Suns run wild in 6-2 win
June 24, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. â The Suns ran wild in a 6-2 victory over the Orlando Rays in front of 5,271 fans on Tuesday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The Suns stole four bases â three by Shane Victorino â and attempted seven steals in all. Combined with timely hitting and solid pitching from starter Alfredo Gonzalez, Jacksonville (34-42 overall, 3-4 second half) stayed poised in the lead the entire game.
Victorino reached base all five times, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored. He led off the first inning and scored on Victor Diaz's single off Rays starter Jose Veras to give the Suns a 1-0 lead.
Gonzalez (3-3) earned the victory, pitching seven innings and allowing two runs while striking out seven. It was the longest outing of his career. He allowed a home run to Jonny Gomes in the third inning, a high fly ball that caught in the wind and sailed over the wall for his 12th homer.
The Suns scored twice in the bottom of the third to retake the lead. Diaz drove in Victorino on a groundout. Tarrik Brock followed with a single which scored Jason Repko. Gonzalez gave up an RBI double to Gomes in the seventh to close the Rays' deficit to 3-2, but Brock made a backhanded stop at first base to end the threat.
Diaz, who had four RBI, offered the crushing blow in the bottom of the seventh off Rays reliever Dan Guillory. His two-run double to left scored Victorino and Repko. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Reggie Abercrombie grounded out against John Rocker, scoring Diaz, to cap the scoring.
Veras (3-7) pitched 5-1/3 innings, allowing six hits and three runs. Guillory was charged with three runs and recorded two outs. Rocker, after walking the first two batters he faced in the seventh, settled down some to complete to scoreless innings.
Repko, Diaz and Brock each had two hits for the Suns. Gomes and Frank Moore had two hits to lead the Rays (34-42, 2-5).
The series concludes 1:05 p.m. Wednesday at the Baseball Grounds. Right-hander Joel Hanrahan (7-3, 2.32 ERA) is scheduled to face Rays righty Matt White (0-2, 6.04). The game will not be broadcast on the radio, but solely on www.jaxsuns.com.
Southern League Stories from June 24, 2003
- Stars Win Series Finale, 5-3 - Huntsville Stars
- BayBears back on winning track - Mobile BayBears
- Suns run wild in 6-2 win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Suns Run Wild on Rays - Orlando Rays
- Smokies Extinguish G-Braves' Rally - Mississippi Braves
- Smokies Win 4th Straight - Knoxville Smokies
- Smokies Swing for Charity - Knoxville Smokies
- Southern Bases - SL1
- G-Braves, Carolina Pride Turn Back the Clocks - Mississippi Braves
- Kremblas, Hardy, Krynzel in All-Star Futures Game - Huntsville Stars
- BayBears second half streak ends - Mobile BayBears
- Stars' Furious Rally Falls Short, 5-3 - Huntsville Stars
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