Jacksonville, FL --- Juan Gonzalez hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the fifth inning to spur the Jacksonville Suns past the Carolina Mudcats 9-7 at the Baseball Grounds on Thursday night.

Trailing 5-3 entering the inning, the Suns (16-18) scored a run against Mudcats starter Brett Sinkbeil, then with the bases loaded, Gonzalez unloaded on a 2-0 pitch into the right field bleachers to give the Suns the lead over the Mudcats (19-15). Lucas May would hit a solo homer in the sixth against reliever Jeff Gogal in the sixth to extend the lead to 9-5 before the Mudcats attempted a rally.

Carolina scored twice in the seventh, but could not convert on bases loaded situations in the fifth and sixth, stranding three baserunners in each inning.

Sinkbeil (L, 1-4) allowed 13 hits over 4 2/3 innings to absorb the loss, while Marlon Arias (W, 3-2) collected his second straight win thanks to five innings and a his first pro hit, a two-run bloop single in the second.

Carolina scored three times against Arias in the first, and after the Suns sliced the lead to one, the Mudcats reassumed a three-run lead in the third. John Raynor went 2-2 with three walks to lead the Mudcats, which also saw Manuel Mayorson, Chris Coghlan and Andy Jenkins collect two hits apiece. Carlos Martinez pitched two shutout innings, fanning five.

The Mudcats remained four games behind first-place Huntsville despite the loss, and will play the rubber game of the series against the Suns on Fridya night at 7:05 PM ET. Willie Glen starts for the Mudcats against Jesus Castillo.