Valerio Walk-Off Single Snaps Shuckers' Skid

Castañeda Strikes Out Career High 10 Batters

Felix Valerio delivered the walk-off hit for the Shuckers to top the Barons on May 10 at MGM Park (Photo - Mike Krebs)

By Garrett Greene/Biloxi Shuckers

May 11, 2022

An RBI single by Felix Valerio gave the Biloxi Shuckers (13-15) a 7-6 win in their series opener against the Birmingham Barons (11-17) on Tuesday night at MGM Park. The win snapped the Shuckers seven-game losing streak.

Tied at 6-6 in the ninth, RHP Matt Hardy (W, 1-0) worked around a one-out single to pitch a scoreless frame. In the home half of the inning, Freddy Zamora drew a lead-off walk and was cancelled out on fielder’s choice by Garrett Mitchell. With Joey Wiemer batting, Mitchell stole second and the decision was made to intentionally walk Wiemer. RHP Yoelvin Silvan (L, 0-1) pitched to a full count to Valerio before the Shuckers’ second baseman lifted a single into left, scoring Mitchell from second to win the game for Biloxi.

WE LOVE FELIX VALERIO WALK OFFS!!! #SHUCKYEAH pic.twitter.com/3FBxyruBd8
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) May 11, 2022

The Shuckers had a commanding lead for most of the contest. RHP Victor Castañeda ended up not factoring into the game but turned in one of the best starts of his career. The righty retired the first eight men in order, including striking out seven in his first three frames of work. He allowed just two hits and a walk and finished his evening by retiring the final eight hitters, including a strikeout of Tyler Neslony to end the sixth. All told, Castañeda hurled six scoreless innings and struck out ten batters, a new career high.

CAREER HIGH 10 K's for Victor Castaneda!

His line: 6.0 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 10 K pic.twitter.com/EdqPr3KDnv
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) May 11, 2022

Biloxi built a picket fence as they scored a single run in the second, third, fourth and fifth. A Noah Campbell single drove home the first run and Thomas Dillard worked a walk with the bases loaded in the third to force in another. In the fourth, Campbell worked a lead-off walk and scored on an RBI double down the left-field line by Gabe Holt, widening the Shuckers’ advantage to 3-0.

In the fourth, Wiemer was hit by a pitch to start the inning and stole second base. He advanced to third on a groundout and stole home while Jakson Reetz was caught in a rundown, the second successful steal of home by Wiemer this year. The outfielder added on another run in the bottom of the sixth when he launched a home run to left, his fifth of the season, to put Biloxi up 5-0. Valerio was hit by a pitch in the ensuing at bat and a Dillard double to left scored Valerio to give the Shuckers a 6-0 advantage.

Home cooking for @JWiems17! The outfielder launches his 5️⃣th homer of the year! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/9KGo4Ca1g9
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) May 11, 2022

Birmingham stormed back to tie the contest with a six-run sixth, aided by five Shuckers’ errors, four hits and a hit-by-pitch. Of the six runs allowed by the Shuckers on Tuesday night only one of them was earned.

In a quick turnaround, the Shuckers and Barons square off again at 11:05 am on Wednesday morning. LHP Nick Bennett (1-2, 5.25) is scheduled to start for the Shuckers opposite Birmingham RHP Scott Blewett (1-1, 4.42).The game 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.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.

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