Suns exact revenge Saturday with 12-4 win over Generals

JACKSON, TENN. (JUNE 14, 2014) - The Jacksonville Suns (35-34) exacted their revenge on the Generals (31-37) for the first three games of this series as they pounded out 16 hits and scored 12 runs to earn a 12-4 win Saturday in Jackson. Justin Nicolino (6-2, 3.38) handcuffed the Jackson bats as he allowed just three runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings of work. The game was played in front of the largest crowd of the season, 6,413 at The Ballpark at Jackson.

Jacksonville's bats began early as the first five Suns to bat reached base against Jackson starter Stephen Landazuri. With runners on first and second, Joe Benson singled to score Brent Keys and Austin Nola. Benson advanced to third on an error by left fielder Dan Paolini (0x4) and scored on Brady Shoemaker's triple. Shoemaker scored on a single from Alex Burg and the lead was 4-0 Jacksonville after half an inning.

The Generals earned one run back in the bottom of the first when Jamal Austin (2x4, 2 R, 2B, RBI) doubled and came around to score on a single from Patrick Kivlehan (2x4, R, RBI), but the Suns bats had not yet cooled off.

Jacksonville added three more runs in the second as Benson picked up two more RBIs with a triple, and then scored on a ground out from Burg.

Three more runs crossed the plate for the Suns in the fourth, and they were in complete control up 10-1 at that point.

After Jacksonville increased their lead to 11-1 in the top of the sixth, the Generals bats came alive for the first time all night. Austin led off the inning for Jackson with a double and with one out Kivlehan singled to put runners at first and second. John Hicks (2x4, 2B, RBI) doubled home Austin and Kivlehan scored on a ground out by Kevin Rivers (0x4, RBI) to cut the lead to 11-3.

The Suns added another run in the seventh with a sacrifice fly from Benson. Jackson followed with a run of their own in the bottom half. Leon Landry (1x4, R, 2B) doubled with one out, advanced to third on a Ketel Marte (1x5) single, and came around to score on a ground out from Austin to make the score 12-4.

Nicolino earned his sixth win on the season while Stephen Landazuri (3-2, 4.38) picked up the loss. Landazuri drew his first start since being activated off the disabled list, but struggled for the Generals. He allowed seven runs on six hits in just 1.2 innings. Moises Hernandez (0-4, 5.87) came out of the bullpen for 2.1 innings and gave up three more runs on five hits. Cam Hobson (4-5, 3.28) pitched well in relief as the Suns only scored twice on five hits over the final 5.0 innings with Hobson on the mound.

Jackson put four runs on the board with the help of 10 hits as Austin extended his hitting streak to a team-high 14 games and Kivlehan extended his on base streak to 23 games, currently the longest in the Southern League.

The Generals and Suns will play the final game of the first half Sunday. Jackson will look to send Trevor Miller (4-6, 4.91) to the mound and Angel Sanchez (0-8, 6.88) will be on the bump for the Suns. The game will be at 2:05 p.m. and can be heard on 96.5 ESPN, TuneIn Radio and jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.