Suns Hold off Late Barons Rally for Thursday Win
Birmingham, Ala. - Closer Jon Meloan stamped out a suicide squeeze attempt in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Jacksonville Suns (50-31, 9-2) held off a late rally from the Birmingham Barons (35-46, 3-8) for a 5-4 Monday night victory at Regions Park.
With the victory Jacksonville took the three-games-to-two series lead in a series scheduled for six games. The Suns have won 21 of their last 26 games.
Jacksonville opened the scoring in the first inning against Birmingham starter Wes Whisler when Alberto Concepcion singled home Xavier Paul with two out for a 1-0 lead. The Suns extended the lead in the fourth inning when James Tomlin smashed a ground rule double into left-centerfield with two out to plate both A.J. Ellis and David Nicholson to open a 3-0 advantage.
The Barons got on the board in the bottom of the first inning with their first hit against Suns starter Joey Norrito, a two-out homerun from Thomas Collaro that cut the Suns lead to 3-1. The homerun was Collaro's 17th of the season, tying him with Montgomery's Evan Longoria for the most in the Southern League.
The Suns answered with two runs in the fifth inning with an Anthony Raglani RBI double and a Cory Dunlap RBI groundout to open a 5-1 lead. Back-to-back RBI doubles from Thomas Collaro and Shawn Garrett in the sixth inning got Birmingham within two runs at 5-3.
Birmingham made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning against Suns closer Jon Meloan. Cory Aldridge led off with a single while Adam Shabala recorded an infield single to follow. On the play Suns shortstop Jimmy Rohan threw wild toward first base allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Ricardo Nanito next drove home Aldridge with a groundout to cut the Suns lead to 5-4.
Michael Myers stepped in and, as Adam Shebala broke for home from third base, missed a squeeze bunt attempt on the first pitch of his at-bat. After a short rundown, catcher A.J. Ellis tagged Shebala for the second out. Myers then struck out to end the game.
Joey Norrito (4-0) picked up the win for Jacksonville with a six-inning performance. Wes Whisler (4-9) got the loss for Birmingham after allowing all five runs in seven innings. Jon Meloan (16) saved the game for the Suns.
The Suns and Barons meet in the series finale Friday at 8:05 p.m. ET. Suns RH Justin Orenduff will face Barons RH Adam Russell. Fans can follow the action in Jacksonville on AM 930 The Fox or online at jaxsuns.com.