Suns offense explodes, Elbert solid on hill as Suns defeat Smokies
Sevierville, Tenn. - The Jacksonville Suns offense scored six runs on fourteen hits while starter Scott Elbert pitched six shutout innings as the Suns held off the Tennessee Smokies by the score of 6-3 Friday night at Smokies Park.
Suns starter Scott Elbert made his second Double-A start, and in six innings of work did not allow any hits. The Smokies could only muster a first inning hit off of Elbert, but were unable to put anything across on Elbert even though he walked five Smokies. The southpaw struck out six.
Elbert's offense began his support in the third inning as Suns shortstop Chin-Lung Hu belted his second homerun of the season, a solo shot to left-centerfield that opened the scoring at 1-0 Suns.
Jacksonville added more runs on Tennessee starter Ross Ohlendorf in the fifth inning as Hu doubled off of the leftfield wall, a ball that missed by only inches of being his second homerun. The hit plated Jacksonville's second run of the game. Later in the inning, Justin Ruggiano drove home two runs on a single to extend the Suns lead to 4-0. The Suns added another run in the sixth inning as Tony Abreu singled home Sergio Garcia to make it a 5-0 lead.
Tennessee got on the scoreboard on Jacksonville reliever Wesley Wright in the seventh inning as Alberto Gonzalez drove home the first run on a double and Jesus Cota drove home another on a sacrifice fly to cut the Suns lead to 5-2.
The two teams traded runs in the eighth inning as Abreu singled home another run for Jacksonville while Agustin Murillo drove home one for Tennessee to finish the scoring at 6-3.
Scott Elbert improved to 2-0 in the victory while Ross Ohlendorf fell to 7-5 in the loss for Tennessee. Mark Alexander saved his 22nd game of the season, the second-best save mark in the Southern League.
Chin-Lung Hu finished the game 4-5 with a homerun and two RBI. Justin Ruggiano went 3-4 with two RBI.
The Suns and Smokies meet for game four of the series Saturday at 7:15 with Suns RHP Spike Lundberg facing Tennessee LHP Greg Smith. Fans can follow the action on AM 930 The Fox or online at jaxsuns.com or milb.com.
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