Rays Earn Split by Downing Suns 4-1
July 17, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Orlando Rays News Release
Jacksonville, Fla. â Orlando's offense wasn't overwhelming but managed to come up with some clutch hits as the Rays downed the Jacksonville Suns 4-1 in the season finale between the teams at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Thursday.
Frank Moore laced a two-out, bases-loaded single in the third inning to score Graig Merritt and Jesus Feliciano, staking Orlando to an early 2-0 lead. In the sixth inning the Rays scored a pair of runs on a three-base hit off the bat of the least-likely O-Ray â Dan Grummitt. The 6-5, 233-lb. first baseman is not known for having blazing speed, but his blast to center field glanced off the glove of Shane Victorino and rolled to the wall, allowing B.J. Barns and Amado German to score, with Grummitt ending up on third. The triple was Grummitt's first of the season and just the eighth in his six-year pro career, and it put Orlando up 4-0 at that point.
The Suns tried to answer in the fourth, scoring their only run of the contest when Nick Alvarez singled home Reggie Abercrombie to cut the lead to 4-1. Jacksonville would get no closer as three Rays relievers â Derek Andersen, John Benedetti and Josh Parker â tossed four innings of scoreless relief to close out the game for the Rays. Parker earned his second save since being promoted from Bakersfield with two innings of hitless work.
Travis Minix gave Orlando a quality outing in his fifth spot start of the season, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing only two hits. Alex Santos got the win after allowing one run in two innings of work. He allowed three hits and struck out one in improving to 2-1 on the year.
The Rays managed just five hits on the night but got them when they counted, earning a split of the series with Jacksonville and snapped a two-game losing skid in the process. Orlando improved to 8-18 on the second half of the season and 40-55 overall.
The O-Rays head to Greenville, S.C. for a four-game series with the Greenville Braves starting tomorrow night at Greenville Municipal Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., with Orlando sending lefty Jon Switzer (6-8, 3.89) to the mound to take on right-hander Matt Belisle (5-8, 3.80).
Southern League Stories from July 17, 2003
- BayBears take series finale from Stars - Mobile BayBears
- Smokies Offense Comes To Life - Knoxville Smokies
- Rays Earn Split by Downing Suns 4-1 - Orlando Rays
- Rays down Suns, 4-1 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Future Huntsville Star Wins 2003 Golden Spikes Award - Huntsville Stars
- Stars Win Second Straight, 8-7 - Huntsville Stars
- BayBears drop back and forth game - Mobile BayBears
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