September 4, 2004

Zebulon, NC - A five-run eighth staked Jacksonville to a 6-4 lead, then left fielder Sergio Garcia threw out the would-be tying run at home to end the game as the Suns defeated Carolina 6-5 at Five County Stadium on Saturday night.

Pat Flury (L, 3-4) and Mike Flannery permitted five runs in the eighth as the Suns overcame a 4-1 deficit.

In the ninth, Carolina filled the bases with two outs on a single by Josh Willingha, a double from Andy Rohleder and a walk to Dennis Anderson. Rex Rundgren drilled a single to left to bring Willingham home but Rohleder was beaten on an on-line, bounceless throw from Garcia. Rohleder, who delivered a clean hit to try to knock the ball out of catcher Edwin Bellorin's mitt, was tagged out to end the game. Bellorin then tossed the baseball toward Rohleder, which prompted a confrontation in front of home plate as both benches cleared.

The game had another moment in the eighth inning when Suns reliever Franquelis Osoria was smoked in the head by a liner hit by Matt Demarco. The game was halted for nearly 10 minutes as Osoria was treated, then carted off the field. Osoria, who never lost consciousness, was taken to the Suns clubhouse and no word was available after the game pertaining to his injury.

Nic Ungs, pursuing his league-tying 12th win, was denied his fifth straight victory despite pitching six innings on three days rest.

Carolina tied the Suns 1-1 in the fourth, then went ahead with two against Chad Billingsley in the fifth. Ryan Minor slugged his eighth homer in the seventh for a 4-1 lead.

Rohleder exteded his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games with a ninth inning double with two outs and two strikes.

Carolina continues its season-ending series Sunday at 2:00 PM ET against the Suns. Mike McNutt (3-1, 4.68) will start against Glenn Bott (4-10, 4.17).

Jacksonville 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 --- 6 12 1 11
Carolina 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 --- 5 10 1 12

WP - Steffek (4-7)
LP - Flury (3-4)
S - Montero (4)

HR - Minor (8)

Time: 3:28
Att: 3,656