Shuckers Smash Their Way to Fifth Straight Win
PEARL, MS – The Biloxi Shuckers (59-53, 25-18) used 13 hits and three home runs to smash their way to a 12-3 win over the Mississippi Braves (49-61, 16-26) at Trustmark Park on Friday night. The win clinched Biloxi’s seventh series win of the year and extended their win streak
*PEARL, MS *– The Biloxi Shuckers (59-53, 25-18) used 13 hits and three home runs to smash their way to a 12-3 win over the Mississippi Braves (49-61, 16-26) at Trustmark Park on Friday night. The win clinched Biloxi’s seventh series win of the year and extended their win streak to five straight games.
Shuckers’ starter TJ Shook started strong, retiring eight of the first nine batters he faced. In the third, however, an error and two singles, all with two outs, led to an unearned run off a single from Luke Waddell, giving the M-Braves an early 1-0 lead.
The Shuckers gave Shook all the support he needed in the fifth, starting with a solo home run from Felix Valerio, his fourth of the year. After singles from Jackson Chourio and Isaac Collins, Wes Clarke drove in his 63rd RBI of the year with a single to left, giving Biloxi a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Zavier Warren lined a double to left, scoring two and giving Biloxi a 4-1 lead. Shook finished off his night in the bottom of the inning, finishing with seven strikeouts over five innings while allowing an unearned run.
In the sixth, Chourio drove in his 74th RBI of the year on a fielder’s choice, tying Corey Ray’s single-season franchise record. Collins, the next batter, singled to left, scoring two and extending Biloxi’s lead to 7-0.
The offense exploded in the eighth after two scoreless innings from Shuckers’ reliever Russell Smith. Wes Clarke launched his 20th home run of the year to start the scoring in the inning, making him the fourth player in franchise history to hit at least 20 home runs in a season. Later in the inning, Ernesto Martinez gave Biloxi a 9-1 lead with an RBI single to left. Valerio then launched his second home run of the night with a three-run blast to left, extending Biloxi’s lead to 12-1. The multi-homer performance was the second of Valerio’s career, both at the Double-A level.
In the ninth, a walk and a single from Cal Conley plated two for the M-Braves, but Robbie Baker induced a groundout to second, giving Biloxi their fifth straight win. The offensive explosion marked the most scored by an opposing team at Trustmark Park this year, and the 23rd time a visiting team had scored at least 12 in the ballpark since it opened in 2005.
Shook (5-4) earned the win, his second straight in a start against the M-Braves, while starter Luis De Avila (6-8) took the loss.
Righty Christian Mejias is set to start for Biloxi on Saturday night against lefty Domingo Robles. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Trustmark Park.
The game can be heard on Cruisin’ WGCM 1240 AM, 100.9 FM with coverage beginning at 5:50 p.m. with the Biloxi Shuckers Pregame Show featuring the Mississippi Army National Guard Pregame Interview. The game can also be seen live on MiLB.tv.
Individual tickets, group outings, Shuck Nation memberships and Flex Plans for the 2023 Biloxi Shuckers season are available now 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.
ABOUT SHUCKERS BASEBALL, LLC:
Shuckers Baseball, LLC is a MS entity owned and operated by John Tracy. Shuckers Baseball operates the Biloxi Shuckers baseball franchise, including operating MGM Park for Biloxi Shuckers minor league baseball games and other entertainment and recreational events.