Burdick's Blast Sinks Shuckers Again

A late home run by Peyton Burdick helped the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (31-21) top the Biloxi Shuckers (16-36) 6-3 on Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

After a pitchers’ duel between Shuckers’ RHP Noah Zavolas and Blue Wahoos’ LHP Will Stewart, Biloxi trailed 1-0 heading to the top of the seventh inning. RHP Jose Mesa Jr. (W, 2-0, BS,3) walked the first batter he faced, and Gabriel Garcia followed with a double, putting the tying run at third for Biloxi. After a strikeout of Jesus Lujano, Brent Diaz connected for a no-doubt home run to left, his third of the season, giving Biloxi a 3-1 lead. The home run extended Diaz’ hitting streak to seven games after he had already extended his on-base streak to a Shuckers’ season best 17 games earlier in the contest.

RHP Braden Webb (L, 2-4, BS,4) entered to pitch in the bottom of the seventh for the Shuckers. Devin Hairston doubled to start the inning, and after a foul out by Galli Cribbs Jr., Victor Victor Mesa drew a walk, bringing Burdick to the plate as the go-ahead run. Webb worked a 2-2 count against Burdick before the Wahoos’ designated hitter connected for a three-run homer to center field, his 13th of the season, to put Pensacola in front 4-3. It’s the second go-ahead homer for Burdick of the season against Biloxi after the Wahoos’ outfielder hit a go-ahead grand slam at MGM Park on May 28. Pensacola added another run in the bottom of the seventh to stretch their lead to 5-3.

Biloxi mounted a two-out comeback in the top of the eighth inning. Alexander Palma singled, and Chad Spanberger followed with a sharp single to right off RHP Dylan Bice (S,1), bringing up Garcia. The Shuckers’ third baseman struck the ball sharply to third but in the range of Riley Mahan who speared it in flight for the final out. Bice struck out the side in the ninth to close out the game for Pensacola.

The Shuckers best early scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the third. Aguilar was hit by a pitch, one of four hit batters on the night by Stewart, and advanced to second on a single by Cam Devanney. A fielder’s choice by Brice Turang put men on the corners with two outs, but Stewart induced a foul out to stymie the Shuckers threat.

Zavolas allowed his lone run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning on a wild pitch. Over six frames, the righty surrendered just three hits and walked three while tying a season high with eight strikeouts.

Biloxi closes out their six-game series against the Wahoos on Sunday afternoon at Blue Wahoos Stadium. LHP Nick Bennett (1-4, 5.46) is scheduled to take the hill for Biloxi opposite Wahoos’ RHP Max Meyer (4-1, 1.84) for a 4:00 pm first pitch. The game can be heard locally on Cruisin’ WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9.

Individual tickets are on sale now for all 2021 Shuckers home games and promotions for July can be found here. Full Shuck Nation Memberships and Half Shell Shuck Nation Memberships, flex plans and group outings are available by calling 228-233-3465 and selecting Option 3.

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:

The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi and are members of the Double-A South. For more information, please visit biloxishuckers.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.