The Biloxi Shuckers (76-54, 35-25) finished off their first five-game sweep of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (63-64, 33-26) in franchise history with a 3-2 victory on Thursday night at MGM Park. The Shuckers now have a 1.5 game lead in the South Division with ten games remaining in the regular
The Biloxi Shuckers (76-54, 35-25) finished off their first five-game sweep of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (63-64, 33-26) in franchise history with a 3-2 victory on Thursday night at MGM Park. The Shuckers now have a 1.5 game lead in the South Division with ten games remaining in the regular season.
Pensacola jumped out to an immediate lead in the first. Jose Siri connected for his 12th homer of the year on the very first pitch from LHP Cameron Roegner. Roegner didn't allow another run in his three innings of work, surrendering a total of four hits while not walking a batter and striking out three.
RHP Cody Ponce (W, 7-6) took over for Roegner in the fourth and hurled three scoreless innings, allowing three total baserunners on a walk, a hit by pitch and a fielding error. Ponce was helped by a pair of double plays from his defense in the fifth and sixth.
The Shuckers finally broke through against RHP Wyatt Strahan (L, 7-11) in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Ponce ripped a double over the head of Siri in right-center field for his first career hit. Troy Stokes Jr. walked two batters later, bringing up Keston Hiura. The Brewers' number one prospect laced a 2-0 pitch into left field for a single, scoring Ponce to level the game at one apiece. Lucas Erceg followed with a single, putting the Shuckers in front 2-1.
Biloxi added on another run in the seventh with some astute base running. Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. started the stanza with a double and tagged up to third on a lineout to right by Max McDowell. Gabriel Noriega then delivered a sacrifice fly to left, plating what turned into the winning run for the Shuckers.
In the eighth, the Blue Wahoos had the first two batters reach against RHP Jon Olczak (H, 8). T.J. Friedl sacrificed the runners over with a bunt, and Mitch Nay's sacrifice fly to right drove in a Malik Colleymore to bring Pensacola within a run at 3-2. After LHP Brad Kuntz walked Scott Schebler, RHP Nate Griep (S, 33) came in to try and get the final four outs. The righty struck out Gavin LaValley to leave two runners on base and preserve the Shuckers advantage.
Pensacola mounted one final threat in the top of the ninth. Taylor Featherston reached on a dribbler up the third base line and was sacrificed to second. Chris Okey and Colleymore each followed with walks, loading the bases with one out for Siri. The Blue Wahoos centerfielder popped up in foul territory for the second out, and Griep closed out his Minor League-leading 33rd save by inducing a bounce out back to the mound by Friedl.
After winning nine of 11 games at home over the last ten days, the Shuckers now make their final road trip of the regular season to take on the Mississippi Braves. On Friday night, Biloxi is scheduled to send RHP Thomas Jankins (10-8, 4.42) to the mound against LHP Michael Mader (4-3, 4.12) for a 7:00 PM first pitch at Trustmark Park. The game can be heard locally on Cruisin' WGCM AM 1490/100.9 FM, TuneIn Radio or the MiLB First Pitch App.
The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.com. Playoff tickets and single game tickets for the Biloxi Shuckers 2018 season are on sale now and can be purchased at the MGM Park box office or over the phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Group outings and flex plans are also available and can be reserved by calling 228-233-3465 or visiting www.biloxishuckers.com.
