Biloxi Holds On For 6-5 Win Over Lookouts

Despite allowing a four-run bottom of the eighth, the Biloxi Shuckers (29-30) held on for a 6-5 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts (31-30) on Friday night at AT&T Field.

Holding a 5-1 lead going to the top of the eighth, the Shuckers started the frame with a double by Cam Devanney, his second hit of the night. Devanney moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single from Noah Campbell, pushing the Shuckers to a 6-1 lead. The Shuckers would load the bases on a fielder’s choice, a single and catcher’s interference but left the bases full on back-to-back strikeouts.

In the home half of the eighth inning, RHP Kent Hasler retired the first batter he faced but allowed a single and a walk. Hasler then induced a ground ball, but a throwing error allowed a run to score and put two men on with still only one out. Michael De Leon reached on another error that pushed in a run, cutting the Shuckers lead to 6-3. RHP Zach Vennaro (S, 5) came in to try and get the five-out save and struck out the first batter he faced, but a double by Alex McGarry drove in two runs to pull Chattanooga within a run at 6-5. Vennaro induced a groundout to strand the tying run at second and preserve Biloxi’s lead going to the ninth.

Thomas Dillard doubled to begin the ninth for the Shuckers but was left stranded on base. Vennaro returned for the home half of the ninth inning and sat down the first two batters in order before Michael Siani tripled to right field, putting the tying run just 90 feet away. Lookouts’ shortstop Matt McLain fell behind against Vennaro and lifted a fly ball down the right-field line that Joey Wiemer caught in foul ground, sealing the win for the Shuckers.

Joey called GAME! With the tying run at third base, the Brewers No. 2 prospect leaped over the railing to end the contest! #SCTop10 | #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/Lk3fLHzMwZ

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) June 18, 2022

Biloxi’s offense struck first in the top of the third inning. Gabe Holt started the frame with a single and RHP Eduardo Salazar (L, 4-6) walked Yeison Coca, flipping the lineup card back over to Sal Frelick. The Shuckers’ outfielder flied out to right, advancing Holt to third, and the Shuckers’ second baseman raced in to score on a fielder’s choice by Wiemer, putting Biloxi up 1-0. Pedro Severino then singled and Dillard doubled, plating the second run of the inning to put the Shuckers up 2-0.

Joey Wiemer legs this one out to drive in the first run of the game! 🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/p7GtHyalGo

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) June 18, 2022

Now it's @thomas_dillard7 with a double to the gap to put the Shuckers up 2-0! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/16c4IaStQV

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) June 18, 2022

LHP Nick Bennett (W, 3-5) pitched out of a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the first and allowed just one run in the bottom of the third inning on a wild pitch. The southpaw polished off five frames by retiring the final five batters in a row, part of a six-strikeout performance.

The Shuckers added on a run in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Holt and pushed across another pair in the top of the sixth when Holt singled, Coca doubled and Frelick singled to left, driving in both runners to move the Shuckers in front 5-1.

After the Lookouts get one back, @GabeHolt2 drives in a run to push the Shuckers back out to a 3-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/Mw4dBvrda8

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) June 18, 2022

Sal Frelick drives home two and extends his on-base streak to 16 games! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/IFU8VqGkim

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) June 18, 2022

Seeking a series win, the Shuckers continue their six-game tangle with the Lookouts on Saturday night. RHP T.J. Shook (1-0, 5.73) is slated to take the mound for Biloxi against Lookouts LHP Andrew Abbott (4-1, 3.19) for a 6:15 CDT first pitch. The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard locally on WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9 or online here. Individual tickets, Shuck Nation Memberships, Flex Plans and group outings are available for the 2022 season by calling (228) 233-3465 or visiting biloxishuckers.com.

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:

The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers are members of the Southern League and play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.