Late Runs Vault Suns Past Smokies 6-5
July 10, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
KODAK, TN - After plating a pair of two-out runs to re-take the lead in the top of the ninth inning, the Jacksonville Suns (11-9, 47-43) narrowly held off the Tennessee Smokies (12-9, 45-45) on Thursday night's series-opening ballgame from Smokies Stadium.
Hear pitching coach John Duffy's postgame comments here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?vHLzPTfZxmRM
Chipper Smith took a no decision after allowing one run (earned) on one hit in four-plus innings, while walking two batters and striking out a pair of Smokies.
Frankie Reed allowed one run (earned) on two hits in his 0.2 innings of work, issuing one walk in his Thursday night outing.
Jheyson Manzueta surrendered two runs (both earned) on five hits in two innings of work, finishing with one strikeout.
James Nygren (W, 3-2) earned the win after retiring all four batters he faced in 1.1 innings of shutdown ball.
Nick Wittgren (SV, 12) collected his 12th save of the year after allowing one run (earned) on two hits with two walks and a strikeout in Thursday night's Suns win.
Hunter Cervenka (L, 2-3) took the loss for Tennessee after giving up two runs (both earned) on two hits, while walking three batters and striking out two Suns.
The Suns opened up the scoring on Thursday night, using a pair of productive outs to plate two runs in the top of the first inning. Jacksonville opened the scoring on Brady Shoemaker's RBI force out and then made it a 2-0 lead when Brent Keys came down to score on a sacrifice fly from Austin Barnes.
Jacksonville plated two more runs in the top of the third inning, receiving a RBI single from Terrence Dayleg and a sacrifice fly from Isaac Galloway to double their advantage to 4-0 in the top of the third.
Tennessee finally got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jae-Hoon Ha drove in Luis Flores on a RBI force out and Jonathan Mota crossed home on a wild pitch from Jheyson Manzueta to make it a 4-2 Suns lead after five innings.
Jorge Soler began the bottom of the sixth inning with a leadoff homer for the Smokies to center to cut Jacksonville's lead to 4-3.
The Smokies tied the game at 4-4 after Pin-Chieh Chen came in to score on Elliot Soto's RBI single.
Jacksonville capitalized on some two-out magic to re-take the lead in the top of the ninth inning. The Suns used back-to-back two-out RBI singles from Joe Benson and Austin Barnes to capture a 6-4 lead after eight and a half innings of play.
Tennessee drew a run closer in the bottom of the ninth inning on Jorge Soler's two-out RBI single to make it a 6-5 Suns lead.
The Suns drew a season-high 11 walks in Thursday's win.
At three hours and 41 minutes, Thursday's 6-5 win is the longest nine-inning ballgame that the Suns have been involved in during the 2014 season.
The Suns and Smokies will be back at it on Friday night, with first pitch set for 7:15 p.m. ET. The Suns will send out right-hander Jay Rogers (3-2, 4.30) while the Smokies will counter with a righty of their own in Corey Black (4-5, 2.72).
Suns fans can listen to Friday's game on the Suns Baseball Network, 94.1 WSOS-FM or through www.jaxsuns.com, MiLB.com or the Suns iPhone or Android app, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET with the Memorial Hospital Suns Pregame Show.
The 2014 season of Suns baseball is presented by EverBank, the official banking partner of the Jacksonville Suns. Sponsorships, group outings, and season / individual game tickets are currently available by calling the Suns front office at (904) 358-2846.
Southern League Stories from July 10, 2014
- Late Runs Vault Suns Past Smokies 6-5 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Kleinknecht, M-Braves Walk Off with Win over Mobile - Mississippi Braves
- Pensacola Takes Opener against Montgomery, 4-2 - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Three-Run Seventh Inning Propels Lookouts to 5-3 Win - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Suns Silence Smokies' Rally, Open Series with 6-5 Win - Knoxville Smokies
- Stars Lose Opener in Chattanooga - Huntsville Stars
- Pensacola Takes Opener against Montgomery, 4-2 - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Timely Hit Eludes Biscuits, Wahoos Take Opener - Montgomery Biscuits
- Berset Activated and Transferred to Triple-A - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Suns Fillet the Wahoos & Battle the Barons for Eleven Games - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Poythress signed by Braves, assigned to Mississippi - Mississippi Braves
- Davis Placed on Disabled List; Lorick Activated From DL - Knoxville Smokies
- Leverton to Disabled List; Fisher to GCL Marlins for Rehab - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
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