Yelich's Homer Gives Suns 3-1 Victory
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Christian Yelich provided the winning margin for the Jacksonville Suns on Wednesday, hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning to give the Suns a 3-1 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
The two run victory at Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville marked the third straight game that Yelich has homered in. The number two prospect in the Miami Marlins organization also doubled and scored in the sixth, extending his hitting streak to 14 games in the process.
"He's just fun to watch play," Suns manager Andy Barkett said following his team's 17th victory in 2013. "He's a guy you want to be happy for and pull for. He's just getting big hit after big hit for us."
One night after going 5-for-6 with a homer and pair of triples, Yelich was hitless in his first two at-bats on Wednesday as the Suns (17-12) and Blue Wahoos (12-18) exchanged scoreless frames through the first five innings. Jacksonville starter Sam Dyson allowed just three hits in his five turns on the mound, striking out three and walking none.
"I thought [Dyson] was very solid," Barkett said. "He repeated his delivery, and I thought he did a nice job."
Pensacola left-hander Ryan Dennick matched Dyson pitch for pitch until the bottom of the sixth, when Yelich hit a one-out double off the wall in right field. Two batters later, Kyle Jensen's drive into the gap in left-center broke the scoreless tie, giving Jacksonville a 1-0 lead.
The Suns would maintain the advantage until the eighth. After two scoreless innings from left-hander Edgar Olmos in relief of Dyson, Scott McGough (3-0) took over and allowed the tying run a bloop double by Joe Mather.
It was only minutes later, however, that Yelich deposited a pitch from Shaun Ellis (0-1) into the right-center field pavilion with a runner on base to give Jacksonville a 3-1 lead.
McGough remained in the game and faced just three hitters in the ninth inning before finishing the game on a double play grounder, handing the Suns the victory in game two of the series.
The Suns will face the Blue Wahoos in game three of the five-game set on Thursday. Jacksonville, looking for its second straight win, will start right-hander Matt Neil (0-2, 4.79), while Pensacola will look to right-hander Daniel Renken (1-2, 3.07). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Suns fans can listen to Thursday'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. with the UF and Shands Suns Pre-Game Show.