SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Suns Rally in Ninth for 5-4 Victory

Published on August 7, 2011 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Suns (21-22, 58-55) won their first game in the five-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts (25-17, 60-52) with a 5-4 victory at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Sunday night.

After Suns reliever Sandy Rosario (3-2) blew a save in the top of the ninth, Jacksonville scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, with Paul Gran scoring from third on a fielding error by Chattanooga shortstop Ivan Ochoa on ball hit by Luke Montz. The win allows the Suns a chance to even the series with a win in tomorrow's game, plus the Suns have now won each time Rosario has blown a save.

Chattanooga's Alfredo Silverio hit the first pitch he saw from Suns starter Omar Poveda out of the ballpark, a leadoff solo homer to put the Lookouts up 1-0 in the first. Matt Wallach added to the Lookouts lead with a solo homer of his own to put the score at 2-0 going into the bottom of the second. Jacksonville rallied in that bottom of the second, with Neil Sellers hitting a two-run homer that tied the game. The next man up Kevin Mattison also went deep for the Suns, hitting a solo blast to right that gave Jacksonville a 3-2 advantage. Sellers added to his day in the fourth inning with an RBI double to give the Suns a 4-2 lead.

The Lookouts got a run back in the top of the fifth with Silverio getting a RBI double to cut the lead to 4-3. Poveda finished his night on the mound after seven innings where he allowed three runs on four hits and struck out five. He left with the lead, and Chris Hatcher worked a perfect eighth to keep the Suns ahead by a run.

Rosario allowed the Lookouts to tie the game in the top of the ninth when Wallach hit a sacrifice fly to score Kyle Russell to even the score at four. Jacksonville's comeback in the ninth began with a one-out walk to Paul Gran from Chattanooga reliever Scott Rice (3-3). Jake Smolinski hit a sharp grounder off Rice's lower leg and the ball caromed towards first base. Rice threw wild to first trying to retire Smolinski, and the hit/error allowed Smolinski to reach first and Gran advanced to third. Montz picked up the game-winning RBI when his hard-hit ball to the shortstop Ochoa was misplayed to give the Suns the win.

The Suns and Lookouts will play game four of the five game series on Monday night at the Baseball Grounds. Monday night will be "Clay County Night," in addition to "Belly Buster Monday," where $20.00 can get fans a home plate box seat plus all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, ice cream treats, and soft drinks.

Right-handed pitcher Bryan Evans (1-0, 2.08 ERA) will pitch for Jacksonville while right-hander Chris Withrow (3-6, 4.38 ERA) will pitch for Chattanooga. Monday's game will start at 7:05 p.m. ET, and fans can listen to the contest beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the U.F. & Shands Pregame Show on Jacksonville's WFXJ AM 930 the Fox and www.jaxsuns.com.

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Southern League Stories from August 7, 2011


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