SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Suns hang on for series opening win over Barons

Published on April 21, 2006 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


Jacksonville, Fla. - The Jacksonville Suns (9-7) scored single runs in four different innings and left it to the bullpen as Jacksonville defeated the Birmingham Barons (7-9) by the score of 4-3 in front of 10,621 at the Baseball Grounds.

The Suns opened the scoring in the first inning as Andy LaRoche drove in leadoff man Chin-Lung Hu on a bouncing single up the middle, making it 1-0.

Jacksonville added another run off of Barons starter Ray Liotta in the second inning as veteran Suns outfielder Wilkin Ruan belted a two-out double into the left field corner to score A.J. Zapp and make it a 2-0 Suns lead.

Birmingham evened the score at two in the third inning as the first five men of the frame reached safely, including Barons second baseman Chris Getz and shortstop Robert Valido driving in runs with singles. Following a Ricardo Nanita strikeout, Suns starter Danny Muegge stopped the bleeding by inducing a one-hopper back to him that he threw home for the second out that catcher Brad Cresse then fired to first for the inning-ending double play.

The Suns loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning on a Justin Ruggiano leadoff walk, a one out hit from Brad Cresse and a Wilkin Ruan fielder's choice in which no outs were made. Chin-Lung Hu then drew a walk to drive in Jacksonville's third run and make it 3-2.

Jacksonville extended its lead in the fourth inning when Justin Ruggiano doubled home Matt Kemp with two out to extend the lead to 3-2. Ruggiano was thrown out at third base trying to extend the hit into a triple.

That extra run would prove to be important as Barons designated hitter Mark Quinn belted a homerun out of the ballpark to leadoff the sixth inning, cutting the Suns lead to 4-3.

Danny Muegge gave way to reliever T.J. Nall to begin the seventh inning, who quickly got into a second and third jam with one out. Nall calmly induced a pop out and a groundout to harmlessly end the Barons' scoring threat.

Muegge improved to 1-2 in the victory while Birmingham starter Ray Liotta fell to 1-2 in the loss. Nall saved his first game of 2006 with his three inning performance.

The Suns stay atop the South Division of the Southern League with the victory, improving to a record of 9-7. Game two of the series is scheduled for 7:05 Saturday with Birmingham dealing right-hander Lance Broadway (2-0, 2.00) against Jacksonville right-hander Justin Orenduff (0-1, 6.08). BirdZerk will appear at the Baseball Grounds tomorrow night, and tickets are available by calling the Suns box office at 904.358.2846.

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Southern League Stories from April 21, 2006


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