Shuckers Outslug Blue Wahoos in 9-6 Triumph

PENSACOLA, FL - The Biloxi Shuckers (62-43, 21-14) launched four homers to counter three from the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (54-49, 24-11) in a 9-6 victory at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Saturday night. Corey Ray hit his league-leading 22^nd homer of the season while Troy Stokes Jr. went yard twice in the game.
For the third straight game, the Shuckers plated a run in the top of the first inning, thanks to a single by Lucas Erceg and throwing error from Aristides Aquino, allowing Keston Hiura to score from third to make it 1-0 Biloxi.
The Blue Wahoos took their only lead in the game in the bottom of the second. Aquino hit a solo home run to left, his 14^th of the season, to knot the game at one. Two batters later, Gavin LaValley put Pensacola in front with a solo home run to centerfield, his ninth of the year. RHP Trey Supak (W, 2-6) responded by striking out the next four batters in order, part of a seven-strikeout night for the Biloxi starter.
In the top of the fourth inning, Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. put the Shuckers back in front with a two-run blast to left, his fourth of the season and third on the Shuckers road trip, vaulting Biloxi back in front 3-2. Stokes connected for his first home run of the night in the fifth, leading off the inning with a blast to left off LHP Seth Varner (L, 5-2). Varner would depart in the fifth after loading the bases, only for RHP Robinson Leyer to force in a run with a walk to Tyler Heineman. Trent Grisham finished the scoring in the frame with a sacrifice fly, putting the Shuckers up 6-2.
Pensacola would score a run in the fifth, sixth and seventh, staying within striking distance. Biloxi kept pace with another Stokes home run in the sixth, and a two-run blast from Ray in the top of the eighth, pushing the Shuckers back out to a 9-5 lead. 
Biloxi's bullpen came up with the necessary outs in the eighth and ninth innings. After a leadoff home run by Cassidy Brown in the home half of the eighth, RHP Josh Uhen walked Mitch Nay and hit Jose Siri with a pitch, bringing the tying run to the plate. LHP Brad Kuntz (H, 2) struck out the first batter he faced before Taylor Fetherston singled, loading the bases. With All-Star Shed Long at the plate, Kuntz induced an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play that preserved the Shuckers lead.
In the ninth, RHP Nate Griep (S, 27) created his own trouble, issuing a pair of walks and a single, but struck out two to lock down his league leading 27^th save of the year.
The Shuckers continue their five-game series with the Blue Wahoos on Sunday night at 5:05 PM. Biloxi is scheduled to send RHP Luis Ortiz (2-4, 3.92) to the mound against Blue Wahoos RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (8-8, 4.27). The game can be heard locally on Cruisin' WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9, TuneIn Radio or the MiLB First Pitch App.
Single game tickets for the Biloxi Shuckers 2018 season can be purchased at the MGM Park box office or over the phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Playoff tickets, half-season tickets, flex plans and group outings are also available and can be reserved by calling 228-233-3465 or visiting www.biloxishuckers.com.