SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Suns' 9 lives expire in 10th

July 26, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


ZEBULON, N.C. – Despite collecting three hits, the Suns hung with the Carolina Mudcats in a 3-2 loss in 10 innings Saturday in front of 5,381 fans at Five County Stadium.

The Mudcats loaded the bases in the ninth and 10th innings against Suns relievers Lino Urdaneta and Brian Steffek, respectively. In the ninth, Urdaneta induced an inning-ending double play from Josh Wilson after falling behind 3-0 in the count with the bases loaded.

Steffek (1-2) earned the loss when he failed to thwart the Carolina attack in the 10th. He allowed a leadoff double to Pat Magness who was replaced by pinch-runner Jose Cueto. Cueto was sacrificed to third but was tagged out stealing home on a botched suicide squeeze that Chip Ambres couldn't lay down. Steffek was ahead 1-2 on Ambres with no runners on and two outs, but Steffek walked Ambres, allowed a single to Billy Hall and walked Jesus Medrano to load the bases. A chopper to third baseman Brennan King was mishandled, allowing Ambres to score the winning run.

King's error was the third for the Suns (49-55 overall, 18-17 second half). Two errors in the fifth inning led to a Mudcats run which tied the game, 2-2.

The Suns scored its runs on hits by Reggie Abercrombie (single in the first) and Tony Socarras (triple in the fifth). Mudcats relievers Sean Fesh and Mike Flannery did not allow a hit to the Suns over the final five innings. Flannery (6-3) earned the victory.

Suns starter Edwin Jackson earned his 10th no-decision, pitching seven innings and allowing three hits, one earned run, no walks and struck out eight. Jackson leads the Southern League with 120 strikeouts.

Mudcats starter Randy Messenger struck out a season-high seven batters over five innings and left with a 2-2 tie.

With the win, Carolina (59-42, 17-16) moves into a second-place tie with the Suns, 4½ games back of first-place Tennessee.

Right-hander Will McCrotty (1-3, 4.11 ERA) is scheduled to face Mudcats lefty Todd Moser (4-3, 2.86) at 5 p.m. Sunday at Five County Stadium.

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