Suns blank RiverDogs before rain intervenes

The Hagerstown Suns shut out the Charleston RiverDogs 2-0 in five-plus innings in the opener of what was supposed to be a South Atlantic League doubleheader on Saturday, but rain shortened the first game and forced the cancellation of the second game.

The Suns (68-49 overall, 26-22 second half) are a half-game behind Hickory and West Virginia, and a half-game ahead of Lakewood, as the Northern Division’s second-half race continues to be tight at the top.


Hagerstown’s Bobby Hansen Jr. (3-4) and Charleston’s Bryan Mitchell (7-10) engaged in a scoreless pitchers’ duel through three innings, with Mitchell no-hitting the Suns to that point — though he walked four in those innings and five overall while striking out eight.

Hagerstown missed an opportunity to take an early lead in the first, as Mitchell walked the first two Suns he faced and a third with two outs, but he struck out the other three hitters he faced.

Justin Miller broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the fourth. Mitchell walked Brett Newsome and J.R. Higley moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Mitchell struck out the next two Suns, but uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Miller to score for a 1-0 lead.

Hansen got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth with a groundout after he walked two RiverDogs and hit a third. Charleston (61-54, 22-26 Southern) stranded six runners in the first four innings.

Hagerstown greeted RiverDogs reliever John Brebbia rudely in the sixth. Miller and Newsome opened the inning with singles and Higley hit an RBI double to left for a 2-0 lead with runners on second and third and no outs.

Then the rain came, and after a lengthy delay the game was ruled official.

No makeup date was announced for the second game. The Suns and RiverDogs are not scheduled to play again this season.

Hagerstown has an off-day Sunday before coming home for a three-game series against Hickory at Municipal Stadium starting Monday.