SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Suns outlast Barons, 12-7

Published on July 4, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


HOOVER, Ala. – The Suns outlasted the Birmingham Barons, 12-7, on Friday in front of 11,719 fans on Independence Day at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

When Barons starter Neal Cotts (8-3) walked the bases loaded in the fifth inning, the Suns broke a scoreless tie when Jason Repko singled to center scoring Derek Michaelis. Cotts was relieved after 4-1/3 innings, giving way to Matt Smith who allowed a single to Shane Victorino which scored Reggie Abercrombie.

The Suns (39-46 overall, 8-8 second half) scored thrice in the sixth inning off Smith. Michaelis hit a sacrifice fly scoring Nick Alvarez. With two outs, Abercrombie hit his 11th home run, a towering blast to left field. Repko scored B.J. Waszgis on his second RBI single in as many innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Barons (41-42, 8-7) scored three times off Suns starter Edwin Jackson (4-6). After bunt, bloop and squibbed singles to load the bases, Scott Bikowski laced a two-run double to left center, pulling Birmingham to within 5-2. Pinch-hitter Carlos Maldonado grounded out to drive in another Barons run.

Responding quickly, the Suns scored seven runs in the next two innings to break the game open. Waszgis and Dawkins had RBI doubles in the three-run eighth for Jacksonville. The Suns scored four more runs in the ninth, benefiting on two errors. Victorino and Dawkins each had run-scoring singles in the inning.

Entering the bottom of ninth, the Suns led, 12-3, but reliever Brian Steffek walked three and allowed four runs before Greg Bauer struck out Jeremy Reed to end the threat.

Dawkins and Abercrombie led the Suns with three hits each.

SUNS SPOTS: The Suns stranded eight runners in scoring position. ...With the potential of rain threatening, the game started 40 minutes late. ...The crowd of 11,719 was the 14th-largest all-time at The Hoover Met.

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Southern League Stories from July 4, 2003


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