The Suns and Generals split their first double header of the season; Jacksonville Suns vs. Jackson Generals

In the 1st game of the 7 inning double header, the Generals starting pitcher Erasmo Ramirez was perfect through 5.2 innings. Jim Negrych of the Suns was able to get a 2 out single in the 6th to stop the perfect game for Ramirez. Ramirez wouldn't have a shut out game either as he gave up a run to the Suns in the top of the 7th; Alex Romero reached 1st by way of a fielding error made by 1st baseman Rich Poythress with 1 out, Jorge Padilla popped out to 2nd baseman Scott Savastano for out #2, and Erik Lis hit an RBI single tieing the game at 1. Lis was replaced by Ben Lasater as a pinch runner and as Jake Smolinski batted Lasater was able to reach 2nd from a passed ball by catcher Brandon Bantz but Smolinski left Lasater at 2nd as he grounded out to first base. The Suns and Generals weren't able to score in the 7th to end the game so it went into extra innings, which normally wouldn't be but since it was a 7 inning game due to it being a double header. In the 8th inning neither team could put up a run, but in the 8th inning the Suns Alex Romero lead off with a single, Padilla reached 1st on a throwing error by the shotstop Nate Tenbrink and brought Romero to 3rd base, Lasater in his first at bat of the game hit an RBI single giving the Suns a 2-1 lead in the top of the 9th, extra innings, Smolinski hit a sac bunt to first to move the runners to 2nd and 3rd, the Generals intentionally walked Kyle Skipworth loading the bases, Paul Gran flied out to right field for the 2nd out, and Negrych leaves the bases loaded as he grounds out to 1st base. The Suns lead 2-1 and Jhan Marinez looks to hold the Generals to no runs in the 9th to get the save and a Suns win in Game 1 of the double header. Marinez couldn't hold the Generals and gave up the lead and the win. Generals won in the 9th with 2 runs with a score of 3-2.

The Suns starting pitcher Joseph O'Gara pitched 7 innings allowing 5 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, and struck out 3. Corey Madden came in to relieve O'Gara in the 8th, throwing a perfect 8th. Jhan Marinez comes into the game in the 9th and allowed 3 hits (a double and 2 singles), 2 earned runs, a walk, and Marinez recieves the loss.

Suns drop Game 1 of the double header to the Jackson Generals.


Game 2 also went to 9 innings, extra innings, but this time the Suns get the win. The game was tied at 6 all the way until the top of the 9th when Chris Gutierrez lead off with a walk, Kevin Mattison reached first on a bunt single, Ryan Curry hits a RBI single (7-6 Suns), Alex Romero hit a 2 RBI double (9-6 Suns), Jorge Padilla walked, Erik Lis hits a RBI single (10-6 Suns), Luke Montz strikes out for the 1st out, and Ben Lasater hit a 3 run home run off Brian Moran (13-6 Suns). Moran is pulled after pitching 0.1 innings. Scott Savastano came into relieve (was 2nd baseman in Game 1); gave up a single to Paul Gran, walked Gutierrez (who lead off the inning with a walk), Mattison popped out in foul territory for the 2nd out, and Ryan Curry grounded out for the 3rd out. Suns score 7 in the top of the 9th and lead 13-6 as they go into the bottom of the 9th. Peter Andrelcyzk to pitch the bottom of the 9th, his 4th inning relieving, he gave up a solo home run but that wasn't enough to give up the win. The Suns win in game 2 by 7 runs.

Both teams decided to use usual relievers as starters; the Generals used Andrew Carraway and the Suns used Jeff Allison. This wasn't Allison's first time starting a game though, he started 20 games for the Suns last season. Allison had a rough start as he allowed 9 hits, 6 earned runs, and struck out 2 through 3.1 innings. Chris Hatcher pitched 1.2 innings; gave up his first hit of the season (this being his 4 appearance, the other 3 were just 1 innings, all perfect innings), he only gave up 1 hit and struck out 3. Peter Andrelczyk pitched the last 4 innings giving up 2 hits, 1 earned run (the solo home run in the 9th), walked 3, struck out 3, and recieved the win.

With this win the Suns split the double header and win the 5 game series against the Generals. They still have Game 5 to play tomorrow but they have won 3 games of the series already. The Suns are 5-4 on the season as the Generals are 4-5 on the season.

Brad Hand dazzles in 2nd start of the season; Jacksonville Suns vs. Jackson Generals

After Sean West was injured while on the Marlins Triple AAA, New Orleans Zephyrs, roster Suns starter Dallas Trahern was promoted just before his spot in the Suns rotation. Since Trahern was promoted and the Suns had an off day all the starters on the rotation were moved up a spot. Omar Poveda pitched yesterday, Wednesday, April 13th, instead of today meaning Brad Hand got the start today.

Brad Hand pitched a 2-hit shut out. Hand allowed a single in the 1st and a lead off single in the 2nd. The 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th were all perfect innings by Hand. Hand only walked 1 and struck out only 1, both in the 4th inning. Hand is 1-1 on the season, this being his first win as the Suns offense put 3 on the board as he pitched.

The Suns put Jhan Marinez to set up for Sandy Rosario in the 8th. Marinez gave up a lead off single, but the next batter, Eddy Martinez-Esteve, grounded to shortstop, Chris Gutierrez, for a 6-4-3 double play. The 3rd batter, Jake Shaffer, struck out swinging. Marinez only gave up 1 hit, no runs, no walks and struck out 1. Sandy Rosario came in the 9th to finish the game off with a perfect 9th; lead off batter, Nate Tenbrink, with a 6 pitch long at bat lined out to center fielder Kevin Mattison, in the 2nd hole Kyle Seager also had a 6 pitch long at bat but grounded out to shortstop Gutierrez, and the 3rd batter of the 9th, Carlos Triunfel, flied out to right field, Alex Romero.

On the offensive side. Kevin Mattison, lead off hitter, led off the game with a triple and was then brought in by a ground out with 1 out to 1st baseman Rich Poythress, the 2nd out, from Alex Romero. Mattison's 2nd triple on the season (playing all 7 games) and Romero's 2nd RBI on the season. In the 5th, Gutierrez led off with a double to center fielder James McOwen off Generals starting pitcher Steven Hensley. Jim Negrych grounded to 2nd baseman Kyle Seager who had a fielding error allowing Negrych to reach 1st safely and Gutierrez to reach 3rd. Mattison then grounded out to shortstop Triunfel to bring Gutierrez home,Mattison's 2nd RBI on the season, and was the 1st out of the 5th. Ryan Curry then doubled to left field, Shaffer, to bring Negrych home and to give Curry 3 RBI on the season. The Suns lead 3-0 at this point and there would be no more scoring after this point. To end the inning; Curry was left at 2nd base by Romero and Jake Smolinski.

The Suns are now 4-3 on the season and 2-0 on the road. 3 more games in the series versus the Generals and then a 5 game series in Mobile to play the Bay Bears.