SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Suns Walk off on Smokies with 6-5 Win on Sunday

Published on June 8, 2014 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


JACKSONVILLE, FL - After surrendering a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, the Jacksonville Suns (33-31) responded in the bottom of the ninth, walking off on the Tennessee Smokies (30-33) with a 6-5 victory on Sunday from Bragan Field.

Justin Nicolino left in line for the win but wound up not factoring into the decision after allowing three runs (all earned) on seven hits in seven innings, while striking out four Smokies and not issuing a single walk. The start was Nicolino's fourth consecutive outing working seven innings, having won each of the previous three.

Joey O'Gara worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, picking up one strikeout in the process.

Nick Wittgren (BS, 4; W, 2-3) blew the save but ultimately ended up with the win after allowing two runs on two hits in the top of the ninth inning.

Armando Rivero (L, 1-1) took the loss for the first time this season in particularly hard-luck fashion. He was saddled with the loss despite not allowing any hits and the run that scored against him was unearned (did walk two batters, one intentionally in the ninth inning).

The Smokies grabbed the early lead with a run in the top of the first. Kris Bryant extended the inning with a two-out double and then was brought home on Jonathan Mota's RBI single to give Tennessee a 1-0 advantage after the first half inning of play.

The Suns responded immediately in the bottom of the first, with Joe Benson (HR, 4) crushing a three-run home run to left-center field, vaulting the Suns in front 3-1 after one inning in the books.

Jacksonville grabbed another run to make it a 4-1 Suns lead in the bottom of the third, with Rich Poythress scoring on a scorched RBI double down the left field line by Alfredo Silverio.

The Suns used a sacrifice fly off the bat of Joe Benson to further their lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

After the Suns had scored the last five unanswered runs, Kris Bryant (HR, 21) uncorked a two-run home run that hit just below the scoreboard in left field to cut it to a 5-3 Suns lead in the top of the sixth.

Down two in the ninth, the Smokies immediately cut into the lead against Nick Wittgren, with Dustin Geiger (HR, 8) leading off the inning with a home run to left to cut the lead to 5-4 in favor of the Suns. Then following Rubi Silva's one-out pinch-hit triple, Taylor Davis drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center to tie the ballgame up at 5-5 in the top of the ninth.

But the Suns had their response against Southern League All-Star Armando Rivero with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, as Alfredo Silverio hit a ball back up the middle which shortstop Elliot Soto failed to field cleanly, allowing Austin Barnes to come around from second to score the game-winning run.

After driving in four runs in Sunday's win, Joe Benson set a new single-game high for RBIs by a Sun in 2014.

Benson's three-run home run in the first inning was Jacksonville's first homer since Brady Shoemaker cranked a home run off Dylan Floro of the Montgomery Biscuits back on May 28th, the longest stretch between home runs for the Suns on the year.

Sunday's contest featured a 31-minute rain delay prior to the start ballgame.

The Suns and Smokies will be back at it on Monday, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. ET at Bragan Field. The Suns will start the righty Angel Sanchez (0-8, 6.52), with the Smokies set to throw out a right-hander of their own in Joe Gardner (1-0, 0.98) for Monday's series finale.

Suns fans can listen to Monday's game on the Suns Baseball Network, 94.1 WSOS-FM or through www.jaxsuns.com, MiLB.com or the Suns iPhone or Android app, beginning at 6:50 p.m. ET with the Memorial Hospital Suns Pregame Show.

The 2014 season of Suns baseball is presented by EverBank, the official banking partner of the Jacksonville Suns. Sponsorships, group outings, and season / individual game tickets are currently available by calling the Suns front office at (904) 358-2846.

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Southern League Stories from June 8, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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