Mudcats fall to Jacksonville

Published in Sports on May 22, 2007 1:46 PM

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A.J. Ellis' sacrifice fly capped an eighth-inning rally and Jacksonville edged Carolina 4-3 on the Baseball Grounds diamond Monday afternoon.

Carolina reliever Blake McGinley issued two walks to the first three batters he faced in the eighth. Scott Nestor took over and yielded a run-scoring single to Marshall McDougall.

Ellis followed with his sacrifice to right field, which plated pinch-runner Chin Lung Hu.

McGinley remained winless in four decisions and ruined a masterful start by teammate Jesus Delgado. Delgado retired the final 14 batters he faced on just 42 pitches in a seven-inning stint -- his longest of the season.

The Mudcats (17-28 overall) jumped ahead 1-0 on Chase Lambin's two-out, RBI double that scored Grant Psomas.

Jacksonville (25-20) tied the game 1-1 and nosed ahead 2-1 in the third on McDougall's double. That was the Suns' last hit against Delgado.

Carolina pushed ahead 3-2 in the fifth by stringing four straight singles against Ramon Troncoso. Jose Campusano and Dante Brinkley singled to start the rally, then were knocked in on consecutive hits from Lambin and Psomas.

Jacksonville won the series 4-1.

The Mudcats begin a five-game home series tonight against Birmingham. Daniel Barone (1-2, 3.21 ERA) is scheduled to start. Game time is 7:15 p.m.