Suns Sweep Smokies Following 6-5 Comeback Win
KODAK, TN - Down two runs in the ninth inning, the Jacksonville Suns (40-25, 76-59) scored three times to slide past the Tennessee Smokies (32-33, 65-69) by a 6-5 final on Tuesday from Smokies Park, completing a five-game series sweep.
Hear from Terrence Dayleg who came up with the game-tying two-run double in the ninth:
Trevor Williams did not factor into the decision after surrendering four runs (all earned) on eight hits with a pair of walks and strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.
Frankie Reed retired both batters he faced in a scoreless 0.2 innings of relief.
Reid Redman allowed one run (earned) on a pair of hits with one strikeout in his one inning.
Nick Wittgren (W, 5-5) earned the win for the Suns after holding Tennessee with out a run on one hit with two strikeouts in one inning of relief.
Collin Cargill (H, 5) went one third of an inning, allowing a single hit in his relief outing.
Matt Ramsey (SV, 14) locked down his 14th save of the year after retiring the only two batters he faced to end the ballgame.
Frank Batista (BS, 2; L, 4-2) blew the save and took the loss for Tennessee after giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits with two walks, a hit batsmen and a strikeout in his one inning of work.
The game remained scoreless until the Suns broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Brady Shoemaker (HR, 10) crushed a two-run homer to left to give the Suns a 2-0 lead after three and a half innings of play.
The Smokies responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Charlie Cutler drove in Lars Anderson with a RBI double to cut the lead in half, with Jacksonville holding a 2-1 advantage after four frames.
The Suns again used the longball to add to their advantage in the top of the fifth. Austin Barnes (HR, 11) smacked a two-out homer to left to give the Suns a 3-1 lead with four and a half innings complete.
Tennessee again answered right back with a run of their own in the next half-inning. Albert Almora came up with a two-out RBI triple to cut it to a 3-2 Jacksonville lead after five innings.
The Smokies would then take the lead in the bottom of the sixth after plating two runs. Dustin Geiger tied the game with a RBI single and then Tennessee took a 4-3 lead on Anthony Giansanti's sacrifice fly.
Christian Villanueva's two-out RBI single helped Tennessee add to the lead in the bottom of the seventh, as Albert Almora scored on the play to make it a 5-3 Smokies lead through seven innings.
But the offense came alive for the Suns in the top of the ninth, scoring three times to take the lead. A two-run double from Terrence Dayleg tied the game, with Danny Black's RBI single putting the Suns ahead 6-5 in the top of the ninth inning.
The Suns completed their first five-game sweep of an opponent since sweeping the Chattanooga Lookouts in a five-game series at Bragan Field from July 28 - August 1, 2013.
The Suns will now head back to Jacksonville and will start up a five-game series with the Mobile BayBears on Friday night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. ET from Bragan Field. The Suns will start right-hander Jose Urena (12-8, 3.37), while the BayBears will counter with right-hander Archie Bradley (2-2, 3.31).
Suns fans can listen to Friday'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 three highlights from Tuesday's ballgame: