Blue Wahoos slip past Suns, 5-4 in 10 innings

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Suns twice overcame deficits against Pensacola, but Blue Wahoos shortstop Calten Daal had three go-ahead RBIs, including a 10th-inning fielder's choice that scored the winning run in a 5-4 win over the Jacksonville Suns in front of 2,006 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Monday night.

Pensacola (26-19) took its first lead in the top of the second inning against Suns right-hander Patrick Johnson. Daal hit an RBI double to left field, and catcher Chad Wallach hit a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 2-0. Johnson did not allow another hit or run for the rest of his four-inning start.

The Suns (20-24) rallied to take the lead against Blue Wahoos left-hander Amir Garrett in the bottom of the second inning. First baseman Chris Curley drew a one-out walk, third baseman James Roberts singled to right field, and with two outs, Garrett hit center fielder Jeremias Pineda with a pitch. Johnson then drove in Curley with a chopped ground ball toward Daal, who overthrew first base to allow the tying run to also score. Second baseman Yefri Perez then struck out, but catcher Chad Wallach allowed a passed ball that scored Pineda to give the Suns a 3-2 lead.

The Suns' lead remained until right-hander Tyler Higgins allowed a fifth-inning RBI single by Blue Wahoos center fielder Phillip Ervin. The game stayed tied, 3-3, until the eighth inning, when Parker singled to left field against right-hander Drew Steckenrider, stole second base and scored on Daal's RBI double to right-center field. Jacksonville retied the game in the bottom of the inning, as left fielder Austin Dean, right fielder Moises Sierra and Curley singled in succession to plate a run.

Pensacola broke the tie in the 10th inning against right-hander Ryan Chaffee (0-1). Ervin singled, Parker walked, Lutz sacrificed both runners into scoring position, and after an intentional walk to right fielder Brandon Dixon, Daal grounded into a fielder's choice, beating the throw to first base to allow the go-ahead run to score. Trailing 5-4 against right-hander Alejandro Chacin (2-0), the Suns loaded the bases with Dean's one-out single, Sierra's double and Curley's intentional walk. Roberts flied out to right field, and the Blue Wahoos caught Sierra off second base for a game-ending double play.

UP NEXT: The Suns open a series in Pearl, Mississipi, at 8 p.m. Wednesday, when Suns right-hander Jake Esch (5-4) is scheduled to face Mississippi Braves right-hander Andrew Thurman (0-4). The Suns return home against Montgomery on Tuesday, May 31, for Community First Credit Union Two-for-Tuesday, when tickets are 2-for-1 at the box office for Community First Credit Union members using a CFCU Visa or debit card, and 24-oz. Miller and Coors Lite are $2 each.

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 and group options for this 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.