JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville starter Jose Urena matched season highs in strikeouts and innings pitched in a dominating eight inning shutout performance that led the Suns to a 6-0 win versus visiting Tennessee at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Thursday night.
Urena (6-3, 4.22) held the Smokies (28-32) to just three hits over eight scoreless innings and earned his first win since May 21. He struck out seven and issued just one walk in the victory.
Suns (32-29) reliever Nick Wittgren worked the ninth and allowed one hit. He also struck out one and finished the game without allowing a Tennessee run.
Julio Rodriguez started for the Smokies and walked a season high six over four plus innings. He also allowed three hits and struck out three in the loss.
Rodriguez (1-2, 5.52) walked three and pitched himself into a corner in the Jacksonville first. He retired rehabbing Major Leaguer Rafael Furcal to start the inning, but then walked both Austin Nola and Austin Barnes. Rodriguez then struck out Brady Shoemaker, but then walked Alex Burg. Right fielder Joe Benson followed with a single to right and two Jacksonville runs came into score.
The Suns led 2-0 through one and added to their lead with three runs in the fifth. Furcal started the inning with a walk and would go onto steal second. Catcher Taylor Davis attempted to catch Furcal, but his throw errantly flew into centerfield. Furcal moved to the third on the play and scored moments later on a single from Nola. Barnes followed with another hit off Rodriguez and reliever Tony Zych was brought in to replace him.
Rodriguez allowed three hits over four plus innings. He left the game with six walks, three strikeouts and the Suns leading 3-0.
Zych inherited two runners in the inning and would allow both to score. Shoemaker greeted Zych to the game with a single to right and Nola scored from second. Zych got Alex Burg to ground into a double play, but a run scored and the Suns took a 5-0 lead.
Both inherited runners allowed to score by Zych were earned to Rodriguez. The Smokies starter allowed five earned runs and five total over four plus and took the loss.
Zych stayed in for the sixth and would allow three Jacksonville hits. He also allowed one run and the Suns took a 6-0 lead.
Lendy Castillo worked the seventh and eighth and kept the Suns without a hit and without a run. He walked two and struck out two in his appearance.
The series continues on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm in Jacksonville.
Andrew Green
James Rowe
smokiesradio
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