Warren Drives In Six Across Two Games As Shuckers Split Doubleheader
In their series opening doubleheader, the Biloxi Shuckers (57-57, 23-24 2nd Half) dropped game one 4-2 to the Chattanooga Lookouts (49-67, 15-32) before launching five home runs as part of an 11-5 victory in game two on Friday night at MGM Park. Game One: Chattanooga struck for the first run
In their series opening doubleheader, the Biloxi Shuckers (57-57, 23-24 2nd Half) dropped game one 4-2 to the Chattanooga Lookouts (49-67, 15-32) before launching five home runs as part of an 11-5 victory in game two on Friday night at MGM Park.
Game One:
Chattanooga struck for the first run in the game with a solo homer to left by Elly De La Cruz in the top of the first inning, his eighth of the year at Double-A, giving the Lookouts a 1-0 advantage.
Doubles for Dillard! The Shuckers' first baseman smokes this one the other way to tie the contest in the third! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/BqvDQk9DAC
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) August 26, 2022
Biloxi was able to tie the game and take a lead in the bottom of the third. Corey Ray led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on a walk to Garrett Whitley. Thomas Dillard roped a double off the left-field wall, scoring Ray easily to square the contest at 1-1. Tristen Lutz was then hit by a pitch and ultimately taken out of the game with Terence Doston replacing him, loading up the bases for Zavier Warren. The Shuckers third baseman lifted a fly ball that was caught at the wall in straightaway right, narrowly missing a grand slam but bringing in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1 Shuckers.
Missed it by thhaat much. @ZavierWarren nearly hits a grand slam, but instead drives in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/kn1guuN3gF
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) August 26, 2022
LHP Robert Gasser (L, 1-1) struck out eight over his first five innings of work but allowed a solo home run to right by Daniel Vellojin in the fifth to even the game at 2-2. The Shuckers’ lefty allowed a single and a walk to begin the top of the sixth and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, but Gasser struck out the next hitter and induced a ground ball to third for what appeared to be the final out. A fielding error on the grounder allowed a run to score and a soft single to right from Allan Cereda drove in another run, pushing Chattanooga to a 4-2 lead.
The Shuckers were able to put the tying run on base in the bottom of the sixth inning. Felix Valerio and Gabe Holt strung together back-to-back one-out singles against RHP Ryan Nutof (H, 6,) but the Lookouts’ righty induced a pair of flyouts to strand both runners and maintain Chattanooga’s lead. RHP Pedro Garcia (S, 10) pitched a scoreless seventh to secure the save for the Lookouts.
Game Two:
RHP Victor Castañeda pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, thanks in part to a diving catch in centerfield by Whitley. In the home half of the first, Devanney worked a one-out walk and Whitley launched an opposite-field homer to right, his fourth with Biloxi, to make it 2-0 Shuckers.
Have yourself an inning, Garrett Whitley!
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 27, 2022
The @Brewers OF makes a diving grab in center and then swats a two-run homer for the @BiloxiShuckers: pic.twitter.com/1ArJ6g4ip1
The Shuckers stole a run in the bottom of the second inning. Yeison Coca singled to start the frame and a Holt single to right moved Coca to third. With Corey Ray batting, Holt stole second, and when the throw went to second, Coca broke for home, successfully executing a double steal to make it 3-0 Shuckers.
What's better than one steal?
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) August 27, 2022
How about a double steal, including swiping home! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/4EwvYcubBm
Castañeda worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the third, striking out De La Cruz, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Matt McLain in order to keep the Lookouts off the board. Biloxi’s bats delivered three more runs in the bottom of the third when Whitley drew a one-out walk and Felix Valerio singled up the middle before Zavier Warren homered to right, his first home run at Double-A, lifting Biloxi to a 6-0 lead.
What a job by El Lobo!
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) August 27, 2022
Victor Castañeda gets out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the Lookouts off the board in the third! 🐺#ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/h36Dr9EkgD
HE WILL NOT BE DENIED THIS TIME!
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) August 27, 2022
Home run #1 at Double-A for @ZavierWarren doubles Biloxi's advantage in the third! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/uD0KPbFfHI
Chattanooga pulled within a pair in the top of the fifth inning, striking for four runs on five hits including a pair of solo home runs, chasing Castañeda with one out in the inning. RHP Robbie Baker (W, 1-0) entered for Biloxi and struck out the two batters he faced in the top of the fifth, maintaining Biloxi’s 6-4 lead.
One of four errors by the Lookouts helped Biloxi widen their lead again in the bottom of the fifth. Whitley walked to begin the frame and Dillard reached on a fielding error before the pair executed a double steal, advancing to second and third with one out. Warren lifted a single into right field that drove in both runners to make it 8-4 Shuckers.
.@ZavierWarren drives home TWO more! He now has driven in FIVE runs in game two, SIX between both games tonight! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/hsjr93FdGo
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) August 27, 2022
Baker allowed just a single run in the top of the sixth, and solo home runs by Ray, Devanney and Dillard gave the Shuckers an 11-5 lead. RHP Luis Contreras hurled a 1-2-3 top of the seventh to close out the victory for Biloxi.
First up: Corey Ray with an oppo 🌮! pic.twitter.com/4uARIJOr0j
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) August 27, 2022
From great defense to offense, @camdevanney drops to a knee to LAUNCH this homer, going back-to-back with Ray! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/rBHPfwmsEn
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) August 27, 2022
And last (for now?), @thomas_dillard7 makes it 3️⃣ in the inning as he blasts a solo homer to left! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/Ea1GPgAl6j
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) August 27, 2022
Biloxi continues their series against the Lookouts on Saturday night at MGM Park. LHP Brandon Knarr (1-6, 4.38) is set to take the mound for the Shuckers while Chattanooga is scheduled to counter with RHP Eduardo Salazar (6-9, 5.56) for a 6:35 pm first pitch. 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.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.