Suns can't get hot enough in opener

April 05, 2002

HICKORY, N.C. - The Hagerstown Suns did about everything it could offensively to make the 2002 season opener a success.

Everything that is, but win.

The Suns dug themselves out of two deep holes to get into contention, but fell short in a 11-10 loss to the Hickory Crawdads despite a pair of three-run rallies in the eighth and ninth innings.

Hagerstown (0-1) fell behind 5-2 and 11-4 and came back within one run, but never led.

The Suns trailed 11-7 heading into the top of the ninth against reliever Alexander Ossir. Derin McMains opened the inning with a double, Robbie Meyer walked and Tyler Van Schell singled to load the bases. Hagerstown narrowed the margin on a Julian Benavidez RBI single, a passed ball and a wild pitch to climb within a run.

Casey Shumaker came on with none out and Benavidez on third and got the next three Suns batters to end the game.

Hagerstown used four Hickory errors to score five unearned runs - two in the third and three in the eighth.

Hickory jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second off Suns starter Brian Burres (0-1), started by a double by Walter Young. The Crawdads used two wild pitches, a RBI single by Vic Buttler and a rundown play to build the lead.

After Jose Bautista lifted a sacrifice fly in the third, Meyer and Mark Walker each hit solo home runs to bring the Suns within 5-4 after 5 1/2 innings.

Hickory blew the game open with a six-run sixth inning.

Today

Hagerstown Suns

Anthony Pannone

at Hickory Crawdads

Pat O'Brien

Time: 7

Radio: WHAG 1410

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