Jacksonville nips Mudcats

Published in Sports on August 10, 2007 1:48 PM

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Juan Gonzalez delivered a bases-loaded, two-run single in the ninth inning as Jacksonville nipped Carolina 3-2 at the Baseball Grounds on Thursday evening.

The Suns scored an eighth-inning run on a double by James Tomlin to slice the deficit to 2-1. They pushed across a pair against closer Chris Mobley (7-2) to beat the Mudcats for the ninth time at home.

After Ramon Troncoso (7-2) worked a perfect ninth, Mobley permitted a single to A.J. Ellis to begin the inning. Dunlap then hit a grounder to first baseman Psomas, whose throw caromed off of the side of Ellis' helmet into left field, putting the tying and winning runs aboard.

Carolina took a 2-0 lead against first-time Double-A starter Clayton Kershaw in the fifth when Dante Brinkley and Chase Lambin hit back-to-back homers. Brinkley homered barely over the right field wall on an 0-2 pitch, while Lambin jerked a 3-2 delivery over the left-centerfield wall.

Kershaw, who was the sixth pick in last year's draft from high school, was wobbly with his control in the first three innings, throwing more balls (31) than strikes (28), but stranding all six baserunners. Kershaw was pulled from his debut after Grant Psomas chased Tomlin back to deep center for the out just after the two homers.

Jimmy Serrano certainly deserved a better fate than the no-decision he received. Serrano only permitted a second inning double to Cory Dunlap, then proceeded to retire 14 straight batters before issuing a walk. Serrano completed seven innings and left leading 2-0.

The Suns' eighth started with Scott Nestor walking the lead-off hitter on four pitches, and was promptly relieved by Mobley. Tomlin tomahawked Mobley's 0-2 pitch up the left -field line to make it 2-1.