PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Jacksonville Suns (26-33) fell 7-6 in walk off fashion to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (23-35) Wednesday night from Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The scoring would begin in the bottom of the second frame, after the bases were worked full by the Wahoos courtesy of a Juan Perez walk, and a pair of singles by Sean Buckley and Lou Marson, setting the table for Beau Amaral’s two RBI single.
Two batters later, Jesse Winker looped a run-scoring single into center to move Pensacola’s advantage to 3-0. Ray Chang continued the second inning rally with a two-run triple that provided the Wahoos with a 5-0 edge. Then a wild pitch from Lyman, scored Chang, and completed the six-run second for Pensacola. Suns would face a daunting 6-0 deficit through just two innings of play.
Two batters later, Jesse Winker looped a run-scoring single into center to move Pensacola’s advantage to 3-0. Ray Chang continued the second inning rally with a two-run triple that provided the Wahoos with a 5-0 edge. Then a wild pitch from Lyman, scored Chang, and completed the six-run second for Pensacola. Suns would face a daunting 6-0 deficit through just two innings of play.
To the top of the fourth, and the Suns got on the board after one swing of the bat by Matt Juengel (HR, 10), who would send a two-run blast over the left field wall to trim the Suns deficit to 6-2.
Against Wahoos reliever Carlos Gonzalez, Kenny Wilson would deposit a two RBI single in the same frame to bring Jacksonville to within a 6-4 deficit.
Against Wahoos reliever Carlos Gonzalez, Kenny Wilson would deposit a two RBI single in the same frame to bring Jacksonville to within a 6-4 deficit.
To the first of the seventh in the frame, Danny Black provided a one out single to then force Pensacola to go to Kevin Shackleford out of the bullpen. The righty Shackleford, then offered up a two out single to Kenny Wilson, who would go on to steal second.
With runners at second and third, Carlos Lopez bounced a groundball to Wahoos third baseman Ray Chang, who threw it wide to first, to bring in a pair of runs to tie the game at six.
With runners at second and third, Carlos Lopez bounced a groundball to Wahoos third baseman Ray Chang, who threw it wide to first, to bring in a pair of runs to tie the game at six.
Moving to the top of the sixth, Juengel led off the frame with a double, that was followed by a pair of walks offered up by Wahoos starter Wright to load the bases with two outs.
In the bottom of the ninth with Suns reliever Blake Logan on the mound, Marquez Smith led off with a single to move down to second on a passed ball. After an intentional walk to Winker, Chang would lace a walk-off RBI double to defeat the Suns 7-6.
Suns starter Scott Lyman worked five innings allowing six runs (all earned) on eight hits while walking three and striking out a pair of batters. Chipper Smith entered in the sixth and worked a pair of scoreless innings in relief for the Suns.
The Suns will open up a five-game series with the Tennessee Smokies Thursday night from Bragan Field with a first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m. ET. The Suns will send out lefty Matt Tomshaw (2-4, 3.00 ERA) while the Smokies have yet to announce their starter.