Jensen Lifts Suns to 5-3 Win over BayBears
Published on May 31, 2012 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A towering three-run home run by Kyle Jensen helped the Jacksonville Suns to a 5-3 win over the Mobile BayBears on Thursday night at the Baseball Grounds. After losing both games of a double header on Tuesday, the Suns have now won two straight to even the series and gain ground on the BayBears in the South Division.
Mobile took the lead in the third against Suns starter Graham Taylor when Wladimir Sutil led off the inning with his seventh double of the season. After a sacrifice bunt by the pitcher Gaby Hernandez moved Sutil to third, Alfredo Marte drove him in with a sacrifice fly to put Mobile on top 1-0. Marte is tied for third in the Southern League with 33 runs batted in.
The Suns evened the score in the fifth, when Kyle Skipworth was hit by BayBears pitcher Gaby Hernandez to lead off the inning. Kyle Jensen then hit a ground ball to the third baseman Matt Davidson, but instead of starting a double play, the ball rolled under his glove and into left field with Skipworth going all the way to third and Jensen to second. It was the third error committed by Davidson in the last two games. Jeff Dominguez stepped in and sent a sacrifice fly to center for his tenth RBI of the season, with Skipworth scoring to tie the game 1-1.
In the sixth the Suns broke the game open scoring four runs on four hits against Hernandez. Chris Gutierrez led off with a walk, and was sacrificed to second by Paul Gran. Jake Smolinski scratched out an infield single to put runners on the corners with one out. Shawn Bowman delivered with his 25th RBI, a line drive single to center field with Gutierrez scoring to put the Suns in front 2-1. Kyle Jensen cleared the bases with a manager's best friend, the three-run home run. Jensen turned on a Hernandez pitch and smashed a mammoth blast that hit the scoreboard in left field to make the score 5-1. Jensen leads the Suns with seven home runs.
Brent Clevlen hit a solo home run off of Taylor in the seventh to cut the Suns lead to 5-2, and Alfredo Marte hit a solo home run off of Evan Reed in the eighth to edge the BayBears closer but that would be all for the Mobile offense. Reed struck out the side in the eighth. The home run to Marte is the first round tripper that Reed has given up this season.
Suns starting pitcher Graham Taylor won for the first time since April 28th, and improved his record to 3-4. He allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings. A.J. Ramos struck out the side in the ninth for his second save of the season. Gaby Hernandez allowed five runs on five hits and has lost his first two starts with the BayBears.
The series is up for grabs on Friday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05p.m. RHP Matthew Neil (0-0, 8.38) will start his third game for the Suns. LHP Tyler Skaggs (3-3, 2.72) is set to start his tenth game of the season for Mobile.
Southern League Stories from May 31, 2012
- Smokies Ride Jokisch's Arm to 4-1 Victory Thursday - Knoxville Smokies
- Suns Stun BayBears for Second Straight - Mobile BayBears
- Stars Two-Hit by Smokies in Loss - Huntsville Stars
- Jensen Lifts Suns to 5-3 Win over BayBears - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Hernandez Pitches Barons to 1-0 Shutout over Lookouts - Birmingham Barons
- Generals Game Postponed on Thursday - Jackson Generals
- Mayo Acosta Activated from AAA Durham - Montgomery Biscuits
- Andrelton Simmons to Atlanta and Greg Paiml to Mississippi - Mississippi Braves
- M-Brave Andrelton Simmons Promoted to Atlanta - Mississippi Braves
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