Suns top Mudcats, 5-2
August 17, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
Jacksonville, FL -- Brad Davis slugged a two-run homer in the sixth to lift the Jacksonville Suns past the Carolina Mudcats 5-2 in the series opener at the Baseball Grounds on Monday night.
Davis connected against Mudcats starter Luis Montano (L, 0-4), who dropped his fourth decision in four Double-A starts. Davis wrapped a 1-1 pitch just inside the left field foul pole with two outs in the inning, and the Mudcats never recovered.
Trailing 2-0 in the fourth, Carolina rallied against former Mudcat pitcher and current Florida Marlins RH Anibal Sanchez, who was making his likely final major league injury rehab start. Sanchez retired the first nine batters before walking Sean Henry to start the fourth, then surrendered a game-tying two-run homer to Shaun Cumberland, depositing a 3-1 fastball into the right field bleachers.
Carolina (19-32) had two golden chances at the lead in the fifth and sixth against reliever Chris Leroux, but failed in each instance. In the fifth, Logan Parker tripled to start the inning, but a strikeout and a double play ended the inning. Justin Tordi fanned, followed by a short flyball to right field, with Mike Stanton gunning down Parker at the plate with Montano waiting to hit next. In the sixth, Montano singled and Henry doubled him to third. However, Cumberland bounced a pitch to first baseman Logan Morrison, who tapped first base for an out, then threw to the plate to just nip Montano attempting to score.
Jacksonville (34-17) added an insurance run against Ruben Medina in the seventh on the second of Morrison's two doubles in the game.
Montano, who threw 35 pitches in the first inning, pitched his best game at Double-A despite losing his fourth straight start. Montano worked 5 2/3 innings, yielding five hits and four runs. Montano fanned a personal-hit four Double-A hitters, while walking four.
Carolina continues its five-game series on Tuesday night with Tom Cochran (4-5, 3.27) starting against Graham Taylor (6-6, 4.09) at 7:05 PM ET.
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