The Hagerstown Suns pulled off a surprise as the Suns upset the West Virginia Power in the decisive game of the SAL Northern Division playoffs 6-2 at Hagerstown.Hagerstown broke open a tight 3-2 lead with a three run sixth inning that was started by a strikeout by Stephen Perez of all things.
The Jason Creasey pitch escaped Power catcher
Kawika Emsley-Pai and allowed Perez to reach first base safely.
Four hits by the next four batters ended in three important insurance runs and essentially ended the game.
Issac Bellew finished the evening with four hits,while Tony Renda had three hits and two RBI on the night.
The Suns were able to get five good innings from winning pitcher Kylin Turnbull and with a tired bullpen,Hagerstown was able to receive a tremendous performance from Ronald Pena,who allowed just two hits without a run in pitching the final four innings of the win.
The Suns will now play the Southern Division champions-the Savannah Sand Gnats with Game one being in Hagerstown on Monday night.
A few bullet points on the night.
The crowd was enthusiastic,but not as large as one might have thought with free tickets,but the fans that did arrive were true Suns fans and cheered accordingly.
If I had to wager a guess,the crowd was likely down due to the announcement on Friday that the Suns were likely gone for the 2015 season by Bruce Quinn (who was not in attendance).
It is very tough to attract fans that feel slapped in the face and the announcement surely did not help in that aspect.
West Virginia had their fans as well and they were very involved as they had their fan leader "the toastman" in attendance with a group of a dozen or so.
I found their organized heckling obnoxious,but I'm not a huge fan of that type of stuff anyway.
I do give them credit for driving four hours and supporting their team in the series and were certainly spirited.
On another note-for the people that think the Suns do not contribute to the local economy-think about what group spent in the local economy on food,lodging,gas etc.
That is what the team brings into the area and to those that think that is a small sum-would you want to do without it?
That is what you will do without pro baseball....
West Virginia starter Luis Heredia didn't seem to have his best stuff,but the Suns did very well in working the count and taking the pitch count higher to keep Heredia from pitching deep into the game,much like the team in game one against another heralded prospect in Tyler Glasnow.
Heredia allowed 10 hits in three plus innings and picked up the loss...
I am sure that most of you know that I root for the Power when they hit Hagerstown as they are a Pirates affiliate,but I did not this time.
I rooted for the Suns because I do believe that this town deserves baseball and it would be very nice as the sun sets (pun intended) on the time in the SAL for the fans that have come out and supported the team so often through the years are allowed to get a championship before the SAL era ends.
A final note on the upcoming series.
It has been an urban legend that the New York Mets throw weight around in the SAL office to have their team in Savannah not have to come and play at the Muni against the Suns.
I have never thought that was true as every team under the dunderheaded schedule that the league uses misses teams each year,but it does seem fishy.
Some of you might recall reading my fix to this issue to be found here.
However,if this is true-You cannot get out of this one,Savannah!
See you on Monday.....
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