Rays-Suns Split Historic DH
July 15, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Orlando Rays News Release
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. â Orlando pitcher Chad Gaudin made Southern League history in game one of the Rays â Suns doubleheader Tuesday, tossing a 7-inning perfect game in his Class AA debut, leading Orlando to a 1-0 win over Jacksonville at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Gaudin, making his first start at Class AA after a July 11 promotion from Class A Bakersfield, dazzled the Jacksonville hitters throughout the contest, striking out nine Suns batters on the night. The New Orleans native was promoted to Orlando after the Devil Rays placed RHP Matt White on the DL with shoulder stiffness. Gaudin was 5-3 with a 2.13 ERA in 14 games with the Blaze.
Former Jacksonville Sun Jesus Feliciano made sure Gaudin's effort wasn't wasted, driving in the Rays only run with a 5th-inning RBI double and then securing the perfect game by making a diving catch in the 6th inning. The headlong effort robbed Suns catcher Tony Socarras of an extra-base hit, and Gaudin (1-0) made sure the Suns didn't even come close in the 7th. He struck out Shane Victorino (looking) to start the inning; got Jason Repko to fly out to center field and then struck out Reggie Abercrombie (swinging) to close out the evening.
The perfect game was just the second in Southern League history, with the first occurring over 30 years ago. Charles Swanson with the Montgomery Rebels tossed a nine-inning perfect game against Savannah on August 14, 1970 â the only one in league history until Gaudin took the mound Tuesday.
Gaudin's perfect game was the second Orlando gem in the last two years, as Orlando RHP Gerardo Garcia tossed a no-hitter against the Tennessee Smokies on May 22, 2002.
The 20-year-old Gaudin is the youngest O-Ray on the roster this season. In 2002 he went 4-6 with a 2.26 ERA in 26 games with Class (Low) A Charleston. He also picked up one save and struck out 106 in 119 innings pitcher. The Devil Rays selected Gaudin in the 34th round of the 2001 June draft.
GAME 2 â Suns 3, Rays 2
Jacksonville rebounded to take game two 3-2 as the Suns withstood a late Orlando rally to earn a split of the doubleheader.
Down to their final out in the game, Orlando center fielder Amado German came to the plate with the tying run on third base in Dan Grummitt and the potential go-ahead run on first in Jesus Feliciano. Feliciano had singled home Heath Kelly to narrow the Suns' lead to 3-2, prompting Jacksonville manager Dino Ebel to pull starter Heath Totten (6-9) in favor of closer Tommy Frasor (SV, 8). German nearly won the game for the Rays, launching a drive to the wall in left but Suns outfielder Jason Repko ran down the drive and killed the Orlando rally. The split left the Rays at 7-17 on the second half.
Orlando and Jacksonville meet again tomorrow at 7:05 p.m., with RHP Jim Magrane (8-4, 3.82) going for the Rays while the Suns counter with RHP Edwin Jackson (4-6, 3.90).
• Discuss this story on the Southern League message board...
Southern League Stories from July 15, 2003
- Stars take game two from BayBears - Mobile BayBears
- Rays-Suns Split Historic DH - Orlando Rays
- Smokies Let One Slip Through - Knoxville Smokies
- Gaudin tosses perfect game vs. Suns, but Jacksonville Wins Game Two - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Rays Gaudin Tosses Perfect Game - Orlando Rays
- Gaudin throws perfect game in Rays' 1-0 win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- All-Star Game Has Southern Pedigree - SL1
- Faison shines as BayBears take first alone - Mobile BayBears
- Stars Fall to Bears in Ninth, 2-1 - Huntsville Stars
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
