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Down To Final Strike, Reetz' Walk-Off Homer Stuns M-Braves

Monasterio Drives In Three While Tying Franchise Record
(Photo - Mike Krebs)
June 30, 2022

In a game that featured six lead changes, the Biloxi Shuckers (36-33, 2-0 2nd Half) hit a two-out walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to down the Mississippi Braves (29-42, 0-2 2nd Half) 7-6 on Wednesday night at MGM Park. In the top of the ninth,

In a game that featured six lead changes, the Biloxi Shuckers (36-33, 2-0 2nd Half) hit a two-out walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to down the Mississippi Braves (29-42, 0-2 2nd Half) 7-6 on Wednesday night at MGM Park.

In the top of the ninth, RHP Zach Vennaro (W, 3-0; BS, 2) entered for the Shuckers holding a 5-4 advantage. Drew Lugbauer singled to center and Yariel Gonzalez followed with a two-run homer to right, his eighth of the year, putting the M-Braves up 6-5. Vennaro retired the next three in order to send the game to the bottom of the ninth.

RHP Justin Maese (L, 0-4; BS,2) came on for the M-Braves in the home half of the ninth and sat down the first two hitters he faced. Thomas Dillard then ripped a single into right, putting the tying run on base for Jakson Reetz. Two days after being named the Southern League Player of the Week, Reetz fell behind 1-2 before blasting a walk-off homer to left, his league-leading 16th of the year, winning the game for the Shuckers. It was Biloxi’s ninth walk-off win of the year, their third of this home stand and fifth in their last 13 home games.

The teams traded runs in the first inning, as C.J. Alexander hit a two-run homer with one out to put the M-Braves up 2-0. In the home half of the inning, Noah Campbell lead off with a walk and Andruw Monasterio blasted a game-tying two-run homer to left, his first homer with the Shuckers. Biloxi loaded up the bases on two singles and a walk before Yeison Coca worked a bases-loaded free pass to force in a run, putting the Shuckers up 3-2. Montasario would also single in the second, giving him six consecutive at bats with a hit, tying Garrett Cooper (2015) and Dustin DeMuth (2016) for the most consecutive at bats with a hit in Shuckers’ franchise history.

Mississippi came right back in the top of the second inning with a walk and two singles to square the game at 3-3. A Hendrik Clementina homer in the third put the M-Braves back up 4-3. The Shuckers bullpen took over with two outs in the third and kept Mississippi off the board, with RHP Taylor Floyd spinning 2.1 perfect frames, RHP Harold Chirino tossing two hitless innings and RHP Nash Walters (H,6) hurling a scoreless eighth.

The Shuckers moved back into the lead in the home half of the sixth. Coca singled with one out, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Terence Doston singled in the ensuing at bat, moving Coca to third, and Campbell tied the game with a single to center. Monasterio grounded out to third, bringing in Doston to vault the Shuckers back in front 5-4.

Biloxi continues their six-game series with the M-Braves on Thursday night at MGM Park. Seeking their fourth straight win, the Shuckers will send LHP Nick Bennett (3-6, 5.40) to the hill against Mississippi RHP Freddy Tarnock (1-2, 4.88) for a 6:35 pm first pitch. The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard locally on WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9 or online here. Individual tickets, Shuck Nation Memberships, Flex Plans and group outings are available for the 2022 season 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.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.