Sweep Complete As Shuckers Shutout Blue Wahoos

The Biloxi Shuckers (40-25) finished off the series sweep over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (36-29) with a 6-0 shutout victory on Tuesday at MGM Park, extending their lead to four games atop the South Division. Bowden Francis (W,3-4) was nearly untouchable, striking out a career-high 12 hitters over six innings while the offense struck for a pair of multi-run frames. 
Francis repeatedly set down hitters out of the gate with six straight strikeouts, punching out the side in the second inning and retiring the first eight hitters of the contest. Batterymate Max McDowell put Biloxi on the board with a solo home run in the third inning off Andro Cutura (L,1-3). With the 1-0 lead, Francis stepped back to the mound in the fourth, struck out the side, and proceeded to work through six scoreless innings and earn his third win of the season. Francis surpassed his past career high mark with his eleventh of the game, a fifth inning punch out of Caleb Hamilton.   
Cooper Hummel helped pad the lead with a two-run single after back-to-back walks to Bruce Caldwell and C.J. Hinojosa started the fifth. Jake Gatewood doubled home Hummel and Cutura was lifted from the game after allowing four earned runs through five complete innings. 
Biloxi's bullpen took control of the game in the seventh and utilized Devin Williams for two scoreless innings while Luke Barker closed out matters in the ninth. Two more runs crossed against Adam Bray in the eighth as Weston Wilson doubled in Gatewood and Caldwell singled home Wilson to cap the score at 6-0. The series sweep is the first for the Shuckers on the season and extends the club to 15 games above .500, the highest mark of the season.   
The Shuckers now head north to conclude the first-half schedule with five games against the Jackson Generals beginning Wednesday at 6:05 pm CT. Biloxi will send RHP Alec Bettinger (4-4, 4.25) to the mound and Jackson's starter is still to be announced. The game can be heard locally in Biloxi on Cruisin' WGCM AM 1240/100.9 FM, TuneIn Radio or the MiLB First Pitch App and can be seen on MiLB.TV. Fans can save $10 off their subscription when they use the promo code 'Shuckers' at checkout.
Full Season Shuck Nation memberships, Weekender Shuck Nation memberships and Group Outings for the 2019 Biloxi Shuckers season are on sale now and are available for purchase by calling 228-233-3465, online at biloxishuckers.com or by visiting the MGM Park front office. Biloxi will host the 2019 Southern League All-Star Festivities, with a Home Run Derby on Monday, June 17 and the All-Star Game at 6:35 pm on Tuesday, June 18 at MGM Park. Tickets for 2019 All-Star Events are on sale now.
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 and will host the 2019 Southern League All-Star Game on June 18. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.