PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Jacksonville Suns (9-16, 38-56) would drop the series finale with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (15-10, 40-53) 6-5 Tuesday night from Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Barret Astin (W, 2-1) generated seven innings in his start for Pensacola and surrendered four runs (all earned) on seven hits while walking two and striking out four. Craig Stem (L, 1-4) worked an inning and a third for the Suns out of the bullpen and surrendered two runs (both earned) while walking one and striking out a solo batter. Zack Weiss (S, 12) nailed down his 12th save of the year after working a scoreless inning and two-thirds.
Jacksonville got on the board in the top of the third, when Zack Cox led off with a double and reached third after a wild pitch, to then see Austin Brice drive him home courtesy of his RBI single to center leaping the Suns in front 1-0.
In the last of the third it was Zach Vincej’s (HR, 3) solo home run that tied the score at one. Then after a Marquez Smith single, Juan Duran laced a run scoring double to leap the Wahoos ahead 2-1.
To the fourth and Jacksonville loaded the bases after a walk and a pair of singles, to then see Zack Cox generate a bases loaded walk to tie the game at two. Next batter Chadd Krist would follow that up with a two RBI double into left field to break the tie and provide the Suns with a 4-2 lead.
To the last of the fifth, and Duran reached on the fielding error by Suns third baseman Cox, to then steal second and third base. With runners on the corners after a walk to Seth Mejias-Brean, a wild pitch from Brice brought home a Duran and made it a 4-3 contest. Ryan Wright would knot the score at four courtesy of his run scoring single into center, off of Suns bullpen arm Craig Stem.
Moving to the sixth Barret Astin and Zach Vincej led off with a pair of singles. Then it was Duran rocketing a two run double to move Pensacola ahead 6-4.
Flashing to the eighth frame, against Wahoos reliever Patrick Schuster, the Suns loaded the bases after three straight singles provided by Carlos Lopez, J.T. Riddle, and Matt Juengel. Then it was Viosergy Rosa who was hit by a pitch to bring in a baserunner and creep the Suns to within 6-5.
Austin Brice in his start for Jacksonville lasted four and two-thirds frames surrendering four runs (two earned) on five hits while walking six and striking out six. Fabian Williamson worked a scoreless seventh inning in relief for Jacksonville. Scott McGough generated a scoreless frame in the eighth out of the bullpen for the Suns.
The Suns will begin a five-game set with the Birmingham Barons Thursday night with a first pitch in the series opener from Bragan Field set for 7:05 p.m. ET. The Suns will send out right-hander Josh Hodges (1-0, 2.25 ERA) while the Barons will counter with righty Robinson Leyer (1-0, 0.00 ERA).