Suns snap Smokies' winning streak, 7-2

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville right fielder Ronnie Mitchell and center fielder Alex Glenn each hit their first home runs as Suns in the third inning, and left-hander Matt Tomshaw earned his first Suns win this season to snap the Tennessee Smokies' five-game winning streak in a 7-2 final in front of 4,121 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Saturday night.

Tomshaw (1-1) began by allowing a leadoff ground-rule double by Smokies left fielder Bijan Rademacher and consecutive one-out singles by second baseman Ian Happ - whose hit scored Rademacher - and catcher Victor Caratini. But Tomshaw retired 13 of the next 14 batters and faced the minimum over his final four innings. He allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks with five strikeouts against Tennessee (6-3 second half, 34-45 overall).

Trailing 1-0, Jacksonville (3-6, 33-46) took the lead back against Smokies right-hander Brad Markey (6-4). Mitchell hit a leadoff single, left fielder Austin Dean walked, second baseman J.T. Riddle advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Glenn grounded a two-run single into center field for a 2-1 Suns lead.

In the third inning, Mitchell led off with a solo home run to the right-field bleachers. Riddle hit a one-out double to the left-field corner, before Glenn homered to the same bleachers, extending the lead to 5-1. Glenn had four RBIs in his first two at-bats and has six in two games. The Suns added a fifth-inning run via four walks by Smokies right-hander Josh Conway.

Given a 6-1 lead, left-hander Matt Tracy made his Suns debut and allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the sixth inning before pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Dean drove in catcher Cam Maron with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to restore the five-run lead. Suns right-handers Tyler Higgins and Ryan Chaffee each pitched scoreless innings to finish the game.

UP NEXT: The Suns conclude their series with Tennessee at 6:05 p.m. Sunday, when right-hander Jake Esch (7-6) is scheduled to face Smokies right-hander Tyler Skulina (3-6). Gates open at 5 p.m. for Baptist Health Sunday Family FUNday, when kids and their families can play catch on the field before the game and hear a story read by a Suns player. Sunday's game is also presented by Channel 4 The Local Station. Following the game, the Nimnicht Family of Dealerships presents the Independence Day Eve Fireworks show - the biggest fireworks show of the season!

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.