Suns crush Smokies, 10-1
Published on May 3, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Marlon Arias hurled six shutout innings, while Lucas May went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI to help the Jacksonville Suns down the Tennessee Smokies, 10-1, on Saturday night in front of 7,794 fans at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The Suns (13-16) exploded for 15 hits in the win, just one hit shy of tying their season-high of 16 back on April 23 at Montgomery. The Smokies (11-18) were plagued for three errors to bring their series total to eight errors.
Arias (2-2) allowed just two hits during his six-inning span and fanned four to pick up the win. Suns reliever Brian Akin gave up one hit and struck out four in two perfect innings of work.
Smokies' starter Mitch Atkins (1-3) was tagged with the loss after giving up eight runs, five earned, on 12 hits in 5.1 innings.
Rene Rivera, Russell Mitchell and James Tomlin each finished with a pair of hits, while Bobby Malek had a two-run double for the Suns to go along with May's multiple-hit night.
Issmael Salas had two of the five Smokies' hits, while Nate Spears had a RBI single in the ninth to pace their team.
Rivera led off the third inning with a solo home run to left center field for the early advantage. Adam Godwin followed the homer with a double down the right field line. After an out by Arias, Godwin would steal third before being brought home by a single to left from Tomlin to give the Suns a 2-0 lead.
The Suns added two more runs in the fourth inning with the help of a mishap by the Smokies. May led off the inning with a double to left center field. May moved to third on the next at-bat from a single by Mitchell, while Juan Gonzalez loaded the bases after reaching on a fielder's choice to the pitcher. After a strikeout to Rivera, Atkins got Godwin to hit a grounder to short stop Joe Smiokaitis who flipped it to second, but on the turn to first, Matt Matulia threw the ball in the dirt allowing both May and Mitchell to score.
With one out and the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Malek brought home to runs to make it a 6-0 game with a double off Atkins. Atkins was lifted for Matt Avery, who walked Tomlin to load the bases for the second time in the inning. Avery induced a grounder to third from Ivan DeJesus, Jr., but on the throw home, catcher Chris Robinson dropped the ball which allowed Godwin and Malek to score. The Suns capped off the inning with a two-run double from May to take a commanding 10-0 lead.
The Smokies got an a baseloaded RBI single from Spears with one out in the ninth inning, but Suns reliever Eduaro Sierra retired the next two batters to secure the win.
Suns right-hander Jesus Castillo (0-1, 3.65 ERA) is scheduled to face Smokies righty Tanner Watson (0-0, 3.47 ERA) on Sunday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m.
Southern League Stories from May 3, 2008
- De Los Santos dominates in 6-1 win - Montgomery Biscuits
- 2-1 Win Give Braves First Series of Season - Mississippi Braves
- BayBears Blanked by Barons to Even Series - Mobile BayBears
- Biscuits Win Second Straigh Over Stars - Huntsville Stars
- Jacksonville Wins Big Over Tennessee, 10-1 - Knoxville Smokies
- Suns crush Smokies, 10-1 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Kamrath on DL, Hughes activated - Montgomery Biscuits
- Weekend Update - Huntsville Stars
- Jaxx creep closer to first - Jackson Generals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
