Five-run first by Biscuits dooms Shuckers in series finale
BILOXI, MS. - The Biloxi Shuckers suffered their first four-loss series of the season after dropping Monday night's contest, 9-2, to the Montgomery Biscuits at MGM Park. The Tampa Bay Rays affiliate scored five runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back. The Shuckers close the season at 4-6 against the Biscuits, including 1-4 at MGM Park. Overall, Biloxi has an 8-10 record against Montgomery, with four of the victories coming at home.
Montgomery (4-1, 38-37) used another big inning in the series to jump out in front of Biloxi, sending nine men to the plate in a five-run first for the early lead.
Braxton Lee drew a leadoff walk after forcing Brandon Woodruff to throw eight pitches to open the game. Mike Marjama followed with a double to the wall in right to put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Willy Adames drove in Lee with a line-drive single to right, and Jake Bauers lifted his eighth home run of the season onto the berm in right to put the Shuckers in a 4-0 hole.
Casey Gillaspie doubled to right for the fifth consecutive hit to start the game before Woodruff struck out Patrick Leonard for the first out. A wild pitch to Kean Wong allowed Gillaspie to advance to third. The Biscuits' designated hitter bounced out to second, scoring the runner from third for the fifth run of the frame.
Tommy Coyle added the sixth run of the game for Montgomery in the fourth with his first home run of the season.
Woodruff (2-5) worked into the sixth inning after settling down after the first inning. The former Mississippi State Bulldog would be lifted with a runner on first and two outs in the sixth for Brett Lee. The Wheeler, MS native allowed seven runs on eight hits, two walks, and tied his personal-high at the Double-A level with seven strikeouts in his 16th overall start.
Lee gave up back-to-back singles to Lee and Marjama to load the bases for Adames, who poked a two-run single to center to stretch the Shuckers' deficit to 8-0.
Biloxi (1-4, 40-34) ended the shutout with two runs in the bottom half of the sixth on a Brett Phillips (1x4, HR, 2 RBI, R) 11th two-run shot into the netting in left, to bring the Shuckers within six at 8-2. The homer was the Seminole, FL native's team-leading and Brewers organizational-leading 11th of the year.
The long ball would be the only damage done to Biscuits' starter Yonny Chirinos, as the 22-year-old allowed two runs on five hits and struck out four in his Double-A debut.
Gage Smith took over on the mound to start the seventh and allowed a run on two hits just before the stretch at MGM Park. Junior Rincon made his Double-A debut for Biloxi and retired the side in order in the eighth. Steve Peterson allowed a hit in the ninth, but did not allow a run.
Garret Cooper (1x4, 2B) extended both his hitting, and on-base streaks with his team-leading 20th double of the season in the fourth. The product of Auburn has hit safely in six straight games, while reaching base in a team-high 19 consecutive contests.
Ryne Stanek (SV, 2) earned his second save of the season for Montgomery with three scoreless frames with four strikeouts.
The Shuckers will take Tuesday off before hitting the road to Regions Field in Birmingham, Ala. to take on the Birmingham Barons for five. It has yet to be determined who will take the mound for Biloxi, while Birmingham will go with LHP Jordan Guerrero (4-3, 4.28) in the opener. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., with coverage starting at 6:45 p.m. on the Biloxi Shuckers' Radio Network's flagship station WGCM 1240 AM, 100.9 FM, Pascagoula's WPMO 1580 AM and the TuneIn Radio app.
WHAT'S ON TAP: Shuckers baseball returns to MGM Park when the club hosts the Jacksonville Suns at MGM Park, Monday, July 4th through Friday, July 8th. Celebrate a family friendly Independence Day with Shuckers baseball on the 4th, followed by a special Independence Day Patriotic Themed Fireworks Extravaganza. The sky will light up Biloxi with over 4,000 shells being fired from center field. Fans will enjoy $2 ballpark specials on Double Play Thursday, July 7th and the homestand concludes on Friday July 9th, with the first 1,500 fans receiving a Biloxi Shuckers Beach Towel, courtesy of Beau Rivage.
Tickets for individual regular season games are currently on-sale and may be purchased by visiting the MGM Park box office or any Ticketmaster outlet. Season Tickets, Shmini Plans, Group Tickets, Party Deck Tickets and Mercedes-Benz Mini Suite Tickets are available by calling the Shuckers at 228-233-3465. For more details, visit biloxishuckers.com.
About the Biloxi Shuckers:
The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and a member of the Southern League. For up-to-date news and notes throughout the offseason, visit biloxishuckers.com, follow the club on Twitter (@biloxishuckers), Instagram (@officialbiloxishuckers) or like the team on Facebook (facebook.com/biloxishuckers).