Suns Can't Capitalize in 5-2 Loss
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Suns (29-26) had plenty of chances against the Mobile BayBears (30-27) on Monday afternoon but could not capitalize, dropping their second straight to Mobile by a final of 5-2.
BayBears starter Archie Bradley, the number three overall prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, was successful but not sharp in his six innings on the mound. The Suns wasted scoring chances in the third and fourth innings against Bradley and couldn't come through against Mobile's bullpen in front of 2,503 fans at Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
"We didn't have very good at-bats with runners in scoring position today," Suns manager Andy Barkett said after the game. "We just didn't get a big hit when we needed to."
Trailing 4-2 entering the top of the seventh inning, center fielder Christian Yelich was removed from the game after experiencing what Barkett called "discomfort" in his lower abdominal muscle.
"As he was playing the game, he was feeling [the discomfort] a little bit more," Barkett said. "So as a precautionary measure, we took him out to get him checked out. We'll see how he's feeling."
Mobile jumped in front early against Suns starter Sam Dyson (2-5), plating a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Ryan Stovall's double made it 1-0 BayBears, and Ryan Fisher's throwing error allowed Stovall to come around and score himself later in the inning.
The Suns cut into the lead in their half of the second, scoring on Taylor Krick's RBI single. But Mobile reestablished a two-run advantage on Dustin Martin's single past a drawn-in infield, and Jacksonville never got any closer.
Dyson finished his outing after five innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits, striking out five and issuing no walks.
"[Dyson]'s got good stuff, but we didn't make a couple of plays we should have made," Barkett said. "He could have held runners better. He got better as the game went on, but just had a rough second inning."
Bradley, meanwhile, worked out of trouble in both the third and fourth innings and left after six frames of two-run baseball. Despite surrendering a solo home run to Kyle Jensen in the bottom of the sixth, Bradley earned his fifth win for Mobile. The homer was the first run Bradley had allowed after the third inning at the Double-A level.
The BayBears added one run of insurance in the top of the eighth before Chaz Roe earned his first save with a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning, closing out Mobile's 30th win of the 2013 season.
The Suns will look to get back into the series against the BayBears on Tuesday in game three of the five-game home stand, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. ET. Starters for both teams have not yet been determined.
Suns fans can listen to Tuesday's game on the Suns Baseball Network, 94.1 WSOS-FM or through jaxsuns.com, MiLB.com or the Suns iPhone or Android app, beginning at 6:50 p.m. ET with Suns Sunday on the UF and Shands Suns Pre-Game Show.
Fifty Cent Family Feast returns to Bragan Field on Tuesday, and it's also PTA Night & Gate Tuesday Night Tickets. Fans can enjoy $.50 hot dogs, peanuts and ice cream treats, sponsored by Oscar Mayer, Hampton Farms, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Folio Weekly and 99.9 Gator Country. Before the game PTA members will be recognized on the field and all PTA members get ticket discounts at the box office. Fans may present a receipt from any local GATE Convenience Store at the Suns Box Office for Buy One-Get-One Tickets.