Tuesday, August 12, 2008
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Jim Tocco
(334)
323-0363 |
Biscuits hold off Suns, 9-6
Cromer, Frontz brilliant in series-opening win
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
- The Montgomery Biscuits (30-20; 64-56) built a large early lead over the Jacksonville Suns (20-31; 53-68) at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Tuesday night and then held on for a 9-6, series-opening win.
The Biscuits' offense supported an outstanding start by Jason Cromer (5-2), who was perfect until allowing back-to-back singles with one out in the fifth inning. An error by shortstop Neil Walton in the sixth inning cost him two unearned runs, but he departed with Montgomery still holding a 9-2 advantage.
Montgomery scored five runs against Jacksonville starter Danny Muegge (0-4) in the second inning. The Biscuits sent every hitter to the plate in the inning and collected five hits, of which the biggest was Josh Asanovich's two-run double.
The Biscuits chased Muegge the following inning by opening the frame with four consecutive hits, including a two-run homer by Rhyne Hughes (12).
Kieran Mattison pitched four solid innings of relief to diffuse the Biscuits' hot start but did surrender solo homers to Gaby Martinez (19) and Rashad Eldridge (4).
Things were different for the Suns after Cromer (6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) departed. They touched Ryan Reid for four runs on four hits in the seventh inning to make it 9-6, with back-to-back two-run singles by Ryan Rogowski and Ivan DeJesus. Colter Bean helped to liberate Reid from a jam in the inning but caused a jam of his own the following inning by plunking the first two batters to bring the tying run to the plate.
Closer Neil Frontz, a Jacksonville native, would mollify the situation by escaping the inning and throwing a perfect ninth for the save to loud cheers. Frontz, who attended Jacksonville University, had left 119 tickets for friends and family.
The Mississippi Braves were rained out in Mobile, moving the Biscuits to just one game behind the South Division leaders.
Heath Rollins makes his Biscuits debut in game two of the series, Wednesday night at 6:05 Central Time. Jacksonville will counter with former big-league lefty Eric DuBose.
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