Suns swept by BayBears in Doubleheader 6-5, 3-1

Cron hits homers in both games for Mobile

By Roger Hoover

July 23, 2016

MOBILE, Ala. - The Jacksonville Suns (14-14, 44-54) were swept in a doubleheader by the Mobile BayBears (15-13, 47-51) by scores of 6-5 in the first game and 3-1 in the second game at Hank Aaron Stadium on Saturday night.

This is the second time this year the Suns have been swept in a doubleheader since the Suns dropped two games against Montgomery on June 2. The Suns and BayBears will also play a doubleheader tomorrow, with game one starting at 4:05 p.m.

Game One - BayBears Defeat Suns 6-5

The BayBears won game one of the doubleheader 6-5. Mobile starting pitcher Josh Taylor (3-0) earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Suns starter Matt Tracy took the loss, allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits with a walk and a strikeout. BayBears reliever Matt Stites earned his eighth save with a scoreless seventh.

The BayBears struck first in game one of the doubleheader, scoring three unearned runs off Tracy in the bottom of the first. The Suns battled back by scoring in three straight innings in the middle frames. Garrett Weber first got the Suns on the board in the top of the fourth with an RBI double, cutting Mobile's lead to 3-1. The BayBears quickly got that run back when Todd Glaesmann led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to put the lead at 4-1.

The Suns made it a one-run game in the top of the fifth when Chris Curley hit a pinch-hit two-run homer to trim the BayBears advantage to 4-3. In the bottom of the fifth Kevin Cron added to the lead with a two-run homer to put the score at 6-3. The Suns with two outs in the sixth inning scored on back-to-back RBI singles by James Roberts and Cam Maron to cut Mobile's lead to 6-5, which would be the final.

Tyler Higgins provided a scoreless inning of relief for Jacksonville in the bottom of the sixth.

Game Two - BayBears defeat Suns 3-1

The BayBears earned a doubleheader sweep by beating the Suns 3-1 in the second game of the twinbill. Suns reliever Chris Mazza (3-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in his two innings of work. BayBears starter Matt Koch (2-3) earned the win with five innings where he only allowed a run on a hit with no walks and five strikeouts. BayBears reliever Jared Miller collected his second save by working the final two innings in scoreless fashion.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth when Ronnie Mitchell led off the inning with a double for Jacksonville's only hit off Koch. A groundout by James Roberts moved Mitchell to third, then he was brought home on an Alex Glenn sacrifice fly to give the Suns a 1-0 lead.

The lead remained until the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and two men on base, Kevin Cron hit a three-run home run to left field to put Mobile in front 3-1, and that would be the final score.

Suns starter Patrick Johnson took a no decision, working the first three innings in scoreless fashion despite allowing three hits.

The Suns and BayBears will conclude their series with a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch for game one scheduled at 4:05 p.m. ET. In game one the Suns will start right-hander Jake Esch (10-6, 3.72 ERA) against BayBears right-hander Billy Buckner (2-5, 3.49 ERA). In game two, the Suns will start left-hander Matt Tomshaw (2-1, 4.09 ERA) against BayBears right-hander Edgar Garcia (2-2, 1.05 ERA). Fans can listen to the games on the Suns Baseball Network, beginning at 3:50 p.m. ET with the pregame show "Suns On Deck" on FM 102.3 The Beach, the TuneIn Radio app, and www.jaxsuns.com.

The Suns open a 10-game homestand Tuesday, July 26, against Jackson. Community First Credit Union Two-for-Tuesday means 2-for-1 tickets for members using a CFCU credit or debit card. Fans can purchase $2 24-oz. Miller Lite and Coors Lite adjacent to the new Tiki Terrace and behind Section 115 on Miller Lite & Coors Lite 2sDay. Ketchup and Mustard will campaign in the GATE Condiment Election.

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 packages for the upcoming 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.