Shuckers Deposit Three Home Runs in 5-4 Loss

The Biloxi Shuckers (64-49, 23-20) cracked three home runs in their 5-4 loss to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (45-66, 17-26) on Sunday afternoon at MGM Park. Richie Shaffer, Clint Coulter and Corey Ray all sent the ball over the wall in the loss.
With the Shuckers needing a reliever to step up for a spot start, RHP Cody Ponce (L, 6-6) went out and hurled four innings. He fell into some tough luck in the two frames in which he allowed runs.
After an error by Lucas Erceg put runners at first and second in the top of the first inning, Brian Schales collected the first of his four hits, a two-run double down the left field line. In the third, Schales singled home Braxton Lee to put Jacksonville up 3-0. With runners at second and third, Joe Dunand sent a spinning line drive to first base that hopped away from Shaffer, allowing two more runners to score. Of the five runs Ponce surrendered, only two were earned.
The Shuckers' bullpen kept the team in the game with five shutout frames. RHP Nattino Diplan spun three of the five innings followed by zeroes from RHP Josh Uhen and RHP Nate Griep.
Home runs brought Biloxi within a run down the stretch. RHP Robert Dugger (W, 4-5) sat down the first 12 batters he faced, seven via strikeout. Shaffer, the first batter in the bottom of the fifth, lifted a home run to left to put Biloxi on the board, his first home run at MGM Park. Two innings later, Coulter followed a Tyler Heineman single with a two-run bomb to left, his third in as many nights and fourth in the last six games.
Dugger lasted 6.1 innings, totaling nine strikeouts to leave in line for the win. RHP Lucas Schiraldi (H, 1) struck out the only two batters he faced in the seventh. Ray led off the eighth against LHP Miguel Del Pozo (H, 2) with his Southern League leading 23rd long ball of the season to cut the deficit to 5-4. Del Pozo recorded two outs before RHP Kyle Keller (S, 4) entered for the four-out save. Keller struck out Shaffer looking to end the eighth, and tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the win and the series for the Jumbo Shrimp.
The Shuckers will look to salvage the final game of the series on Monday night at 6:35 PM CT. RHP Thomas Jankins (9-7, 4.81) hurls for Biloxi against Jacksonville's RHP Cody Poteet (2-9, 5.94) on a Doggone Monday presented by Raising Cane's.
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.