SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Suns Win 3-1 over Stars on Opening Day

Published on April 3, 2014 under Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Suns started their 2014 season off on a high note, emerging with an Opening Day 3-1 victory over the visiting Huntsville Stars on Thursday, April 3.

With the win, Jacksonville improves to 1-0 with RHP Anthony DeSclafani (1-0, 1.50) earning the win. Grant Dayton (H, 1) and Collin Cargill (H, 1) would each pick up their first holds on the 2014 season and Nick Wittgren (S, 1) would lock down the victory with a five out save.

Huntsville falls to 0-1 with RHP Brooks Hall (0-1, 4.50) taking the loss.

The Suns held Huntsville to just one run on three hits, with Jacksonville tallying 10 hits to pick up their first win of the 2014 season.

The Suns were able to hop on the scoreboard in the first inning after Alfredo Silverio muscled a Brooks Hall offering into left field to score Danny Black from second.

Ryan Rieger immediately followed up Silverio's RBI knock with a run-scoring triple into the left-center gap, spotting the Suns a 2-0 lead after the first frame.

The Stars would get on the board in the third inning after D'Vontrey Richardson plated Nick Shaw with a one-out knock to cut Jacksonville's lead to 2-1.

Anthony DeSclafani worked an excellent six innings for the Suns on Opening Day, surrendering one run on just two hits, while striking out seven Stars. The right-hander would do well to limit any potential damage as he held Huntsville to one hit in five at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Manager Andy Barkett showered the right-hander with praise following the win, but additionally feels like the best is yet to come from the former Florida Gator.

"I think he can be better than he pitched tonight," Barkett said. "He seemed to get better as the game went on and I think the rest of our pitching staff will feed off that performance."

After DeSclafani's day was done after six innings, the Suns bullpen got out of some tricky situations to preserve their advantage and Jacksonville got a huge insurance run courtesy of an RBI single off the bat of Austin Nola with two outs in the eighth inning.

After getting the final two outs in the top of the eighth, Nick Wittgren stayed on for the ninth inning and promptly retired the Stars in order to lock down the Suns' first win of the season.

Jacksonville looks to make it two straight wins to start the 2014 season tomorrow night, as the Suns and Stars are set for the second of a five game series on Friday night. Suns left-hander Andrew Heaney (0-0, 0.00) will be countered by righty Drew Gagnon (0-0, 0.00), with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Suns fans can listen in to Friday night'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 April 3, 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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