Jumbo Shrimp explode for club record 20 runs in win

NORFOLK, Va. – Charles Leblanc, Lewin Díaz and JJ Bleday all homered Saturday as the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp used a nine-run sixth inning to score 20 runs – the club’s most in a game in recorded history, which dates back through 2005 – en route to a 20-9 rout of the Norfolk Tides from Harbor Park.

Coming off a five-run fifth inning in which the Tides (25-28) batted around, Norfolk led 6-5 when Lorenzo Quintana singled and Leblanc walked to begin the sixth. After a strikeout, Bryson Brigman singled to load the bases. An error plated a run to tie the game before Peyton Burdick’s two-run single put the Jumbo Shrimp in front at 8-6. A pair of wild pitches by Tides reliever Michael Baumann (0-4) allowed two more runs to score. The right-hander walked both Díaz and Jerar Encarnacion before getting replaced by Conner Greene, who walked Bleday to load the bases. Quintana then added a sacrifice fly before Leblanc crushed a three-run home run to make it a nine-run inning – the most for Jacksonville since plating nine in the ninth inning on July 27, 2021 at Charlotte.

The Tides scored a run on a Kyle Stowers sacrifice fly in the sixth and added a pair in the eighth on an RBI single by Robert Neustrom and bases-loaded walk by Rylan Bannon.

With the score 14-9, Greene got the first two outs of the ninth inning before an error put Brigman on second. Brian Miller registered an RBI triple before Burdick drew a free pass. Díaz followed by cranking a two-run shot. Encarnacion then walked, which set up Bleday’s two-run bomb to get the score to 20-9. The Jumbo Shrimp compiled their 20 runs on only 12 hits, earning 10 walks and benefitting from three Norfolk errors in the win.

Miller and Burdick began the first inning with walks. After a pair of outs, Bleday, who drove in four, smashed a two-run double for the game’s first runs.

The score remained that way until the fourth inning, when Neustrom singled in a run to halve the Jacksonville lead.

In the top of the fifth, Erik González and Brigman singled before advancing to second and third on a Miller sacrifice bunt. A Burdick walk loaded the bases and two batters later, an error scored all three runs to make it 5-1.

The lead, though, was short-lived. Patrick Dorrian doubled and Dylan Harris walked to begin the Norfolk half of the fifth. A Richie Martin single loaded the bases for Cadyn Grenier, who lifted a sacrifice fly to left. Two batters after that, Jacob Nottingham put the Tides within one with a two-run double. Consecutive walks by Jumbo Shrimp reliever Andrew Nardi (1-0) set up Anthony Bemboom’s two-run single that put Norfolk in front at 6-5.

Jacksonville goes for a series win in Sunday’s 1:05 p.m. contest. RHP Bryan Hoeing (4-1, 3.90 ERA) starts for the Jumbo Shrimp against Tides LHP DL Hall (0-1, 4.86 ERA). Coverage begins at 12:50 p.m. on ESPN 690 and ESPN690.com.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by general manager Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marked the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.