SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Suns Finish Mudcats Series with 13-2 Victory

Published on July 7, 2011 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


ZEBULON, N.C. - The Jacksonville Suns (5-9, 42-42) finished their series with the Carolina Mudcats (5-9, 28-56) with a 13-2 victory at Five County Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

Jacksonville's win gives the Suns their first series victory of the second half, taking two of three against the Mudcats. The Suns were led in the contest by third baseman Jim Negrych who had four runs batted in during the game, including a two-run homer that gave the Suns the lead in the top of the third.

Suns starter Joey O'Gara (5-6) picked up the victory, his first since early June. O'Gara pitched seven strong innings, giving up a pair of runs on eight hits. Mudcats starter Kyle McCulloch (2-4) took the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits in five and two-thirds innings of work.

After Negrych's homer gave the Suns a lead of 3-1 in the third, the Suns added onto the lead in the fifth with Negrych getting a sacrifice fly to put the score at 4-1. In the sixth, Jacksonville got two more runs as an error by Carolina shortstop Henry Rodriguez brought home two runs to put the Suns ahead 6-1.

The Mudcats trimmed Jacksonville's advantage to 6-2 with David Cook's RBI double in the bottom of the seventh, before the Suns would have a five-run two out rally against Mudcat reliever Pat Doyle. Chris Gutierrez, Negrych, Luke Montz, and Alex Romero all had consecutive RBI base hits, with Romero's two-RBI double capping the rally, putting the score at 11-2. Gutierrez drove home two more runs in the ninth inning to give the Suns a 13-2 lead, which would be the final score.

Following O'Gara, Suns reliever Darin Downs tossed two innings of scoreless relief to preserve the Suns victory. The win is the most lopsided victory the Suns have had in 2011, featuring the largest winning margin of 11 runs.

The Suns will bus home to Jacksonville, where they will begin a four-game series against the Montgomery Biscuits on Friday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Left-handed pitcher Jose Alvarez (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will pitch for the Suns against Montgomery's right-hander Nick Barnese (3-3, 3.39 ERA).

The game will feature post-game fireworks at the Baseball Grounds, as well as the only 2011 appearance of the Famous San Diego Chicken. Friday's first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., and fans can listen to the game beginning at 6:50 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 7, 2011


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