Six-run first spurs Shrimp by Knights

Jacksonville bests Charlotte 10-4 behind homers from Davis, Mesa Jr., Conine

Griffin Conine homered and reached base four times on Friday in Jacksonville's win at Charlotte. (Roberto Johnson/Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp)

By Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

June 7, 2024

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jonathan Davis, Victor Mesa Jr. and Griffin Conine all belted home runs and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp scored six runs in the first inning on Friday to roll by the Charlotte Knights 10-4 at Truist Field. Javier Sanoja led off the game with a base hit and

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jonathan Davis, Victor Mesa Jr. and Griffin Conine all belted home runs and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp scored six runs in the first inning on Friday to roll by the Charlotte Knights 10-4 at Truist Field.

Javier Sanoja led off the game with a base hit and Mesa Jr. walked against Charlotte (25-35) starter Shane Murphy (0-1). After a ground out, Troy Johnston doubled in a pair for the game’s first runs. Murphy then walked Will Banfield and Conine to load the bases. Marty Costes’ RBI ground out plated Johnston to make it 3-0. Davis then smashed a three-run home run to put Jacksonville (26-35) ahead by six.

Mark Payton began the bottom of the first with a base hit. After a line out, Bryan Ramos singled. A walk to Colson Montgomery loaded the bases for Chuckie Robinson, who lifted a sacrifice fly for the Knights’ first run.

Charlotte crept a little closer when Carlos Pérez led off the third with a home run to pull within 6-2.

That’s as close as the evening got. In the fourth, Jonathan Guzman walked with one out. Two batters later, Mesa Jr. went yard to widen the gap back to six.

Johnston jumpstarted the fifth with a free pass. After a strikeout, Conine crushed a two-run shot to push the margin to 10-2.

The score remained that way until the ninth. Wilmer Difo walked with one out and then Wynton Bernard hit a two-run homer to set the final score at 10-4.

Matt Andriese (1-3) earned the win with 3.0 shutout frames and three strikeouts in relief.

Jacksonville and Charlotte meet in Saturday’s 6:05 p.m. contest. RHP Shaun Anderson (0-1, 4.50 ERA) starts for the Jumbo Shrimp against Knights RHP Chad Kuhl (1-2, 4.32 ERA). Coverage begins at 5:50 p.m. on ESPN 690 AM and www.ESPN690.com.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The team calls 121 Financial Ballpark home for baseball but also a wide variety of additional community focused events with a goal of providing Affordable, Family, FUN to Northeast Florida. Winners of many marketing and sales awards and recognition since the team was rebranded prior to the 2017 season, the Jumbo Shrimp continually lead the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations.