Jake Gatewood powered an eighth inning three-run home run to untie Monday night's game, as the Biloxi Shuckers (25-13) downed the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (16-22) by a count of 4-1. RHP Zack Brown tied a career-high dealing seven innings while allowing a single run.The game began with a 21-minute rain
Jake Gatewood powered an eighth inning three-run home run to untie Monday night's game, as the Biloxi Shuckers (25-13) downed the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (16-22) by a count of 4-1. RHP Zack Brown tied a career-high dealing seven innings while allowing a single run.
The game began with a 21-minute rain delay in the bottom of the first inning. The duration of the showers were short enough to leave the tarp off the field. Once play resumed, Brown and a pair of Cincinnati Reds rehabbers went to work on a damp night. Brown held the Blue Wahoos scoreless through his first six innings, while RHP Anthony DeSclafani retired all nine batter he faced in his first game action of 2018. After DeSclafani, RHP Michael Lorenzen tossed a scoreless fourth in his rehab frame.
In the top of the sixth, Shed Long took Brown deep by banging a bullet off the right field foul pole. The righty then allowed a single and a walk with nobody out when pitching coach Dave Chavarria made a timely mound visit. Brown then struck out Gavin LaValley and ended the inning with a 5-4-3 double play off the bat of Aristides Aquino.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Shuckers put their rally together with two outs. Gatewood singled up the middle, and Mitch Ghelfi lashed a single off the bag at first, moving Gatewood to third. Clint Coulter then bounced a ball to third. Taylor Sparks tried to go the short way to second base to end the inning, but the ball bounced out of the mitt of Long, allowing Gatewood to score the tying run.
One frame later, with RHP Jesús Reyes (L, 0-7) on the mound, Corey Ray reached with a one-out walk. After Troy Stokes Jr. was retired on a fly ball to centerfield, the Blue Wahoos elected to intentionally walk Lucas Erceg to get to Gatewood. The Shuckers' first baseman took exception and boomed the first pitch into the left field netting for a three-run home run to put Biloxi up 4-1.
Prior to the home run, LHP Quentin Torres-Costa (W, 1-1) dealt a scoreless eighth. RHP Nate Griep (S, 15) slammed the door in the ninth with a 1-2-3 frame to earn his MiLB-leading 15th save.
With a 2-1 series lead, the Shuckers send RHP Adrian Houser (0-0, 4.34) to the hill to oppose Pensacola's RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (1-5, 5.45). On Brew Crew Tuesday presented by Miller Lite, there are $3 Miller Lites, $4 brats and the Shuckers featured Brew Crew Snack attack.
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.
