Suns Fall to Blue Wahoos 5-3
August 28, 2016 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Jacksonville Suns (29-32, 59-72) fell to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (32-29, 73-58) by a 5-3 score in the first game of the five-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Saturday night.
With the game tied at three in the bottom of the eighth, the Wahoos scored a pair of runs that would be the difference in the opening game of the series. Suns reliever Tyler Higgins (3-5) took the loss, while Wahoos reliever Carlos Gonzalez (7-3) earned the win, and Wahoos reliever Alejandro Chacin earned his Southern League-best 26th save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Wahoos got the offense going early in the first inning against Jacksonville starter Dillon Peters. After an Alex Blandino double, Brandon Dixon smashed a two-run homer over the right center field wall to give the Wahoos a 2-0 edge. Peters wouldn't allow any more runs during his start, going five innings just allowing the two runs on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
The Wahoos added a run in the bottom of the sixth when a wild pitch by Suns reliever Sean Donatello scored Phillip Ervin to put the lead at 3-0. The Suns had been shutout through six innings with just one hit against Wahoos starter Tyler Mahle, but he walked Brian Anderson to start the seventh inning before serving up a two-run home run to Alex Glenn that cut Pensacola's lead to 3-2. Glenn has hit four home runs over the past 11 games, and has homered in back-to-back nights for the Suns.
An inning later, a wild pitch by Gonzalez scored James Roberts from third as the Suns tied the game 3-3 in the top of the eighth. Higgins took over for the bottom of the eighth, and with the bases loaded and one out, Zach Vincej hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Jeff Gelalich, and a throwing error on the play by Suns left fielder Austin Dean scored Ervin to put the Wahoos lead at 5-3, which would be the final.
Miami Marlins second baseman Derek Dietrich, with the Suns on a major league rehab assignment, went 0-for-4 at the plate with a pair of strikeouts in his first game with Jacksonville.
The Suns and Wahoos will continue their series on Sunday with the second game of the five-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium at 5 p.m. ET. The Suns will start right-hander Chris Mazza (5-5, 4.11 ERA) against Pensacola right-hander Jackson Stephens (8-11, 3.17 ERA). Fans can listen to the game on the Suns Baseball Network, beginning at 4:45 p.m. with the pregame show "Suns On Deck" on FM 102.3 The Beach, the TuneIn Radio app, and www.jaxsuns.com.
The Suns begin their final home series Thursday against Mobile with Mavericks Live Thirsty Thursday fueled by Budweiser, when fans 21 and over can purchase $1 12-oz. and $2 24-oz. beers adjacent to the new Budweiser Tiki Terrace, under the left-field video board, at the right-field bleachers, and behind section 115. The game is also presented by 95.1 WAPE and X102.9.
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Southern League Stories from August 28, 2016
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- Braves Lose 7th Straight, Drop Opener to Lookouts - Mississippi Braves
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- Suns Fall to Blue Wahoos 5-3 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
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