BayBears hold of Jacksonville, 2-1

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WALA) - The Mobile BayBears picked up a 2-1 victory over the Jacksonville Suns Monday afternoon at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. With timely situational hitting and strong pitching from left-hander Tyler Skaggs and the BayBear bullpen, Mobile extended their lead in the South Division to two full games.

Skaggs the Suns off balanced all afternoon, not allowing a hit through the first four innings. The BayBear starting pitcher left the game after seven innings, giving up five hits, just one unearned run and recorded seven strikeouts en route to his first win of the 2012 season.

The bullpen backed Skaggs' effort when righty Kevin Munson entered the game in the eighth, striking out two of the three batters he faced in a perfect inning. Right-hander Evan Marshall continued the strong pitching, keeping the Suns off the scoreboard in the ninth inning to earn his fifth save of the season.

Mobile scored first with one run in the third inning. Skaggs helped himself, hitting a two-out double then scored the game's first run when Archie Gilbert cracked a ground-rule double to left field.

The Suns evened the score in the fifth inning, but the BayBears came through with the game winning run in the top of the eighth. With the bases loaded and one out, Brent Clevlen's sacrifice fly allowed Archie Gilbert to score and put the BayBears on top 2-1.

The BayBears and Suns continue their series Tuesday night at 6:05 PM. RHP Derek Eitel (2-2) will start for Mobile. RHP Zack Neal (2-3) will take the hill for Jacksonville. Mobile will return home Friday, May 11, to play host to the Chattanooga Lookouts with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM, with a "Concert in the Sky" fireworks show following the game.