SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Suns Blank Smokies 3-0 / Hand Pitches Six Scoreless Innings in Tenth Victory

August 13, 2011 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


KODAK, Tenn. - Behind a strong pitching performance by Brad Hand (10-3), the Jacksonville Suns (24-25, 61-58) shutout the Tennessee Smokies (27-22, 70-49) with a 3-0 victory at Smokies Park on Saturday night.

Hand threw six scoreless innings and retired the last ten batters he faced in order en route to his tenth Southern League victory. He also walked two batters and struck out three as he allowed four hits but none after the third inning. Jhan Marinez and Chris Hatcher went the rest of the way on the mound, with both working perfect inning as the final 19 Smokies were set down in order at the plate. Hatcher's scoreless ninth earned him his fifth save of the season.

The Suns took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second against Tennessee starter Trey McNutt. Ben Lasater drew a bases-loaded walk to plate the first run before Neil Sellers hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Kyle Jensen to give Jacksonville a two-run advantage.

Jacksonville added to the lead in the fifth inning when Chris Gutierrez hit a ground-rule RBI double to put the score at 3-0, which would be the final.

The Suns win evens the series at two games apiece, setting up a rubber match in Sunday's contest at Smokies Park. Right-handed pitcher Bryan Evans (1-0, 2.30 ERA) will pitch for Jacksonville while right-hander Larry Suarez (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will pitch for Tennessee. Sunday's game will start at 5:00 p.m. ET, and fans can listen to the contest beginning at 4:30 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 13, 2011


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