SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Suns Defeat Mudcats 5-4

Published on July 27, 2011 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


ZEBULON, N.C. - The Jacksonville Suns (15-17, 52-50) defeated the Carolina Mudcats (14-18, 37-65) by a final score of 5-4 at Five County Stadium on Wednesday night.

Jacksonville starter Jose Alvarez (1-2) earned his first Southern League win by tossing five and a third innings where he allowed a run on five hits. Carolina starter Matt Klinker (6-7) took the loss for the Mudcats while Chris Hatcher earned his second save in as many games by retiring the final three Mudcats in the ninth in his fourth save in 2011.

Kevin Mattison got the Suns off to a good start with a leadoff homer on the second pitch he saw from Klinker in the top of the first. The leadoff blast was the second game-opening homer of the year for Mattison as he put the Suns up by a run. Mattison also drove home a run in the second when he scored Jake Smolinski on a single that gave Jacksonville a two-run advantage.

The Mudcats scratched a run off Alvarez with a Jake Kahaulelio RBI single that cut the score to 2-1. Jacksonville responded with three runs in the top of the third inning, first with Luke Montz driving home a run on a sacrifice fly. Two batters later, Smolinski hit a two-run homer, his second blast in as many days against Carolina, and the blast put the Suns ahead 5-1.

Carolina would add a run in the sixth, but trailed 5-2 going into the bottom of the ninth. Jhan Marinez, who pitched a scoreless eighth, began the ninth inning by giving up a single and walking a batter before Carolina shortstop Didi Gregorius reached on an error by Suns shortstop Chris Gutierrez to load the bases.

Hatcher entered the game, and allowed a run to score as a wild pitch brought home Josh Fellhauer from third to cut the Jacksonville lead to 5-3. After striking out Henry Rodriguez, two men were in scoring position for Eric Campbell with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Campbell hit a sharp single to centerfield to score James Skelton, and on the play Gregorious was headed home in an attempt to tie the game. Mattison made a strong throw to the catcher Montz who tagged out Gregorius for the second out of the inning. The fine defensive play by Mattison and Montz kept the Suns ahead 5-4, and Hatcher struck out Neftali Soto to end the game, the third consecutive victory for Jacksonville over Carolina.

The Suns and Mudcats will play the fourth game of the six-game series at Five County Stadium on Thursday night. Right-handed pitcher Omar Poveda (6-5, 4.40 ERA) will pitch for Jacksonville against Carolina's right-hander Brandon Hynick (1-2, 4.26 ERA). Thursday's game will start at 7:15 p.m. ET, and fans can listen to the contest beginning at 7:00 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 July 27, 2011


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