O-Rays Kick Off Home Stand With Win
August 12, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Orlando Rays News Release
ORLANDO -Three Orlando pitchers held Tennessee to two runs on three hits as the Rays downed the Smokies 6-2 in front of 1,902 at Cracker Jack Stadium Tuesday.
Orlando starter Jim Magrane (W, 9-6) picked up his team-leading ninth win of the year after going seven solid innings, holding Tennessee to two runs - one earned - on three hits. He walked just one and struck out five in raising his record to 9-6, and also earned his first win in his last six starts.
Right-hander Jose Veras made his first relief appearance of the season and tossed a perfect eighth, striking out two. Closer Josh Parker came in and threw a flawless ninth in a non-save situation to close out the night.
Tennessee threatened to blow the game open early, as the Smokies opened a 1-0 lead on a RBI single by Yadier Molina. Molina's hit put runners on second and third with one out, but Magrane battled his way out of the jam, getting Corey Erickson to hit a little chopper back up the middle that Magrane fielded cleanly. He threw home to catch the runner trying to score from third, and then struck out the next hitter to end the threat.
Orlando would answer back in their half of the second, plating five runs on six hits in the inning. The big blow came from an unlikely source, as light-hitting Jesus Feliciano led off the inning with his first homer as an O-Ray. Feliciano's blast knotted the game at one, and the next four Rays would score to run the score to 5-1. The teams would trade runs in the fifth, leaving the final at 6-2.
John-Paul Davis led the O-Rays attack, going 2-3 with a double, RBI and run scored, while Fernando Cortez contributed with two hits and a run scored. Every Orlando hitter either drove in a run or scored once in the O-Rays 10-hit attack.
With the win, Orlando improved to 21-27 on the second half and 53-64 overall, while Tennessee slipped to 29-21, 64-56. The Rays and Smokies continue the four-game series tomorrow at 7:05, with Orlando sending RHP Scott Autrey (2-3, 3.51) to the mound against RHP Nick Stocks (9-6, 4.45).
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Southern League Stories from August 12, 2003
- BayBears Edge Barons, 4-3 - Birmingham Barons
- BayBears take series opener in Birmingham - Mobile BayBears
- BayBears Sinon named Southern League's trainer of the year - Mobile BayBears
- Rays Shine On Smokies - Knoxville Smokies
- McCrotty deals, Suns win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- O-Rays Kick Off Home Stand With Win - Orlando Rays
- Barons Lefty Neal Cotts to Make Major League Debut Tonight - Birmingham Barons
- Sinon Named SL Trainer of the Year - SL1
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