SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Suns Blast Past Mudcats on Thursday Throwdown

Published on May 8, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Juan Gonzalez belted a grand slam homerun, part of a five-run fifth inning, as the Jacksonville Suns (16-18) rallied from four early errors and a three-run deficit Thursday night for a 9-7 victory over the Carolina Mudcats (19-15) in front of 7,954 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

Starter Marlon Arias (3-2) allowed five runs, three earned, on eight hits over five innings while picking up the win for Jacksonville. Carolina starter Brett Sinkbeil (1-4) fell in the loss after allowing eight runs and thirteen hits over four and two-thirds innings. Suns reliever Edwardo Sierra (3) saved the game with three innings of work, allowing only one walk with two strikeouts. The series is even at two-games each, with the finale coming Friday at 7:05 p.m.

The back-and-forth affair began early with Carolina scoring three times in the first inning. Chris Coghlan and Gaby Sanchez pushed across runs with singles, while Sanchez later scored on the second Marlon Arias error of the inning for a 3-0 lead before the Suns picked up a bat.

Arias made up for the defensive miscues in the bottom of the second inning, blooping a single to right-centerfield with the bases loaded to score Bobby Malek and Shane Justis for a 3-2 Carolina lead.

The Mudcats scored twice more in the third to open a 5-2 lead. An Andrew Jenkins triple scored Alberto Concepcion, with Jenkins scoring on a throwing error on the same play.

Jacksonville got the scoring started again in the fourth inning when Ivan DeJesus, Jr. singled home Adam Godwin, cutting the Carolina lead to 5-3.

The Suns then sent nine hitters to the plate in the fifth inning, scoring five times to open an 8-5 lead. Shane Justis singled home Russell Mitchell, cutting the Carolina lead to 5-4. Following an Adam Godwin hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases, Juan Gonzalez pinch-hit for the pitcher Arias. From the left side of the plate, Gonzalez belted a grand slam homerun into the second row of the right field bleachers to give Jacksonville its first lead of the game.

Lucas May added to the Suns lead in the sixth inning, leading off with his sixth homerun of the season while extending the Suns lead to 9-5.

Carolina ended the scoring in the seventh inning with a Lorenzo Scott fielder's choice RBI and an Edwardo Sierra wild pitch for two runs, cutting the Suns lead to 9-7.

Suns RH Jesus Castillo will face Mudcats RH Willie Glen Friday at 7:05 p.m. The Suns will honor stroke survivors before the game, plus Boy and Girl Scouts will be invited to campout on the field and enjoy a midnight movie sponsored by UF and Shands and 99.1 WQIK. After the game, Friday Family Fireworks, courtesy of NAPA Auto Parts and your local NAPA Autocare Center Dealers.

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Southern League Stories from May 8, 2008


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