heading into the postseason. He handcuffed the Suns one week ago in Municipal Stadium, holding Hagerstown to five singles in eight innings of a 2-1 victory.

The right-hander is 10-8 on the season with a 3.93 ERA. He has given up 120 hits in 119 innings and has struck out 97 batters. Suns owner Winston Blenckstone said that Estrella would join the team in Charleston today and would be placed on the roster either today or tomorrow. However, a roster move must be made to make room for Estrella with the Suns.

But Thursday night, Pevey had more than enough from just his starting nine.

Peters was solid again in the leadoff role, going 4-for-5. His single to start the third led the Suns to a three-run frame, and he capped a three-run fifth with a two-RBI single.

Chris Hayes, returning to the lineup after being hit in the head by a thrown ball during warmups Wednesday, went 4-for-6, including two doubles, one of which started a three-run sixth that was highlighted by Vernon Wells' two-run double.

Suns pitcher Matt McClellan (6-5) was the welcome beneficiary of the offensive explosion. He allowed only three hits in six innings and struck out five.

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