The Jacksonville Suns (2-5, 39-38) snapped a season-long five-game losing streak with a come-from-behind victory over the Birmingham Barons (4-3, 44-34) with a dramatic 6-5 bottom of the ninth win at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Wednesday night.
Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Luke Montz drove home two runs on a two-out broken bat single up the middle to deliver the Suns a 6-5 victory that evens the six-game series at one game apiece. The victory is Jacksonville’s sixth walk-off win this season, and incited a celebration on the field for the Suns.
After the Suns took a 3-0 lead which included a two-run homer by Kevin Mattison, the Barons first cracked the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. Jacksonville starter Dallas Trahern, who threw the first five innings in scoreless fashion, allowed an Alden Carrithers RBI single that made the score 3-1. The Barons got a run closer in the seventh with a sacrifice fly by Josh Phegley to make it a one-run score at 3-2.
Montz got the Suns back to a two-run lead with his RBI double in the eighth inning that sent the Suns into the ninth leading 4-2.
Suns closer Sandy Rosario walked the bases loaded in the top of the ninth but was an out away from victory when Brandon Short hit a bases-clearing double to right center that put the Barons ahead for the first time in the game at 5-4. Jhan Marinez (3-5) came on in relief and got the final out of the inning, and he earned the victory after Jacksonville’s comeback in the ninth.
The Suns comeback against Barons reliever Dan Remonowsky (4-2) began with a one-out walk to Chris Gutierrez. After Mattison struck out for the second out, Jacksonville was down to its final strike before Ryan Curry singled to right. Pinch-hitter Alex Romero was also down to his final strike before he was hit by a Remenowsky pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Montz’s heroics.
The win was the fourth time this season that the Suns have won a game where Rosario has blown a save.
The Suns and Barons will play the third game of the six-game series on Wednesday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Suns will start southpaw Graham Taylor (2-2, 3.65 ERA) against Birmingham’s left-hander Charlie Leesman (6-1, 3.09 ERA).
