SUNS HOLD ON, DEFEAT 'CLAWS 7-6

Lakewood, NJ: In an exciting game at FirstEnergy Park, the Hagerstown Suns held on Saturday afternoon to beat the BlueClaws 7-6.

The Suns scored 3 times in the first two innings en route to a 3-0 lead. Marco Estrada started for the Suns and pitched well. Estrada threw up zeros in the first and 2nd innings. However, the 'Claws scored once in the 3rd on a RBI single off the bat of Adrian Cardenas to make it 3-1. They later scored twice more in the 5th to tie it up at 3. Julian Williams had a RBI double and Quintin Berry followed with a RBI single to tie it. Estrada was then lifted in the 6th for RHP Aaron Jackson. Estrada's final line was 5 innings, 3 runs, 3 hits, 3 walks and 4 K's. Jackson was greeted rudely in the 6th, he allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and the Suns were trailing 5-3.

However, as we have seen, there is no quit in the 2007 Suns and it showed once again. With the Suns trailing 5-3 heading into the 7th, Jhonathan Solano walked with one out, Francisco Guzman then singled, followed by back-to-back walks to Mike Martinez and Alexis Nunez. Nunez's walk plated a run and the Suns trailed 5-4. Stephen King then pop up to 2nd on the first pitch and it was left to Mike Daniel. Daniel who, coming into the game, led the league in RBIs lined a 2-run single into right and the Suns had a 6-5 lead. They added one more in the 8th and Eddy Baeza, just called up from Extended Spring Training, came on for the final 6 outs for his 1st save..

The Suns are now 1-0 on the road trip and for the first time this season win the opening game of a series. Tomorrow, the Suns and BlueClaws go at it again in game number 2. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05PM at FirstEnergy Park. The Suns return home on Friday, April 27th to take on the Delmarva Shorebirds at 6:35PM. For tickets, please call the Suns at 301-791-6266.