HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Jacksonville Suns (15-24) had a comeback effort fall short in a 7-6 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers (24-16) Tuesday night from Joe Davis Stadium.
Jaye Chapman (W, 3-2) (BS, 1) while allowing a game tying grand slam to Ryan Rieger, earned the win tossing 1 and 1/3 innings surrendering one earned run on one hit while walking a batter and striking a solo man. Lay Batista (L, 0-1) took the loss in relief for Jacksonville, working in a pair of innings allowing one earned run on two hits, including the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth while walking two and not striking out a batter.
The scoring would begin in the bottom of the first when Biloxi put up a four spot in the frame. First a Nick Ramirez sac fly earned the Shuckers a 1-0 lead. Next batter Michael Reed, then followed that up with a two run double to left field to push the Suns deficit to 3-0. To finish the scoring Brandon Macias provided a RBI base knock to score Reed and set the tally at 4-0.
In the last of the third Nathan Orf bashed a two RBI triple that sent home Adam Weisenberger and Hobbs Johnson, to extend the Biloxi advantage to 6-0 through three innings at Joe Davis Stadium.
Jacksonville got on the board in the fourth after Zack Cox reached via a single to then be brought in courtesy of a David Adams (HR, 1) no-doubter over the left field wall bringing the Suns to within 6-2.
Against Shuckers reliever Jaye Chapman the Suns generated the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the eighth. A pair of walks to Cox and Adams followed by a single off the bat of Viosergy Rosa set the table for Ryan Rieger’s (HR, 1) grand slam home run to tie the score at six apiece in Huntsville.
Biloxi wouldn’t trail for long after Tyrone Taylor drove in Michael Reed from second on a run scoring single to put the Shuckers up 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth frame.
Suns starter Chipper Smith worked four innings surrendering six earned runs on 10 hits while walking one and striking out four. Craig Stem saw action out of the Suns bullpen tossing a scoreless fifth inning.
The Suns will head back home to start a five-game series against the Mississippi Braves Thursday night with a first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. ET from Bragan Field. The Suns will send out right-hander Kendry Flores (2-3, 2.06 ERA) while the Braves have yet to announce their starter.