Nicolino leads Suns to another 'W'

No. 4 Marlins prospect Justin Nicolino (2-2) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on 10 hits and three walks while striking out four batters over 5 1/3 innings as the Jacksonville Suns edged the Tennessee Smokies, 6-4, to win their 11th consecutive game.

The winning streak tied the Birmingham Barons' mark for the longest win streak in the Southern League in 2013.

Suns first baseman Mark Canha went 3-for-4 with his 11th homer of the year and second baseman Derek Dietrich and outfielder Daniel Pertusati both went yard in the victory.

Since top prospects Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick got promoted to Miami on July 23, the Suns are 11-3.

Tennessee's right fielder John Andreoli went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and shortstop Javier Baez reached base three times and plated a run.

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Mississippi second baseman Tommy La Stella ripped a bases-clearing double to center field to extend his hitting streak to 23 games in the Braves' 7-4 win over the Huntsville Stars.

Over the streak, which started on July 5, La Stella is batting .386 (34-for-88) with 17 RBIs.

M-Braves infielder Barrett Kleinknecht went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo homers, a walk and three runs scored and right fielder Jose Martinez added a solo long ball in the victory.

Huntsville right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard was 4-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in the loss, which dropped the Stars to 47-64. Catcher Christian Bethancourt singled in the sixth inning to run his hitting streak to 32 games.

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Jacob Thompson (10-9) allowed one run on five hits over 8 2/3 innings and right fielder Todd Glaesmann slugged his third triple of the year in the Montgomery Biscuits' 2-1 win over the visiting Chattanooga Lookouts.

The 23-year-old right-hander struck out five batters and did not issue any walks in lowering his ERA to 4.37 and winning his third consecutive start.

Lookouts starter Zach Lee (8-9) gave up a pair of runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two batters over five innings.

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Center fielder Ryan LaMarre cracked his ninth homer of the year, doubled and scored two runs and third baseman Travis Mattair doubled twice, recorded two RBIs and scored once out of the No. 6 hole in the Pensacola Blue Wahoos' 6-2 win over the Birmingham Barons.

Starter Josh Smith (9-8) gave up two runs on five hits and a walk while fanning seven batters over 6 2/3 innings.

Birmingham's Trayce Thompson and Cody Puckett each hit solo homers for the Barons, but Chris Bassitt (2-2) yielded three runs -- two earned -- over seven frames in his fourth Southern League start.