Suns Shut Down Wahoos 2-1

July 17, 2012

Jacksonville starting pitcher Graham Taylor held the Blue Wahoos to just three hits in six shutout innings of work, while catcher Kyle Skipworth launched his eighth homer of the year in the sixth, as the Suns defeated Pensacola 2-1 on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

With the victory, Jacksonville improved to an 11-14 record in the second half and take a 2-1 lead in the series, while Pensacola fell to 15-10 since the league’s All-Star Break.

Taylor (6.0 IP, 3 H, 4 SO) held the Fish bats quiet throughout his six solid frames, yielding just three hits while fanning four to earn the win and bump his season tally to 5-8. Relievers Joshua Schmidt (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) and A.J. Ramos (1.0 IP, 1 SO) each fired a scoreless inning of relief in support of Taylor, with Schmidt notching his seventh hold and Ramos his 11th save. Pensacola starter J.C. Sulbaran (4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 6-7 on the year.

Jacksonville struck first in the third for the early 1-0 lead. Taylor began the frame with a leadoff single to left before LF Jake Smolinski walked and SS Chris Gutierrez singled to load the bases for 3B Paul Gran. With a full count, Gran took the payoff pitch outside for ball four to bring home Taylor and push the Suns ahead. Jacksonville would then double their advantage in the sixth when Skipworth launched his eighth home run of the year over the right field fence.

Pensacola would then plate their lone score in the following frame thanks to a longball of their own. 1B Beau Mills mashed the 1-0 pitch to deep right field, putting the scoreboard in jeopardy for his seventh homer of the year. It was the second roundtripper in as many nights for Mills, and his fifth in the month of July.

Taylor (2-2, 1 R) and Gutierrez (2-4, 1 BB) each collected a pair of hits for the Suns in the win, while Mills (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) was the lone Blue Wahoos batter to record a multi-hit effort. Taylor had come into the contest hitless in his first 18 at bats this year before reaching on singles in both appearances Monday night.

Jacksonville and Pensacola will meet Tuesday night for the final time this year, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. The Fish are slated to send RHP Wirfin Obispo to the mound for the series finale, while the Suns are expected to give the nod to RHP Matthew Neil.

By Andrew Green

Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports