Zavolas' Quality Start Helps Shuckers To Series-Opening Win

Needing to win to extend their chances at a first half South Division Title, the Biloxi Shuckers (31-31) got a quality start and used timely offense to defeat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (33-26) 5-3 on Tuesday night at MGM Park.

Sal Frelick kicked off the bottom of the first inning with a triple to right field but came out of the game after appearing to injure his lower body while heading to third. Terence Doston replaced Frelick and scored on a single to left by Joey Wiemer, making it 1-0 Biloxi.

Who else but Joey Wiemer! Sal Frelick leadoff triple, Wiemer drives him in! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/lEjm41L6ku

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) June 21, 2022

On the mound, RHP Noah Zavolas (W, 2-1) allowed just two hits and a walk through his first four frames of work. The righty struck out seven over six innings without allowing a run and was helped by Wiemer in right field, who made two home-run robbing catches, one in the third and one in the sixth.

HOME RUN ROBBERY BY @JWiems17!!! #SCTop10 #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/yRKpX1Wbog

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) June 22, 2022

Biloxi added another run in the second when Cam Devanney and Noah Campbell both singled and Doston singled to left with two outs, driving in Devanney to make it 2-0. In the third, RHP A.J. Ladwig (L, 2-1) issued his first walk of the year with the Wahoos and Jakson Reetz drove in Thomas Dillard with a two-run homer to left, his 14th of the year, vaulting the Shuckers to a 4-0 advantage.

That's a new career high for @jakson_1, his 1️⃣4️⃣the home run of the year! #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/A4VvtSYRNa

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) June 22, 2022

Zavolas ran into his only trouble of the night in the seventh. With one out, Ray-Patrick Didder reached on an error and moved to third on a single by Norel Gonzalez. A sacrifice fly by Cobie Fletcher-Vance gave the Wahoos their first run and after a double by J.D. Orr, Devin Hairston singled to right, driving home both runners to shrink Biloxi’s lead to a run at 4-3. RHP Nash Walter (H, 5) entered the game and struck out José Devers, stranding the tying run.

RHP Luis Contreras (S,1) came on in the eighth inning and benefitted from yet another leaping grab from Wiemer for the first out in the frame. Paul McIntosh then singled but Contreras worked a double play to bring the top of the eighth to a close. The Shuckers gave their reliever some breathing room when Dillard walked, stole second and came in to score on a single by Felix Valerio, pushing Biloxi back out to a 5-3 lead. Contreras returned for the ninth and worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth to earn the save.

Welcome to the NO 🚁ZONE in Biloxi. Joey Wiemer with his THIRD highlight reel catch tonight! #SCTop10 #ShuckYeah pic.twitter.com/SjYUMY3ZLR

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) June 22, 2022

Biloxi continues their six-game series against the Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night at 6:35 pm. RHP Justin Bullock (0-1, 6.75) takes the mound for the Shuckers opposite Wahoos’ RHP Eury Peréz 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.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.