The Biloxi Shuckers (15-9) battled back for a 5-4 win over the Birmingham Barons (11-13) on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field. With the win, the Shuckers set up a rubber match on Monday morning.Biloxi took the lead in the third thanks to timely hitting from the bottom of the lineup.
The Biloxi Shuckers (15-9) battled back for a 5-4 win over the Birmingham Barons (11-13) on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field. With the win, the Shuckers set up a rubber match on Monday morning.
Biloxi took the lead in the third thanks to timely hitting from the bottom of the lineup. Clint Coulter started the inning with a double to right and moved to third on a single by Dustin Houle. Wendell Rijo drove in Coulter with a single to center, putting the Shuckers on the board. Corey Ray followed with a fly ball to right that Eloy Jiménez dropped, recovered and threw in to second base, retiring Rijo but putting men on the corners with one gone for Troy Stokes Jr. The Shuckers left fielder bounced a ball to Matt Rose at third, who's error on the throw to first allowed Stokes to reach while Houle scored, giving Biloxi a 2-0 lead.
Shuckers starter Zack Brown (W, 1-0) kept the Barons scoreless in the bottom of the frame with some help from his defense. After a two-out double by Tito Polo, Collins laced a ball to left field, but Stokes laid out in left centerfield to haul in the ball, stealing a hit from Collins and preventing a run.
Birmingham finally got to Brown in the fifth. Ryan Brett reached on an error by Wendell Rijo, and Danny Mendick single, putting a pair of runners on base. Brown induced a lineout from Polo and struck out Collins, but Jimenez homered for the second time in as many days, giving the Barons a 3-2 lead.
Piecing together an immediate response, the Shuckers retook the lead in the top of the sixth. Stokes and Lucas Erceg singled in front of Jake Gatewood. The Shuckers first baseman worked a 12-pitch at bat, but ultimately struck out against LHP Jordan Guerrero (L, 1-2). Reliever Connor Walsh (BS, 1) entered the game, and Dylan Moore greeted him with a double off the left field wall, scoring Stokes to tie the game at 3-3. Jake Hager put Biloxi back in front with his ninth double of the season, driving in two to make it 5-3 Biloxi.
Brown came out for the sixth, but lasted just two batters, giving up a solo home run to Rose, his third of the season, and inducing a fly out to center by Mason Robbins. RHP Jon Olczak replaced Brown and forced a fly out by Basto for the second out. Brett would reach base on a wind blown double and took third on a wild pitch. Olczak struck out Polo to end the inning, keeping the Shuckers in front. Brown picked up his first win of the season after tossing 5.1 innings and allowing four runs, one earned, on seven hits while walking one and striking out six.
After a 1-2-3 inning from Olczak in the seventh, LHP Quintin Torres-Costa worked around a one-out single in the eighth, tossing a scoreless frame. The left-hander has not allowed an earned run in eight appearances out of the bullpen this season.
RHP Nate Griep (S, 8) entered the game in the ninth to seal the win for the Shuckers. Griep struck out Mendick for the first out and retired Polo on one pitch for the next out in the inning. Collins kept the Barons hopes alive with a single to right, but Jimenez struck out swinging to end the game, giving Griep his Southern League-leading eighth save of the year.
The rubber match of the Shuckers five-game series is on Monday morning at 11 am CT. Biloxi is scheduled to send RHP Adrian Houser (0-0. 5.40) to the bump against Barons LHP Ian Clarkin (2-2, 4.57). The game can be heard locally on Cruisin' WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9, on TuneIn Radio or the MiLB First Pitch App.
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.
ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:
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.
