Smokies and Suns suspended due to rain Sunday

Junior Lake picked up a pair of RBI in Sunday’s suspended contest against Jacksonville. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover.

By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sunday’s contest between the Tennessee Smokies (2-1 second half, 37-36 overall) and the Jacksonville Suns (1-2, 34-39), has been suspended due to inclement weather in the top of the third inning with the Smokies leading 2-1 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

The game will be resumed on Monday at 11 a.m. with the Smokies at the plate with two runners on base and one out in the top of the third.

The Smokies gained the early lead in the top of the first when Junior Lake delivered a RBI double that gave the Smokies a 1-0 lead. The Suns tied the game in the bottom of the frame. Donnie Webb led off the bottom of the first with a triple, then was brought home by Jake Smolinksi on a groundout to even the score.

Tennessee regained the advantage in the top of the third once again due to Lake, who hit an RBI single to center to score Logan Watkins to give Tennessee a 2-1 edge. The game went into a rain delay a few batters later with two men on base and one out in the inning.

Tennessee starter Trey McNutt pitched two innings allowing a run on a pair of hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Jacksonville starter Graham Taylor pitched into the third while giving up two runs on five hits.

The clubs will resume Sunday’s game tomorrow at 11 a.m., with the fifth and final game of the series beginning approximately 30 minutes following at the Baseball Grounds. The final game will be a seven-inning contest, with left-hander Erik Jokisch (3-0, 1.42 ERA) starting for Tennessee against Jacksonville’s right-hander Matthew Neil (1-2, 4.99 ERA).