The Jacksonville Suns (30-35, 67-68) fell 10-8 to the Tennessee Smokies (38-27, 81-54) in the final road game of the season at Smokies Park on Tuesday night.
Tennessee was fueled by two strong innings, as the Smokies scored four runs in the fourth and six runs in the seventh to pick up their fourth win in the five-game series. Tennessee was led offensively by third baseman Josh Vitters, who finished the game 3-5 with five runs batted in.
Marcus Hatley (3-0) earned the win in relief for Tennessee in relief while Jacksonville reliever Ramon Benjamin (2-2) took the loss for Jacksonville. Jeff Stevens got the final five outs for Tennessee to earn the save.
After the Suns took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, the Smokies responded with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning. David Macias tied the game on an RBI single before Vitters hit a bases-loaded and clearing double to put Tennessee ahead 4-1.
The Suns would cut the lead to one run with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, with Ben Lasater hitting an RBI double and Jake Smolinski driving in a run on a groundout to trim the Tennessee lead to 4-3. Jacksonville scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead off Hatley. A wild pitch from Hatley scored Jeremy Synan from third to tie the game before Jim Negrych hit a sacrifice fly to put the Suns ahead 5-4.
The lead was short-lived, with the Smokies responding with a six-run two-out rally off Benjamin in the bottom of the seventh. A Nelson Perez RBI single tied the game before Macias reached on a Ryan Curry fielding error at second base to bring home a pair of runs as Tennessee took the lead at 7-5. Curry was ejected by third base umpire Jordan Ferrell for arguing the call at first base. The next batter, pinch-hitter Ty Wright delivered an RBI single to score Macias, and then Vitters drove home two runs on a single to put Tennessee’s lead at 10-5.
Despite a rough bottom of the seventh inning, the Suns fought back in the eighth. Chris Gutierrez drew a bases-loaded walk from Smokies reliever Rafael Dolis to bring home a run before Luke Montz hit a pinch-hit RBI single to cut the Tennessee lead to 10-7. With the bases still loaded and one out, the Smokies brought in Stevens who forced Mattison to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep the Smokies on top. Jacksonville added a run in the ninth off Stevens when Kyle Jensen smashed a solo homer over the left-center field wall. Jensen’s blast was the final Suns run of the game, as Tennessee won 10-8.
The Suns will bus home to Jacksonville and take Wednesday off before welcoming in the Jackson Generals for a five-game series at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville beginning on Thursday afternoon. Right-handed pitcher Joey O’Gara (7-9, 4.43 ERA) will pitch for Jacksonville while right-hander Andrew Carraway (9-5, 3.46 ERA) will pitch for Jackson. Thursday’s game will start at 1:05 p.m.
