JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Suns (28-33) used an efficient one-hit performance achieved by four different pitchers to defeat the Tennessee Smokies (32-29) 2-0 Friday night from Bragan Field.
Jake Esch (W, 5-3) in his start for Jacksonville worked six scoreless innings allowing only a solo hit while walking one and striking out six in a winning decision.
Smokies starter Frank Batista (L, 6-2) hurled seven frames surrendering two runs (both earned) on a pair of walks and four strikeouts. Steve Cishek (S, 2) collected his second save with Jacksonville after providing a perfect ninth inning that was accompanied with a strikeout.
In this pitcher’s duel, the scoring would begin in the bottom of sixth, after Viosergy Rosa worked a lead off walk, to then get driven in by Matt Juengel’s RBI triple to leap the Suns in front 1-0.
Next batter Terrance Dayleg, subsequently grounded a RBI infield single to shortstop that sent home Juengel and doubled up Jacksonville’s lead to 2-0 through six innings of play.
Out of the bullpen for the Suns Frankie Reed tossed a scoreless seventh inning while Craig Stem provided a perfect 1-2-3 eighth.
The Suns and Smokies will continue their series Saturday afternoon from Bragan Field with a first pitch slated for 12:05 p.m. ET.
The Suns will send out righty Austin Brice (2-4, 6.57 ERA) while the Smokies will counter with right-hander Ivan Pineyro (4-3, 3.61 ERA).