Barons Beat Suns 7-1
HOOVER, Ala. - The Jacksonville Suns (8-13, 45-46) fell 7-1 to the Birmingham Barons (9-13, 49-43) at Regions Park on Friday night.
The win snaps a three-game losing streak for the Barons, and also ended a two-game winning streak for the Suns. Birmingham reliever Brandon Kloess (2-0) took the win after throwing five scoreless innings following a 45 minute rain delay in the top of the fourth. Suns starter Jose Alvarez (0-2) took the loss after giving up three runs on six hits and he did not return following the rain delay.
After Jacksonville took a 1-0 lead in the first on a Luke Montz RBI single, the Barons would score seven unanswered runs. Kyle Shelton's RBI single in the bottom of the second tied it, before Birmingham posted two runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead before the rain delay.
Dallas Trahern took over for Alvarez after the delay, and after working a scoreless fourth, he allowed three runs in the fifth as the Barons built a 6-1 lead. Brandon Short led off the seventh inning with a solo homer off Suns reliever Kris Harvey to end the scoring at 7-1. Addison Reed pitched the final inning in scoreless fashion to preserve the Barons victory.
Third baseman Paul Gran extended his hitting streak to eleven consecutive games with a base hit as he finished 1-4 with a run scored. Chris Coghlan, with the Suns on a major league rehab assignment from the Florida Marlins, went 1-4 at the plate with a walk, as he has hit safely in all three games with Jacksonville.
The Suns and Barons will play the fourth game of the six-game series on Saturday night at Regions Park. Right-hander Omar Poveda (4-5, 4.69 ERA) will pitch for Jacksonville against Birmingham's left-hander Charlie Leesman (7-2, 3.44 ERA). Saturday's first pitch is set for 7:30 p.m., and fans can listen to the game beginning at 7:15 p.m. with the U.F. & Shands Pregame Show on www.jaxsuns.com.
ABOUT THE JACKSONVILLE SUNS The Jacksonville Suns are the minor league Class AA affiliate of the Florida Marlins. The Suns are proud members and five-time champions of the 10-team Southern League of Professional Baseball. To learn more about the Jacksonville Suns, visit www.jaxsuns.com