Comeback Win Led By Rijo Two Homer Night

After trailing 4-0, the Biloxi Shuckers (18-10) stormed back to beat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (12-15) 6-4 thanks to a pair of home runs from Wendell Rijo on Friday night. Lucas Erceg provided the go-ahead two-run shot in the seventh inning to take the lead the Shuckers would not relinquish.
RHP Zack Brown tied a career high with eight strikeouts over 6.1 innings in his start. Jacksonville's four runs all came in the third inning. After a leadoff single by Chris Diaz, starting pitcher Elieser Hernandez sent a sacrifice bunt attempt back to Brown who tried to force out the lead runner at second. The throw sailed into centerfield, and the Jumbo Shrimp took advantage. After a walk to Isan Díaz loaded the bases, Monte Harrison doubled down the left field line to score the game's first two runs. With two down, Brian Schales supplied a single to score Diaz and Harrison, handing Jacksonville a 4-0 lead.
Rijo answered against Hernandez with a solo dinger in the bottom of the third, his second of the season. One frame later, Rijo found himself at the plate with a runner at first and two outs when he turned on a hanging slider to cut the deficit to a run. The multi-HR effort is the first for Biloxi in 2018 and the second of Rijo's career (July, 2014). Rijo would add a double in the eighth to complete a three-hit night with a team-season high ten total bases.
The Shuckers left the bases loaded against RHP Kolton Mahoney in the fifth, but the game shifted in both halves of the seventh. After Brown and rehab LHP Boone Logan handed RHP Jon Olzcak (W, 2-0) a bases loaded jam with one out, Olzcak promptly retired John Norwood and Eric Jagielo to keep the Shuckers within one.
In the bottom of the inning, Troy Stokes Jr. singled to bring up Erceg, the Brewers third-ranked prospect, who sent a fastball from LHP José Quijada (L, 0-2) over the right field berm. A Jake Gatewood RBI double added an extra tally to put Biloxi up 6-4, the eventual final.
LHP Quentin Torres-Costa (H, 2) struck out a pair of batters in the eighth before giving way to RHP Nate Griep (S, 10) who was asked to secure four outs in his save effort. The league-leader in saves did just that, providing a perfect ninth inning in the process.
Having already locked up the series win, Biloxi looks to make it four in a row on Saturday night at 6:35 PM CT. RHP Adrian Houser (0-0, 7.84) goes for the Shuckers, while RHP Cody Poteet (2-1, 4.33) starts for Jacksonville. On Super Saturday, fans will receive a 2018 Team Photo courtesy of Knight Abbey while supplies last. It's also Girl Scout Night at the ballpark, which includes a pregame Girl Scout parade on the field. There will also be yard games set up outside the ballpark before the game.
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. 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. Season tickets, flex plans and group outings are also available and can be reserved by calling 228-233-3465 or visiting www.biloxishuckers.com.