Multiple Records Fall, Shuckers Clinch Series in 4-3 Win over Smokies

KODAK, TN – The Biloxi Shuckers (65-58, 31-23) saw their lineup set a new single-season franchise record for runs and the pitching staff set a new single-season record for strikeouts in a 4-3 win over the Tennessee Smokies (68-55, 32-23) at Smokies Stadium on Friday night. The win extended Biloxi’s win streak to five and clinched their first series win over the Smokies since they won three of four to end the 2021 season.

The Smokies struck first off Shuckers’ starter Carlos Rodriguez with an RBI single from Matt Shaw in the first, scoring BJ Murray from third. The Shuckers, however, used a two-run 411-foot blast to left from Jeferson Quero an inning later, taking a 2-1 lead. Tennessee responded with a two-run shot of their own, this time from Andy Weber in the bottom of the second, taking a 3-2 lead.

With one out in the third, Wes Clarke rolled a single into right, scoring Lamar Sparks and tying the game at three. The run was Biloxi’s 665^th of the year, setting a new single-season franchise record. Two innings later, Jackson Chourio smashed a 369-foot home run to left, barely regaining his balance as he shot out of the right-handed batters’ box before it disappeared over the wall. The home run, Chourio’s second in as many days, gave the Shuckers a 4-3 lead.

Pitching took control for the Shuckers, as it did with six shutout innings on Thursday. Carlos Rodriguez completed six innings on 105 pitches, a new career-high. The righty also struck out eight and ended the night with a 2.75 ERA, the best out of any pitcher in Double-A.

Russell Smith took over for the seventh and worked around a one-out triple and walk with back-to-back strikeouts, ending the inning by catching Owen Caissie looking with a fastball. Zach Vennaro entered for the eighth and retired the first two batters, but walked the next two, departing for Max Lazar with two outs.

Lazar, who had four saves in 87 professional appearances finished the inning with a swinging strikeout, tying the Shuckers’ single-season franchise record with the staff’s 1,235^th strikeout of the year. In the ninth, Lazar broke the record with a swinging strikeout to Bradlee Beesley for the first out. After a walk, Lazar induced a fielder’s choice to bring up Caissie with two outs and the tying run on first. He smashed a 111 MPH groundball right to shortstop Freddy Zamora behind second, who fired to first and earned Lazar his first Double-A save.

Rodriguez (8-5) earned the win while Smokies’ starter Walker Powell (11-6) took the loss for the Smokies.

Righty Christian Mejias is set to start for Biloxi on Saturday against righty Kohl Franklin for the Smokies. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT.

The game can be heard on Cruisin’ WGCM 1240 AM, 100.9 FM with coverage beginning at 5:45 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.