MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Jacksonville Suns (15-26, 44-66) used five home runs as a team to power past the Montgomery Biscuits (21-19, 55-53) 7-2 Friday night from Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.
Suns starter Austin Brice (W, 4-8) worked five innings allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits while walking and striking out three. Jared Mortensen (L, 6-5) in his start for Montgomery generated five and a third frames surrendering five runs (all earned) on six hits while not walking a batter and striking out six.
The scoring would begin in the top of the second when David Adams (HR, 4) and Viosergy Rosa (HR, 6) delivered back-to-back home runs to leap Jacksonville ahead 2-0.
Moving to the last of the second frame the Biscuits got on the board with a run. A lead off triple off the bat of Dayron Varona was rewarded, when Daniel Robertson arched a RBI sacrifice fly into right to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
In the fourth J.T. Riddle (HR, 5) belted a solo home run to lead off the frame and push Jacksonville ahead 3-1.
Flashing ahead to the bottom of the fourth it was Dayron Veroan being hit by a pitch to start off the inning, that was soon followed by a run scoring double by Jake Bauers making the tally now 3-2 in the Suns favor.
In the top of the sixth Jacksonville got a pair of baserunners on for Rosa’s (HR, 7) second home run of the night, this blast plated three runs, and the Suns now controlled a 6-2 advantage.
Flashing ahead to the top of the ninth, Zack Cox (HR, 4) ripped a solo home run off of Biscuits reliever Parker Markel to make it a 7-2 contest.
Out of the bullpen for the Suns Alex Burgos hurled three scoreless innings while not allowing a baserunner in his Jacksonville debut. Tyler Higgins tossed a scoreless ninth.
The Suns and Biscuits will square off again Saturday night with a first pitch set for 7:35 p.m. ET from Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. The Suns will send out lefty Chipper Smith (2-2, 4.81 ERA) while the Biscuits will counter with right-hander Austin Pruitt (6-5, 3.10 ERA).