Florida Sports Wires

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville first baseman Brady Shoemaker hit a grand slam for the Suns’ first hit to cap a five-run third inning that provided the difference in an 8-3 win over the Birmingham Barons, giving the Suns back-to-back victories to open the season in front of 6,371 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Friday night. Donning red jerseys to begin a season-long series of Red Shirt Fridays honoring military personnel, the Suns (2-0) started the season with consecutive wins – each by five runs – for the first time in three seasons. Jacksonville took the lead for good without the aid of a hit. Barons right-hander Carson Fulmer (0-1) set down the first seven Suns in order before issuing three straight one-out walks. Suns left fielder Jeremias Pineda grounded into a force play at home plate for the second out, but Fulmer walked designated hitter Austin Dean on four pitches to force in the first run. With the bases loaded and a 1-0 Suns lead,  Shoemaker drove a 2-2...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Suns right-hander Jake Esch struck out seven batters and allowed a single run in six innings, and shortstop J.T. Riddle hit a three-run home run in a four-run third inning to lift the Suns to a 6-1 win over the Birmingham Barons in front of an Opening Night crowd of 8,367 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Thursday night. In front of the largest crowd to see a Suns home game since July 4, 2014 – when 9,246 attended – the pitcher’s mound was the spotlight. Opening Day ceremonies included ceremonial first pitches by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s son, Boyd Curry, and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, before Esch (1-0) took center stage. In a 1-1, third-inning tie, Esch allowed a leadoff single and hit batter. When Barons shortstop Eddy Alvarez attempted to sacrifice both runners into scoring position, Esch fielded the bunt and threw to third base for a force out, then struck out the next two batters to end the inning and finished...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, announced the Opening Day roster for the 2016 season on Wednesday morning. 12 of the 25 players on the roster have spent time with Jacksonville before, including three members of a standout starting pitching rotation. The Suns will feature three Baseball America Top 30 Miami Marlins prospects in the starting rotation. No. 3 prospect and left-handed pitcher Jarlin Garcia returns for his second year in a Suns uniform after going 1-3 with a 4.91 ERA in seven starts with the Suns a season ago.  No. 13 prospect and right-handed pitcher Jake Esch will be Jacksonville’s Opening Night starter, after he turned in a 2015 that earned him Southern League Midseason All-Star recognition, going 6-5 with a 3.48 ERA in 15 starts for the Suns last year. No. 14 prospect right-hander Austin Brice improved as 2015 went along, going 4-3 with a 4.14 ERA in 12 starts during the second half of the season. The ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Before hosting a Jacksonville Suns game for the first time April 7, the team’s new ownership, along with the City of Jacksonville and SMG, are enhancing guest areas around the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.  The team announced the projects at a press conference Tuesday afternoon near the construction site of a left-field Tiki Terrace. The Suns’ major additions to the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville are a group picnic area directly behind the Suns bullpen and a Tiki Terrace near the left-field foul pole. Improvements include the renovation of all 12 private Suites and the expansion of the suite-level Sundowner Lounge to give all fans a climate-controlled space to overlook the playing field.  These and other projects total more than $1.8 million invested by Suns ownership, Jacksonville Baseball, LLC, and are scheduled for completion by Opening Day.   “Fans will see a fresh look at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, as the renovations and...

The Jacksonville Suns announced their latest front office staffing update, naming four new staff members and three returning staff in new roles. The club is preparing for the 2016 season – its debut under the new ownership of Ken Babby. New to the Suns front office team are Merchandise Manager Brennan Earley, Promotions Manager Devin Jones, Media and Public Relations Manager Marco LaNave and Account Executive Peter Ercey. Returning in new positions are Box Office Manager Theresa Viets, Food and Beverage Manager Tina Gray-Young, and Front Office Coordinator Lorie Tipton. “We are excited to welcome staff with broad experiences from across the country to our front office, while teaming them with talented individuals familiar with the Jacksonville market,” said Suns General Manager Harold Craw. “Their combination of diverse sports backgrounds and connections with this community will be vital to us bringing the best affordable family fun to Northeast Florida.” Brennan Earley joins the...

T he Jacksonville Suns have released the schedule for the 2016 season. The 14 th   season of Suns baseball at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville will see the standard lot of 70 home games and feature reduced ticket prices both for individual games and all ticket packages. Fans won’t want to miss the excitement and fanfare of Opening Night (April 7) and the Independence Day celebration (July 3) in addition to a full slate of opportunities to enjoy the affordable family fun that is Suns Baseball. The schedule concludes September 5 th  and keeps the Suns at home for 11 weekends, featuring Firework Fridays, Giveaway Saturdays and Family Sundays.  Fans will also be happy to see 13 Thirsty Thursday home games. ”Our schedule shapes up nicely this season,” said General Manager Harold Craw.  “We’ve got a great mix of weekends and prime dates and are working tirelessly to come up with exciting new promotions and shaping our overhauled concessions offerings so we are r...

By FRED SEELY JAX SPORTS NEWS Peter Bragan gave himself a grand farewell this month as he ended his family's 30-plus year ownership of the Jacksonville Suns. What we lose is a good businessman, one who fought the system and won. Bragan made a lot of money, certainly in the seven figures each year, because some greedy big shots in town tried to pull a power play on him. Here's what happened. Around 2002, some of the city's self-proclaimed big shots decided they wanted Triple-A baseball to go with the new Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville when it opened in 2003.  Mayor John Delaney went along (after all, politicians don't argue with the big shots.) Bragan was a pain in the derriere and getting rid of him would be a bonus . Getting rid of Bragan wasn't like getting rid of a pimple on the butt. He is a fiercely protective person who won't back away from a fight. He may be crass, cheap and hard-headed, but he ain't dumb. But, why wouldn...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.– The Jacksonville Suns (22-35, 51-75) were dropped by the Birmingham Barons (32-24, 65-60) 11-2 Monday night from Regions Field. Matt Heidenreich (W, 1-0) in his start for Birmingham worked six frames surrendering one run (earned) on two hits while two and striking out four. Suns starter Jarlin Garcia (L, 0-2) lasted three innings allowing seven runs (all earned) on seven hits (one home run) while walking three and striking out two in a losing decision. The scoring would begin in the bottom of the first after the Barons put a pair of runners in scoring position after a walk to Jacob May, and a double by Nick Delmonico. It was then Christian Marrero (HR, 13) ripping a three-run home run to left to leap his squad ahead 3-0. In the third the Barons loaded the bases after a pair of walks and a single. Tony Thomas then mashed a bases-clearing three RBI triple moving Birmingham ahead 6-0. With two outs now in the frame, Joey DiMichele reached on a fielder’s choice and...

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Jacksonville Suns (29-36) generated an eight-run seventh to help top the Chattanooga Lookouts (39-25) 8-4 Wednesday night from AT&T Field. Blake Logan (W, 3-1) twirled a scoreless and hitless one and two-thirds innings while not walking a batter and striking out two out of the bullpen for Jacksonville.  Nick Burdi (BS, 2) (L, 3-4) did not retire a Sun allowing five runs (all earned) on three hits while walking two and not striking out a batter in the loss for Chattanooga. Suns starter Matt Tomshaw lasted five and one-third innings allowing surrendering three runs (all earned) on seven hits while walking one and striking out four in a no decision.  Out of the bullpen Craig Stem worked a scoreless eighth for Jacksonville. Juancito Martinez hurled a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation for the Suns. The Suns and Lookouts will square off once again Thursday night from AT&T Field with a first pitch slated for 7:15 p.m. ET.  The ...

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Jacksonville Suns (10-13) would fall victim to a 14-13 walk-off defeat at the hands of the Chattanooga Lookouts (12-11) thanks to Levi Michael’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth Sunday afternoon from AT&T Field. Nick Burdi (W, 2-3) earned the victory for Chattanooga out of the bullpen although he would allow go-ahead run in the ninth. Sean Donatello (L, 0-1) (BS, 1) tried to nail down the save in the bottom of the ninth, but instead allowed the game-winning single to Levi Michael. Donatello would surrender two earned runs on three hits while walking two and not striking out a batter. The Suns would get on the board first after David Adams ripped a RBI single to right field bringing home Viosergy Rosa to leap his squad in front 1-0 in the top of the second. In the third Kenny Wilson (HR, 2) would push Jacksonville out to a 2-0 lead courtesy of his solo home run to center. The Suns were not done, tacking on one more run after Adams lined his secon...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Suns (6-7) were stifled at the plate against the Biloxi Shuckers (8-5) who picked up a 5-1 win and a series victory Thursday night from Bragan Field. Earning the victory for Biloxi was Hobbs Johnson (W, 1-0) tossing five scoreless innings allowing only one hit on two walks and six strikeouts. Suns starter Austin Brice (L, 0-2) took the loss lasting 3 and 1/3 innings relinquishing five earned runs on seven hits (one home run) while walking two and striking out four. The scoring began in the bottom of the third inning for Biloxi, and with two runners on and one out, that set up Nick Ramirez (HR, 4) to blast a three-run shot into right leaping his squad out to a 3-0 lead. In the fourth frame the Shuckers would add to their lead. With the bases loaded, Yadiel Rivera would ground into a RBI fielder’s choice to swell the Shuckers advantage to 4-0. In the same frame, and Suns reliever Lay Batista on the mound, Orlando Arcia grounded a RBI single in...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Suns (4-1) defeated the Montgomery Biscuits (1-5) by a 3-2 score Wednesday night from Bragan Field. The scoring began in the bottom of the first after Zack Cox (HR, 1) mashed a solo long ball over the right field wall to provide the Suns with a 1-0 lead through one inning of play. Blake Logan (W, 1-0) earned the victory for the Suns tossing a scoreless seventh and eighth innings out of the bullpen while allowing one run on three hits along with no walks and three strikeouts. For the Biscuits Parker Markel (L, 1-1) took the loss after pitching the eighth, in which he surrendered one run on two hits while not walking a batter and striking out one. Sean Donatello (S, 2) nailed down his second save of the year tossing a perfect ninth that was accompanied by a pair of strikeouts. Moving to the fourth, Justin O’Conner (HR, 2) mashed his second home run of the year over the left field wall to knot up the score at one apiece through four innings. A...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Suns (3-1) topped the Jackson Generals (1-3) 4-2 in a series-clinching win Sunday afternoon from Bragan Field. Suns starter Kendry Flores (W, 1-0) picked up the victory tossing five innings allowing one run (earned) on two hits and two strikeouts.  Dylan Unsworth (L, 1-0) took the loss in his start for Jackson manufacturing four innings relinquishing six hits four runs (three earned) while walking two and fanning four batters.  Nailing down the victory was Sean Donatello (S,1) for his first save of the season, although he did allow and earned run while walking and striking out a solo batter respectively. The scoring began in the bottom of the first after Austin Nola’s sac fly pushed the Suns out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Moving to the top of the second, a Julio Morban RBI triple scored Jordy Lara to tie the score at a run apiece. In the bottom of the same frame, Sharif Othman broke the tie with a line drive single to left scor...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Suns (2-1) defeated the Jackson Generals (1-2) by a 3-1 score Saturday night from Bragan Field. Chipper Smith (W, 1-0) took the mound for the Suns and went five strong innings only allowing on unearned run on three hits and two walks while striking out one. Generals starter Tyler Pike (L, 0-1) took the loss in 4 and 2/3 frames pitched surrendering three hits, two runs (one earned), three walks , and three strikeouts. Nick Wittgren (S, 1) closed the door in the ninth tossing a scoreless frame while fanning two Generals batters. The scoring began in the top of the first for the Suns, when Kenny Wilson led off the frame with a double, then would be knocked home three batters later following Viosergy Rosa’s RBI single giving the Suns a 1-0 lead. Tyler Smith then tied the score in the fifth when he ripped a run scoring double scoring Jack Reinheimer and tying the score at a run apiece. In the bottom of the same frame, Jacksonville retook the ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, announced the Opening Day roster for the 2015 season on Thursday morning. 12 of the 25 players are former Suns, with 11 seeing playing time during the 2014 Southern League championship season. Three Baseball America Top 30 Marlins prospects headline the starting pitching rotation: right-hander Trevor Williams (No. 8), right-hander Kendry Flores (No. 17 Giants prospect, acquired by Marlins in a December trade), and Austin Brice (No. 29). Rounding out the rotation is left-hander Chipper Smith and right-hander Jake Esch. The Suns bullpen will feature southpaws Greg Nappo, Frankie Reed, and former Jacksonville University Dolphin Matt Tomshaw. Right-handers in the Suns bullpen include: Sean Donatello, Gainesville native Brian Ellington, Blake Logan, Craig Stem, and Nick Wittgren. Last season Wittgren led the Suns with 52 appearances and 20 saves. Ellington is listed as Baseball America’s No. 22 Ma...

By MIKE BONTS FLORIDA SPORTS WIRE JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Suns came from behind to take a 14-8 exhibition win over the Miami Marlins Saturday afternoon at Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Jacksonville's Viosergy Rosa hit a a grand slam in the seventh inning. Suns' catcher Sharif Othman hit a three-run shot to erase an 8-3 Marlins lead. Giancarlo Stanton hit an RBI double for Miami. Juancito Martinez earned the victory for the Suns after tossing 3 and 1/3 innings allowing three hits, two earned runs while striking out two batters. Craig Stem took the loss in 2/3 innings for Miami after relinquishing four hits (two home runs) while striking out one. The Marlins scored five times in the first three innings, and then added single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. The Marlins begin their MLB season Monday at home against the Atlanta Braves. The Suns of the Double A Southern League start a 20-game home stand on Thursday agai...