Concepcion hits for the cycle
With Suns manager John Shoemaker in San Francisco for Sunday's 2007 XM Satellite Radio Futures All-Star Game, hitting coach Luis Salazar cancelled batting practice in favor of other hitting drills. The break from the routine didn't faze Concepcion, who was coming off a four-hit night on Friday.
The 26-year-old catcher hit a ground-rule double in the second inning and singled in the third. An inning later, he ripped a line drive off the center-field fence and rumbled into third base for his first triple since June 26, 2005.
"I just was hustling right out of the box," Concepcion said. "The funny thing is that I thought I was running harder on the double. I didn't see where the ball went in the second, so I just ran as fast as I could, up until I almost got to second."
Concepcion needed only to jog around the bases in his next at-bat in the ninth as he completed the cycle with a three-run homer, his ninth. With the Suns already leading, 8-0, he said he was just trying to make contact and drive the runners in.
"I knew I had hit the ball pretty well," he said, "but I was just more concerned about getting the runs in and making solid contact. Once I got back to the dugout, everyone was cheering for me and giving me high-fives all around. It definitely was a pretty nice experience."
It was the first cycle by a member of the Suns since Carlos Villalobos in June 1998.
The University of Southern California product went 4-for-5 with three runs scored. He also had five RBIs, one short of the career high he set on June 18, also against Carolina. The Mudcats have been Concepcion's favorite opponent in his inaugural Southern League campaign as he is batting .419 (13-for-31) with three homers, four doubles and 14 RBIs in eight games against them.
Halfway through the season, Concepcion already has surpassed his previous career high for home runs (six) and is batting .291. He spent the first five of his six Minor League seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization.
"The change of scenery probably has had a lot to do with [the success]," the former 21st-round draft pick said. "More than anything, though, I feel a lot more comfortable at the plate than I ever had been before."
Kevin Howard chipped in two hits, including a solo homer, and three RBIs for the Suns (15-5). James Tomlin went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and three runs scored.
Concepcion also had a solid game behind the plate as Jacksonville pitchers recorded 15 strikeouts. Starter Michael Megrew (6-5) fanned 10 in six innings, giving up three runs on four hits and three walks. Greg Miller struck out the side in the seventh but allowed two runs -- one earned -- on two hits and two walks.
The Mudcats (8-12) tried to mount a late rally, scoring all seven runs between the sixth and eighth innings. Lee Mitchell had an RBI double and Eric Riggs and John Raburn hit solo homers in the eighth.
Starter Jesus Delgado (5-6) took the loss after giving up six runs on eight hits and a walk in two-plus innings. --Michael Echan/MLB.com