Rodriguez's slam leaves Suns dazed

August 17, 2000

Rodriguez's slam leaves Suns dazed

AUGUSTA, Ga. - For the second straight game, Augusta first baseman Carlos Rodriguez played a game of "can you top this?" against the entire Suns team.

For the second straight game, not only did Hagerstown fall short, it wasn't even close.

Rodriguez's grand slam in the fifth inning Thursday, his third home run in the last two games, was the decisive blow in an 8-0 Greenjackets romp, the Suns' fifth straight loss.

Hagerstown (55-66, 21-30 second half) enters the series finale today having been outscored 21-1 by Augusta. The Suns have not held a lead the entire series.

Rodriguez continued to frustrate the Suns with his bat. The grand slam came on the heels of a two-homer performance Wednesday.

Kelly Ramos' two-run homer in the second inning off Suns starter Ryan Houston (2-1) gave the Greenjackets the early lead. Augusta added two runs in the sixth for the final score.

Jerome Gamble (4-3) pitched five innings, giving up three of the Suns' six hits, walking four and striking out three for the victory.

On its best offensive chance, Hagerstown left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth. The Suns stranded nine runners total, one day after stranding 11.

Starting Pitchers for Friday

Augusta - Eric Glaser (7-6, 4.08)

Hagerstown - Peter Bauer (0-3, 5.29)

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