SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

O'Gara Dominant in 3-1 Victory

Published on August 10, 2011 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


KODAK, Tenn. - The Jacksonville Suns (23-23, 60-56) took the opener of their series against the Tennessee Smokies (25-21, 68-48) with a 3-1 victory at Smokies Park on Wednesday night.

Jacksonville starter Joey O'Gara (7-7) bounced back from a tough outing in his last start with a masterpiece in Tennessee, as he went six and two third innings allowing only one run on six hits and he threw the first six innings in scoreless fashion. He out-dueled Tennessee starter Brooks Raley (6-6), who went seven innings allowing one earned run on five hits. Sandy Rosario earned his Southern League-best 23rd save of the season by pitching a perfect ninth inning.

The Suns took the game's first lead in the top of the fourth when a Luke Montz sacrifice fly scored Kevin Mattison to put Jacksonville up 1-0. Kyle Skipworth added to the lead with a solo homer in the top of the seventh, a towering solo shot to right center that put the score at 2-1.

Tennessee would get a run back on a Blake Lalli solo homer off O'Gara in the bottom of the inning, but that is as close as the Smokies would get. Jacksonville added a run in the eighth when a wild pitch by Smokies reliever Jeff Stevens scored Jim Negrych from third to put the score at 3-1, which would be the final.

Skipworth and Ben Lasater both recorded multi-hit games for the Suns, and the win is Jacksonville's 60th of the season.

The Suns and Smokies will play the second game of the five game series on Thursday night at Smokies Park. Left-handed pitcher Jose Alvarez (1-4, 5.94 ERA) will pitch for Jacksonville while right-hander Marco Carrillo (5-2, 1.87 ERA) will pitch for Tennessee. Thursday's game will start at 7:15 p.m. ET, and fans can listen to the contest beginning at 7 p.m. with the U.F. & Shands Pregame Show on Jacksonville's WFXJ AM 930 the Fox and www.jaxsuns.com.

ABOUT THE JACKSONVILLE SUNS

The Jacksonville Suns are the minor league Class AA affiliate of the Florida Marlins. The Suns are proud members and five-time champions of the 10-team Southern League of Professional Baseball. To learn more about the Jacksonville Suns, visit www.jaxsuns.com.

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Southern League Stories from August 10, 2011


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