Suns Strike Early, Take Series-Opening Win
Published on May 5, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
Chattanooga, Tenn. - Chris Hatcher and Chris de la Cruz had two-hit efforts while Matt Craig belted his fourth homerun leading the Jacksonville Suns (14-12) to an 8-4 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts (10-16) in front of 3,737 Tuesday night at AT&T Field.
The reigning Southern League Pitcher of the Week Jarrett Santos (3-0) picked up the victory, allowing four runs, two earned, over five innings in only his third start of 2009. Santos has now allowed only two earned runs over 26 innings of work, good for a 0.69 ERA. Adalberto Mendez, Carlos Vasquez and Matt Petersen combined for four scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and nine combined strikeouts.
Lookouts starter Jesus Castillo (0-3) picked up the loss, allowing seven earned runs and eight hits over two and one-thirds innings. The right-hander walked three in his sixth start of 2009.
Jacksonville came out firing by scoring three runs in the first inning, the first two on a Matt Craig two-run homerun, his fourth of the season. Later in the inning Chris de la Cruz singled in Andy Jenkins, who had doubled earlier to extend a hit streak to nine games, opening a 3-0 Suns lead.
The Suns added two more runs in the second inning when Bryan Petersen doubled in Lorenzo Scott and Chris Hatcher for a 5-0 advantage.
Chattanooga cut the lead in the second inning, as pitcher Jesus Castillo singled through the middle to score Jamie Hoffmann and James Tomlin for a 5-2 score. Both were unearned for Suns pitcher Jarrett Santos, as a two-out error prolonged the inning two batters prior.
Jacksonville countered with two more runs against Castillo in the third inning, as Chris Hatcher's single scored Lee Mitchell and Chris de la Cruz for a 7-2 lead.
The Lookouts tagged Santos with his first two earned runs allowed this season during the fifth inning, one on a Josh Bell double and the next on a Justin Sellers single to cut the Suns lead to 7-4.
Jacksonville ended the scoring in the seventh inning when Bryan Peterson's sacrifice fly scored Scott Cousins for an 8-4 final.
Suns LH Sean West will face Lookouts RH Tim Corcoran in game two of the series at AT&T Field Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. ET. Live audio is available on the internet at milb.com, with tape delay coverage on WFXJ-AM 930 in Jacksonville beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Southern League Stories from May 5, 2009
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- The Braves Topple Tennessee 8-1 - Knoxville Smokies
- Braves Back in Win Column - Mississippi Braves
- Biscuits Win Fourth Straight, 12-2 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Suns Outshine Lookouts, 8-4 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Suns Strike Early, Take Series-Opening Win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Biscuits Transactions - Montgomery Biscuits
- BayBears and Mudcats Rained Out in Zebulon - Mobile BayBears
- Mudcats-BayBears Postponed - Carolina Mudcats
- Winters Joins Suns - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
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- Doubleheader Scheduled for May 31st - Mississippi Braves
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