Suns come alive in 14-3 win
June 11, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. â The Suns mystically found the antidote for its stagnant offense, slamming 17 hits â many with two outs â in a 14-3 victory over the Orlando Rays on Wednesday morning in front of 2,053 fans at Cracker Jack Stadium.
The Suns had scored three runs in 34 innings and had led only once in its previous 67 innings before scoring in seven different innings against Orlando.
Will McCrotty made his first career start, spotting the Suns three innings and allowing three runs. The Rays' spot starter Travis Minix equaled McCrotty in his outing leaving the teams tied 3-3 after three innings.
The Suns (28-36) got the leadoff man aboard in each of the final eight innings, leading to consistent scoring. Tony Socarras smashed a run-scoring double in the fourth to put Jacksonville ahead to stay. Shane Victorino singled in Socarras later in the inning to give reliever Greg Bauer (3-2) a lead, and, consequently, the victory.
Sacrifice flies in the fifth and sixth gave the Suns a 7-3 lead until Nick Alvarez singled up the middle past a drawn-in infield off Rays reliever John Rocker. Rocker balked with the bases loaded to account for Jacksonville's 10th run.
In the ninth inning, Reggie Abercrombie blasted a grand slam â the first for the Suns this season â off Rays designated hitter Dan DeMent. DeMent pitched the final inning once Orlando (29-35) was trailing by seven runs.
Rays reliever Dan Guillory (0-1) lost in relief, allowing four runs over three innings.
Alvarez, Abercrombie and Brennan King led the Suns with three hits apiece. Frank Moore had three hits for Orlando.
Right-hander Edwin Jackson (2-4, 2.58 ERA) is scheduled to face Rays righty Matt White (0-1, 4.91) at 11:05 a.m. Thursday at Cracker Jack Stadium.
SUNS SPOTS: Every Suns player got a hit by the seventh inning. ...The Suns scored in seven of the eight innings when they got the leadoff man aboard. ...RHP Lino Urdaneta was activated from the disabled list and pitched the eighth inning, allowing a walk but inducing a double play and a strikeout. ...OF Jason Repko (sore neck) remains sidelined. He has not played since last Wednesday. ...The Suns earned the first victory for interim manager Pat Harrison. ...The Suns walked 10 times Wednesday, the most in a single game this season. ...The game lasted three hours, 31 minutes, the longest nine-inning game for the Suns this season.
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Southern League Stories from June 11, 2003
- BayBears hold off West Tenn - Mobile BayBears
- Smokies game suspended - Knoxville Smokies
- Barons Stay Alive at Rickwood, 5-1 - Birmingham Barons
- Stars Fall at Rickwood, 6-1 - Huntsville Stars
- Pearce Promoted to Memphis - Knoxville Smokies
- Suns Pound O-Rays 14-3 - Orlando Rays
- Suns come alive in 14-3 win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Newborns Have a Ball - Knoxville Smokies
- Stars Win Sloppy Game, 7-4 - Birmingham Barons
- Stars Hang on for 7-4 Win - Huntsville Stars
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