SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Braves down bucking Suns, 9-7

Published on August 22, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In a game with several lead changes, the Greenville Braves beat the Suns, 9-7, in front of 11,720 fans Friday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

With the loss, the Suns remain three games behind first-place Tennessee, which lost. However, second-place Carolina won, which pulled them to within a game of first.

The Braves took the lead, 3-0, partly on pitcher Ray Aguilar's two-run home run in the second inning off Suns starter Will McCrotty. McCrotty left the game leading, 7-4, however, after Jacksonville posted him with ample offense.

Franklin Gutierrez hit a line-drive grand slam to left field which hugged both the foul pole and the top of the outfield fence which capped a six-run second inning for the Suns (62-68 overall, 31-30 second half). All the runs were unearned off Aguilar because of two errors by shortstop Kelly Johnson. Nick Theodorou doubled home Nick Alvarez in the third inning to post the Suns' seventh run.

The offense fizzled as the Suns posted one hit – a single – in the final six innings of the game. Meanwhile, that's when things got going again for the Braves (62-67, 26-35).

With runners at first and second and one out, McCrotty was relieved by Brian Steffek. Steffek allowed a two-run double to Bryon Jeffcoat, the first batter he faced. The tying run scored on Richard Lewis' RBI single off Steffek in the seventh. In the eighth, Ramon Castro smashed a long two-run home run off Steffek (1-3) who earned the loss.

Alec Zumwalt (1-0) earned the victory in relief for Greenville. He pitched two shutout innings in relief of Aguilar. Billy Sylvester closed the eighth and ninth innings for his 16th save – his sixth vs. the Suns this season.

Right-hander Greg Bauer (6-4, 2.88 ERA) is scheduled to make a spot start against Braves righty Daniel Curtis (4-3, 3.26) at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. It is the final Suns' home game of the regular season.

SUNS SPOTS: Prior to Friday, the Suns' bullpen had allowed one run over its previous 27-1/3 innings. The bullpen was short, however, because of Edwin Jackson's rain-shortened start Thursday and Bauer's spot start Saturday.

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Southern League Stories from August 22, 2003


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