Claws enjoy Suns' generosity

August 31, 2004

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Another error, another loss for the Hagerstown Suns.

Josh Mader scored the winning run, with the help of a Tim Alvarez throwing error in the 10th inning, to lead the Lakewood BlueClaws to a 4-3 victory and a three-game sweep of the slumping Suns.

Hagerstown, which has lost five straight games, committed three errors and allowed three unearned runs in an 8-5 loss to Lakewood on Saturday to open the series.

Mader led off the 10th by drawing a walk off Alvarez, Hagerstown's struggling closer. After moving to second on a Michael Bourn single, Tim Moss laid down a bunt in front of Alvarez, who elected to throw to third base. But his throw went past Aaron Hornostaj, allowing Mader to score.

Hagerstown fought back from a 3-1 deficit to force the game into extra innings.

The Suns scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings off Lakewood starter Nate Cabrera to tie the game.

Hagerstown scored in the fourth when Jonathan Armitage led off with a double and took third on Pat Dobson's single before Hornostaj brought home the run on a fielder's choice.

Armitage drove in the tying run in the fifth with a single after Jesse Schmidt and Jason Columbus led off the inning with hits.

Hagerstown got a 1-0 lead in the second when Armitage reached on a error and eventually scored on Hornostaj's sacrifice fly.

Lakewood took a 3-1 lead in the third against Hagerstown starter Omar Anez on an RBI single by Moss and back-to-back doubles by Jake Blalock and Brian Hansen.

Armitage and Tim Hutting had three hits each for the Suns.

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