Suns Take Playoff Opener from Barons
September 10, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
Hoover, Ala. - In game one of the best-of-five South Division Championship Series the Jacksonville Suns (1-0) drove in three runs against Birmingham Barons (0-1) starter John Ely, the right-handed pitcher of the year in the Southern League, while Suns relievers Kasey Olenberger and Matt Peterson held off a late rally to preserve a 4-2 victory in front of 3,458 Thursday night at Regions Park.
Ungs (1-0) picked up the victory, giving up one run in the third inning and four total hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Ely (0-1) fell in the loss for Birmingham, giving up three runs in the fifth inning on six total hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Matt Peterson (1) saved the game with a perfect ninth inning.
The Barons opened the scoring in the third inning against Ungs. Lee Cruz led off with a triple to right-centerfield and scored on a Jared Price double for a 1-0 lead.
Jacksonville took the lead for good in the fifth inning, after recording only one hit over the first four innings against Ely. Kevin Randel led off the inning with a walk and scored on a Lorenzo Scott triple to the right field corner for a 1-1 score. Matt Dominguez next singled through a drawn-in infield to score Scott for a 2-1 lead. Dominguez later scored on a Ryan Klosterman single for a 3-1 Suns advantage.
The Suns added an insurance run in the eighth inning against Barons reliever Ricky Brooks. After back-to-back walks of Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton with one out, Brooks induced a lineout from Scott Cousins. Kevin Randel next knocked in Morrison with a single through the right side for a 3-1 score.
Birmingham mounted a rally in the eighth inning against Suns reliever Kasey Olenberger. Rob Hudson reached on bunt single and moved to second on a throwing error to start the inning. After a groundout moved him to third, Hudson scored on a C.J. Retherford single for a 4-2 score. Christian Marrero next walked to put the tying run on base with one out. Olenberger next struck out David Cook and Dayan Viciedo for the final outs of the inning.
Suns LH Graham Taylor will face Barons RH Matt Zaleski in game two of the best-of-five South Division series Friday at 8:05 p.m. Live radio coverage will be available on WFXJ-AM 930 and online at 930thefox.com.
Southern League Stories from September 10, 2009
- Barons Drop Game One, 4-2 - Birmingham Barons
- Suns Take Playoff Opener from Barons - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- One Swing Sends Stars to Victory in Playoff Opener - Huntsville Stars
- Wilson's Homer Lifts Stars Past Smokies 4-2 - Knoxville Smokies
- Wheeler and Wilson Promoted to Huntsville - Huntsville Stars
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