Nicolino Brilliant As Suns Beat Smokies 2-1
KODAK, TN - Going against the high-scoring script the first three games of the series featured, the Jacksonville Suns (39-25, 75-59) used an excellent seven innings from Justin Nicolino to slide past the Tennessee Smokies (32-32, 65-68) by a 2-1 final on Sunday from Smokies Park. The Suns have won each of the first four games of the series.
Hear from Justin Nicolino after picking up his Southern League-best 13th win on Monday:
Justin Nicolino (W, 13-4) earned his Southern League-leading 13th victory by allowing one run (earned) on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts while only needing 75 pitches to get through his seven outstanding innings of work.
Matt Ramsey (SV, 13) locked down his 13th save on the year after allowing a lone hit in his two scoreless frames, with his one strikeout being the final out of Monday's ballgame.
Andrew McKirahan (L, 0-3) took the loss for Tennessee after giving up one run (earned) on two hits with a pair of strikeouts in his two innings of relief.
The Suns grabbed the early lead with a run in the top of the first. Viosergy Rosa drove in Austin Barnes with a two-out RBI single to put Jacksonville in front by a 1-0 score after one half-inning of play.
Tennessee leveled the score by manufacturing a run in the bottom of the third inning. Rubi Silva came in to score on Anthony Giansanti's RBI groundout to make it a 1-1 ballgame with three innings in the books.
The game remained even at that 1-1 score until the Suns broke the tie with one run in the top of the seventh. Terrence Dayleg scored all the way from first on Isaac Galloway's two-out RBI double to give Jacksonville a 2-1 lead after six and a half innings.
The Suns and Smokies will be back at it on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 7:15 p.m. ET from Smokies Park. The Suns will start right-hander Trevor Williams (0-1, 7.20) for his 2014 Suns debut, while the Smokies will counter with right-hander Pierce Johnson (5-4, 2.34).
Suns fans can listen to Tuesday'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 7:00 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 Monday's ballgame: