Suns outlast Generals 4-2 in 18 Innings
JACKSON, Tenn. - The Jacksonville Suns (12-16) defeated the Jackson Generals (17-9) by a 4-2 score in 18 innings in the third game of the of the five-game series at The Ballpark at Jackson on Friday night into early Saturday morning.
After the game had been tied for 12 innings from the bottom of the sixth to the top of the 18th, Jacksonville broke through with RBI singles from Austin Dean and Moises Sierra to take a 4-2 lead in the top of the 18th, which would prove to be the final score.
Suns infielder James Roberts (1-0) earned the win by making his professional pitching debut, working scoreless innings in the 17th and 18th. Generals reliever Forrest Snow (0-1) took the loss by allowing the two runs in the 18th.
The game is the longest in terms of innings the Suns have played in the Marlins era of Jacksonville baseball (2009-present), and believed to be the longest inning game in Suns history since the Suns beat the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (now Generals) 5-2 in 20 innings at the Baseball Grounds on Sunday August 13, 2006.
The Suns took an early advantage thanks to a J.T. Riddle sacrifice fly in the top of the first off starter Edwin Diaz. The Generals tied the game with an RBI single by Tyler O'Neill in the third.
Suns starter Austin Brice worked five innings, allowing a run on a hit with four walks and five strikeouts.
Brice was in line for the win after Jacksonville took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning on a Brady Shoemaker RBI double. The Generals quickly tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Steve Baron hit an RBI single off Suns reliever Hunter Adkins to tie the game 2-2.
The game remained even until the top of the 18th inning. Peter Mooney drew a leadoff walk, before Dean brought him home with an RBI single to break the tie and give the Suns a 3-2 lead. With two outs Sierra, who made several sterling defensive plays in right field, legged out an inside single to put the score at 4-2, which would be the final.
The game lasted five hours, fifteen minutes, and a total of 577 pitches were thrown (360 for strikes). Suns relievers Tyler Higgins, Sean Donatello, Tyler Kinley, Patrick Johnson, Jose Jose, and Roberts didn't allow any runs during their combined 12 innings of work.
The Suns and Generals continue their series later today with a doubleheader for the final two games of the series, starting at 5:05 p.m. ET. The Suns will start left-hander Chris Reed (0-0, 2.08 ERA) in the first game against Generals right-hander Sam Gaviglio (2-1, 5.19 ERA). In game two, the Suns will start right-hander Ivan Pineyro (0-1, 7.20 ERA), while the Generals have not announced a starter. Fans can listen to the game on the Suns Baseball Network, beginning at 4:50 p.m. ET with the pregame show "Suns On Deck" on FM 102.3 The Beach, the TuneIn Radio app, and www.jaxsuns.com.
ABOUT THE SUNS: The Jacksonville Suns are beginning a new era of affordable family fun under new ownership in 2016. With a FUNdamentally Different promotional schedule and a new lineup of ticket packages for the upcoming season, there is a reason for everyone to get part of the action by calling the Suns at (904) 358-2846 or visiting www.jaxsuns.com.