Suns Hang on 6-4 against Smokies
Published on July 27, 2012 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Suns used a combination of power and patience at the plate to even their series against the Tennessee Smokies, with a 6-4 win at the Baseball Grounds on Friday night. The Suns improved to 10-9 at home in the second half of the season.
Donnie Webb gave the Suns a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when he launched a solo home run over the right-center field fence off of Smokies starting pitcher Ty'Relle Harris. Webb has hit three of his seven home runs this season against Tennessee pitching, with all three of the round trippers at the Baseball Grounds. Kyle Skipworth and Donnie Webb have accounted for the last seven Suns homers in the last 10 games.
The Suns added another run in the second when Jose Alvarez walked and Danny Pertusati singled to put runners on first and second. Chris Gutierrez then singled to center to drive in Alvarez to increase the lead to 2-0. Suns pitchers have now scored nine runs this season.
Jacksonville doubled the lead in the third inning. Kyle Skipworth singled and went to second on a wild pitch, and that was followed by a walk to Donnie Webb. With two outs, Suns second baseman Alfredo Lopez hit a ground ball to Justin Bour at first, with Skipworth scoring to make the score 3-0. With the bases loaded, Danny Pertusati was hit by a pitch forcing in Webb for a 4-0 Suns advantage.
The Smokies scored twice in the fourth to cut the lead to 4-2. Junior Lake drove in a run with a double, and Juan Apodaca plated a run with a sacrifice fly.
Tennessee inched closer in the seventh when Greg Rohan hit a towering solo home run to left field off of Alvarez, and the Suns lead was 4-3. Rohan has hit three of the Smokies nine home runs in the series.
In the home half of the seventh, Smokies relievers Zach Rosscup and Kevin Rhoderick combined to walk five Suns batters, with Josh Schmidt and Alfredo Lopez each forcing in a run with a base on balls to make the score 6-3. The Suns sent eight men to the plate and scored two runs in the inning without the benefit of a hit. The Smokies added a run in the eighth when Lake drove in his second run of the night and the score was 6-4 Suns, but that's as close as Tennessee would get. The Suns have won six of their last nine home games.
Jose Alvarez (4-5) allowed three runs on six hits in his six innings of work. Two of his four wins this season have been against the Smokies. A.J. Ramos pitched the ninth for his 15th save of the season. Ramos has earned a save in nine of the Suns last 12 victories.
The Suns will look to win the series Saturday with the first pitch slated for 6:05 p.m. from the Baseball Grounds. LHP Graham Taylor (5-8, 4.23) will take the hill for Jacksonville. RHP Nick Struck (11-9, 3.52) will start his 22nd game of the season for Tennessee.
Southern League Stories from July 27, 2012
- BayBears Drop Sixth Straight After 6-1 Defeat - Mobile BayBears
- Stars' Winning Streak Snapped At Five - Huntsville Stars
- Almonte, Paxton Help Generals to Second Straight Win - Jackson Generals
- Suns Hang on 6-4 against Smokies - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Late Home Run Not Enough as Generals Even Series - Montgomery Biscuits
- Wild Smokies Drop Second Straight at Jacksonville, 6-4 - Knoxville Smokies
- Barons Top Lookouts, 3-2 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Enjoy a Fun Night of Entertainment and Help Manna Food Pantries - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Smokies Return Home to Take on Pensacola this Monday - Knoxville Smokies
- Smokies Add Szczur To Roster Friday - Knoxville Smokies
- Generals Game Notes - Jackson Generals
- Generals Closer Carter Capps Promoted to AAA Tacoma - Jackson Generals
- Sean Gilmartin and Peter Moylan to Gwinnett - Mississippi Braves
- Duarte And Dominguez Transferred To New Orleans - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Barons Begin Season's Final Month with Ten-Game Home Stand - Birmingham Barons
- Stars Win Fifth Straight with Victory over Pensacola - Huntsville Stars
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