[Via email from the Montgomery Biscuits' broadcaster Jon Laaser.]The Biscuits recorded their first ninth inning comeback victory of the season, plating three runs in the ninth inning to stun the Jacksonville Suns, 6-5, on Sunday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Leading 5-3 entering the ninth inning, the Suns summoned Matt Peterson, the Southern League saves leader. With one out in the inning, Desmond Jennings cracked a single to bring the tying run to the plate. Jennings advanced on a groundout from Brandon Chaves, as the Biscuits were down to their final out. Fernando Cortez flared a single to score Jennings and keep the Biscuits alive as Matt Fields came to the plate. Fields sent a ground ball behind the bag at second base that Tim Torres got to, but threw into the Biscuits dugout. That sent Cortez to third and Fields to second for Rashad Eldridge. Eldridge rifled a double up the alley in right-center field to score both runners and the Biscuits had stolen the lead, 6-5. The error on Torres was one of four miscues on the night for the Suns.
With the lead, the Biscuits called on Paul Phillips. Phillips earned his second save, allowing a couple of base runners, but retiring Logan Morrison on a ground out to second base to end the ballgame.
The Biscuits first grabbed the lead with a run off of Suns' starter Willie Glen in the third inning. Glen walked Jason Bowers to start the inning before Jennings forced him at second, but reached on the back end. Chaves then cracked an RBI triple to the alley in right-center field as Jennings raced around from first base to make it 1-0.
The lead was short-lived for Montgomery as Kevin Randel interupted a string of six consecutive batters retired for Biscuits' starter Chris Mason with a single to lead off the third inning. Mason retired the next two batters, but with two outs Bryan Petersen belted a two-run home run to the bleachers in right field and gave the lead to the Suns, 2-1. Mason then walked Lorenzo Scott, and he scored when Fields couldn't handle a throw from Nevin Ashley on Morrison's tapper in front of the plate.
Montgomery came right back in the fourth with the aid of two defensive miscues from the Suns. Rashad Eldridge reached on a throwing error to start the inning on shortstop Klosterman. A batter later, Drew Anderson doubled to put runners at second and third with one out. Ashley grounded to short to score Eldridge with Anderson staying at second. He advanced to third when Bowers sent a ball back to the mound that was misplayed by Glen. Jennings then sent a come-backer that again Glen couldn't field. It was ruled a single and Jennings was awarded an RBI as Anderson scored to tie the game, 3-3.
The Suns reclaimed the lead and chased Mason with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Mike Stanton doubled to start the inning and scored the go-ahead run a batter later as Lee Mitchell singled him home. Mitchell advanced to second on a wild pitch and Klosterman gave the Suns a 5-3 lead and chased Mason with a double to score him.
Mason didn't factor in the decision, turning in his longest outing of the season and allowing six hits and five runs -- three earned -- over 5 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits and five runs -- three earned. Glen also didn't factor in the decision, allowing three runs -- one earned -- while striking out six.
Rayner Oliveros (2-0) earned the win for the Biscuits, turning in 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief following Mason into the ballgame into the sixth inning. He allowed just one hit and struck out two.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 11:05 AM on Monday afternoon at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. LHP Brandon Mann (4-4, 4.62) will make the start for the Biscuits against LHP Graham Taylor (4-5, 3.69) for the Suns.
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