SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Smokies Defeat Suns 8-7

Published on August 11, 2011 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


KODAK, Tenn. - The Jacksonville Suns (23-24, 60-57) fell to the Tennessee Smokies (25-22, 68-49) by a final of 8-7 at Smokies Park on Thursday night.

Josh Vitters delivered the game-winning hit for Tennessee in the bottom of the ninth off Suns reliever Jeff Allison (3-4), as his single scored Ty Wright to end the game in walk-off fashion for the Smokies. Allison took the loss while Tennessee reliever Rafael Dolis (8-5) earned the win after pitching a scoreless top of the ninth.

The game was a see-saw battle throughout, with Jacksonville taking the game's initial lead with a pair of runs in the second inning. The Smokies tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the frame, before Wright gave the Smokies a 3-2 lead with a solo homer in the bottom of the third. Tennessee extended its lead with an RBI single by Rebel Ridling to put the score at 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth.

Jacksonville scored twice in the top of the sixth to tie the game, as a wild pitch by Tennessee starter Marco Carrillo scored a run before Jake Smolinski tied the game at four on his RBI double. The Smokies broke the tie in the bottom of the inning with a Nate Samson sacrifice fly that gave the Smokies a 5-4 lead entering the seventh.

Jim Negrych and Ben Lasater hit back-to-back RBI singles to give Jacksonville a 6-5 lead in the seventh. The Suns scored their third run of the inning when Alex Romero grounded into a force out that brought home Negrych to give the Suns a 7-5 advantage. Once again Tennessee would tie the game. Ridling's sacrifice fly pulled Tennessee to within a run before Vitters hit his first RBI single of the night to tie the game at seven.

Jacksonville's best scoring chance came in the ninth inning against Dolis, as the right-handed reliever walked three consecutive Suns batters to load the bases with one out. Dolis forced Romero to fly out to second before Smolinski was called out on strikes to end the inning with the game still tied at seven. Tennessee's game-winning rally in the ninth featured a one out single by Wright, who advanced to second after Ridling drew a walk, setting up the game winning single to left by Vitters.

Three Suns had multi-hit games, led by Negrych's 3-4 performance. Negrych also recorded a double and scored twice in the loss.

The Suns and Smokies will play the third game of the five game series on Friday night at Smokies Park. Right-handed pitcher Omar Poveda (7-5, 4.28 ERA) will pitch for Jacksonville while right-hander Ryan Searle (4-2, 3.87 ERA) will pitch for Tennessee. Friday'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.

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Southern League Stories from August 11, 2011


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