SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Lax Suns fall to Mudcats, 4-0

Published on May 4, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –- Hundreds of kids did what the Suns couldn't do Sunday – cross home plate. The Suns lost to the Carolina Mudcats, 4-0, in front of 5,785 fans at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Kids Run the Bases Day.

"We didn't come ready to play today," Suns manager Dino Ebel said. "When we step out on the field Tuesday, you'll see a different team out there than you saw today.

The Suns (16-14) committed two errors on relatively routine plays and scattered seven hits, but only once had a runner at third base. Jacksonville has lost back-to-back games after beating Carolina in the first two games of the series.

Mudcats center fielder Chip Ambres homered off Suns starter Eric Stults in the second inning to give Carolina (21-9) a 1-0 lead. Stults pitched 5-2/3 innings, allowing all four runs – three earned. The Mudcats scored single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings as well off Stults (2-3), who earned the loss.

Only twice did the Suns have multiple baserunners on base. In the fourth inning, two singles created a first and third situation with two outs, but Mike Collins was thrown out attempting to score on a wild pitch. With one out in the seventh, Nick Alvarez singled and Victor Diaz was hit with a pitch, but the next two hitters were retired by Carolina starter Ryan Snare.

Snare (2-0) earned the victory, pitching seven innings and striking out seven. It was his longest start of the year.

Diaz and Collins had two hits apiece to lead the Suns.

Suns right-hander Joel Hanrahan (3-1, 4.21 ERA) is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Birmingham, Ala. The Barons have yet to name a probable starter.

SUNS SPOTS: C Koyie Hill was promoted to Class AAA Las Vegas following the game Sunday. Hill batted .228 with seven RBI in 25 games with the Suns. He led the Suns with 11 home runs in 2002. C Bill Duplissea was promoted from extended spring training to take Hill's spot on the roster. ...The Suns bullpen did not allow a run over the eight-game homestand and hasn't allowed a run since last Friday at Chattanooga, spanning 20-1/3 innings.

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Southern League Stories from May 4, 2003


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