Tight Contest Ends In 2-1 Shuckers' Defeat

In a game that featured just two scoring innings, the Biloxi Shuckers (57-58, 23-25 2nd Half) fell 2-1 to the Chattanooga Lookouts (50-67, 16-32 2nd Half) on Saturday night at MGM Park.

LHP Brandon Knarr worked out of a jam in the second inning to keep the Lookouts off the scoreboard. The lefty issued three walks with one out to load the bases but got a strikeout of Daniel Vellojin and a groundout from Michael Siani to leave the bags full. The two outs kicked off a stretch where Knarr retired 13 of 14 batters from the second through the sixth.

Biloxi had a scoring chance in the second inning but was unable to push across a run. Thomas Dillard worked a walk to start the frame and Felix Valerio followed with a single to right, but RHP Eduardo Salazar coaxed a double play ball for the first two outs in the inning. Yeison Coca earned a walk to put men on the corners before a groundout ended the threat.

The Shuckers broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fifth. Gabe Holt and Brent Diaz notched back-to-back singles and a fielding error loaded the bases with one out for Cam Devanney. The Shuckers’ shortstop was hit by a pitch, forcing in a run to make it 1-0 Biloxi. RHP Michael Byrne entered for Chattanooga and retired the next two batters, leaving the bases full and the Shuckers holding a one-run lead.

In the top of the sixth, Knarr retired the first two batters in order, but back-to-back singles put the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second. Biloxi’s southpaw struck out Quincy McAfee, leaving both runners on to polish off six scoreless innings with six strikeouts for Knarr.

Chattanooga charged back to take the lead in the top of the eighth inning on three singles and a walk, pulling ahead 2-1. After RHP Spencer Stockton (W, 2-2) retired all six batters he faced in the seventh and eighth, RHP Pedro Garcia (S, 11) entered in the ninth for Chattanooga. Diaz doubled to the left-field gap with two outs and was replaced by Terence Doston as a pinch runner. Corey Ray then earned a walk to put the winning run on base, but a lineout to deep center by Devanney brought the ballgame to a conclusion.

Biloxi concludes their series against Chattanooga on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader. Game One begins at 2:35 pm as RHP Justin Jarvis is set to make his Double-A debut for the Shuckers against Lookouts RHP Connor Phillips (0-4, 6.18). Both games will be seven-inning contests with game two starting approximately 30 minutes after game one. LHP Nick Bennett (6-10, 5.36) is scheduled to start Game Two while LHP Andrew Abbott (5-6, 5.70) takes the mound for the Lookouts. Gates open at 2:00 pm and one ticket grants entry to both games. The games can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard locally on WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9 or online here. Individual tickets, Shuck Nation Memberships, Flex Plans and group outings are available for the 2022 season by calling (228) 233-3465 or visiting biloxishuckers.com.

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:

The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers are members of the Southern League and 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.