Suns Pull Away Late, Bludgeon Biscuits 11-3
JACKSONVILLE, FL- Thanks to five runs in the first three innings and six more in the eighth inning alone, the Jacksonville Suns (28-25) never trailed in Wednesday's 11-3 win over the Montgomery Biscuits (26-27), securing the Suns of a series victory with two more games still to be played.
Listen to manager Andy Barkett's postgame comments here:
Jay Rogers (W, 1-1) earned the win after limiting the Biscuits to one unearned run on four hits in five innings of work, finishing with three strikeouts and just one walk.
Matt Montgomery allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits, while walking and striking out one batter apiece in two innings of relief. Jheyson Manzueta (H, 1) struck out one batter in a hitless top of the eighth inning with Joey O'Gara working a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning to finish off the game in a non-save situation.
The Southern League's reigning Pitcher of the Week Dylan Floro (L, 4-5) took the loss for the Biscuits, after allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits, while striking out four batters and not issuing a walk. Floro entered Wednesday's ballgame riding a 19-inning scoreless streak, but the Suns scored in each of the first three innings, plating five runs altogether.
Joe Benson opened up the scoring for the Suns in the bottom of the first inning, with his two-out, two-run single scoring Alex Burg and J.T. Realmuto to give the Suns an early 2-0 advantage.
In the second inning, the Suns cashed in on a pair of two-out Biscuits miscues. Riccio Torrez had a throwing error, allowing Isaac Galloway to reach first base. He then moved into scoring position on a balk by Dylan Floro and came around to score on Austin Nola's RBI single to give the Suns a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
The Suns continued their relentless attack early on Floro, with Brady Shoemaker (HR, 4) blasting a two-run home run off the scoreboard in left to push the lead to 5-0 Suns in the bottom of the third.
It took until the fifth inning for the Biscuits to get on the board, with Willie Argo scoring on a Joey Rickard sacrifice fly to make it a 5-1 Suns lead.
Montgomery struck for two runs in the top of the seventh on a Joey Rickard RBI double and a Ryan Brett sacrifice fly to make it a two-run ballgame with the Suns in front 5-3.
The Suns capped off Wednesday's scoring by exploding for six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, sending a total of 10 men to the plate in the frame. The Suns received RBI singles from Alfredo Silverio and J.T. Realmuto as well as two-run doubles from Alfredo Lopez and Alex Burg to bust Wednesday's contest wide open at 11-3.
With 11 runs, the Suns tied their season-high for runs in a game, also plating 11 runs in April 17th's win at Chattanooga and May 15th's shutout of the Blue Wahoos in Pensacola.
The Suns and Biscuits will be back at it on Thursday night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. ET at Bragan Field.
Suns fans can listen to Thursday's game on the Suns Baseball Network, 94.1 WSOS-FM or through www.jaxsuns.com, MiLB.com or the Suns iPhone or Android app, beginning at 6:50 p.m. ET with the Memorial Hospital Suns Pregame Show.
The 2014 season of Suns baseball is presented by EverBank, the official banking partner of the Jacksonville Suns. Sponsorships, group outings, and season / individual game tickets are currently available by calling the Suns front office at (904) 358-2846.
Below are two highlights from Wednesday's ballgame: