The Hagerstown Suns got an inspiring effort from Jose Sanchez and a much needed insurance run to beat Kannapolis 5-3 and tie the best-of-five South Atlantic League Championship Series at one game apiece.

Starter Jose Sanchez had been one of the league's best pitchers in the first half but after throwing 133 innings, his arm began to tire.

The righthander had not won a game since July 9 and was coming off a poor performance in the previous series with Delmarva.

Yet the 2005 All-Star threw six innings and allowed just one run to pick up his first win of the postseason and help the Suns turn the series into a best-of-three. It was the first time since July 27 that Sanchez had allowed fewer than three runs in an outing.

Entering the bottom of the eighth inning, the Suns were ahead by just one run. Earlier in the game, John Hurd had relieved starter Adam Russell for the Intimidators and struck out Russ Triplett with the bases loaded to keep his team in the game.

Triplett would get his revenge by cracking a leadoff single for the only hit Hurd would allow all night. That brought reliever Garry Bakker into the game, and with a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch moving Triplett to third, Kyle Brown came to the plate with a chance to put Hagerstown up by two.

The outfielder delivered for Hagerstown ripping a ground ball into left field to score Triplett for the insurance run the Suns needed to give closer Marcelo Perez some breathing room.

Perez would strike out two batters in the ninth and then get Sean Smith to ground out to the shortstop to pick up his second save of the playoffs and send the series to Kannapolis tied, 1-1.

Game 3 will be on Thursday after both teams get Wednesday off to travel. The game will start at 7:05 and will feature Mike Devaney starting for the Suns against Jack Egbert, who's expected to start for Kannapolis.

Game 4 will be on Friday at 7:05 with Blake Eager going for Hagerstown. If necessary, Game 5 will be on Saturday at 7:05, also in Kannapolis.

The Suns and Intimdators each stranded the bases loaded once in the ballgame and each team committed just one error.

It was the Suns final game in Municipal Stadium in 2005, they finished with a record of 43-31, including a 3-1 mark in the playoffs.

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