Biscuits shut out Suns in series opener, 5-0

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Montgomery designated hitter Johnny Field led off the game with a home run, and right-hander Chih-Wei Hu pitched seven shutout innings to give the Biscuits a 5-0 win over the Jacksonville Suns in the opener of a five-game series in front of 5,411 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Saturday night.

Field hit his fifth home run of the season to the left-field berm on the second pitch of the game by Suns right-hander Jake Esch (4-4), who held the Biscuits (21-14) without another hit until the fifth inning. Against Hu (2-0), the Suns (14-22) began the first inning with a leadoff single by shortstop Yefri Perez, who was caught off first base on a foul popup for an inning-ending double play. Hu did not allow another hit until the fourth inning, when Jacksonville put its only runners in scoring position. Left fielder Austin Dean hit a one-out infield single, and right fielder Moises Sierra doubled to left field. But Hu got second baseman Peter Mooney to fly out to center field to end the inning.

Montgomery added to its lead in the fifth inning, when first baseman Casey Gillaspie led off with a double off the right-center-field wall and scored on third baseman Kean Wong's single to center field. In the seventh inning, Gillaspie added his sixth home run of the season on a drive to the right-center-field bleachers to make it 3-0. Esch finished a season-high seven innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

The Biscuits added two runs against a pair of Suns relievers. Montgomery second baseman Juniel Querecuto hit an eighth-inning RBI single for an unearned run against right-hander Ryan Chaffee, and left fielder Granden Goetezman hit a ninth-inning sacrifice fly against right-hander Tyler Higgins.

Following Hu's season-high seven innings, in which he allowed four hits and one walk with two strikeouts, left-hander Kyle Bird allowed one hit and struck out one batter in two scoreless innings to finish the game.

UP NEXT: The Suns continue their series with Montgomery at 3:05 p.m. Sunday, when Suns left-hander Jarlin Garcia (1-2) is scheduled to face Biscuits right-hander Jake Faria (0-3). Baptist Health Sunday Family FUNday begins with kids catch on the field after gates open at 2 p.m., followed by a Suns player reading a children's story. The afternoon includes a first pitch by a stroke survivor, autographs by former major leaguer and Bolles School alumnus Rick Wilkins. It's also Princesses and Pirates Day, so take a picture with one of the princesses, get a free face painting behind Section 108, and after the game, kids can run the bases. Sunday is also presented by Channel 4 The Local Station.

ABOUT THE SUNS: The Jacksonville Suns are beginning a new era of affordable family fun under new ownership in 2016. With a FUNdamentally Different promotional schedule and a new lineup of ticket and group options for this season, there is a reason for everyone to get part of the action by calling the Suns at (904) 358-2846 or visiting www.jaxsuns.com.