Homers From Aguilar and Turang Vault Shuckers To 5-4 Win
Five early runs helped the Biloxi Shuckers (21-45) hang on for a 5-4 win over the Mississippi Braves (40-29) on Thursday night at Trustmark Park. It is the third consecutive win for the Shuckers, the first time this year the team has strung together three straight victories. After being retired
Five early runs helped the Biloxi Shuckers (21-45) hang on for a 5-4 win over the Mississippi Braves (40-29) on Thursday night at Trustmark Park. It is the third consecutive win for the Shuckers, the first time this year the team has strung together three straight victories.
After being retired in order through the first two innings, the Shuckers were able to tag RHP Bryce Elder (L, 3-1) for four runs in the top of the third. Brent Diaz drew a lead-off walk and Ryan Aguilar followed with a two-run homer to right field, his fourth of the year, giving Biloxi a 2-0 lead. Garrett Mitchell then hit a hustle double to center before Brice Turang launched a two-run blast of his own over the right-field wall, putting Biloxi ahead 4-0.
Brewers No. 2 prospect Brice Turang hammers a no-doubter for the @BiloxiShuckers. pic.twitter.com/wgfrM4IzJO
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 23, 2021
Mississippi scored a run on an RBI groundout in the bottom of the third, but LHP Nick Bennett minimized the damage to maintain a 4-1 Shuckers lead.
Biloxi got the run right back in the top of the fourth inning. Luis Castro drew a walk to start the inning, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on ground out and scored on a single to center field by Diaz, regaining a four-run advantage.
Bennett departed in the bottom of the fifth inning with two runners on base, but RHP Peter Strzelecki came out of the bullpen and stranded both runners that he inherited.
The M-Braves would move within striking distance in the bottom of the seventh inning. Strzelecki hit the first two batters he faced, and Wendell Rijo followed with a three-run homer, his ninth of the year, to bring Mississippi within a run at 5-4. RHP Robbie Hitt (W, 1-1) entered with one out and retired the two batters he was tasked with to maintain the Shuckers’ lead.
Hitt would return in the bottom of the eighth inning and walked the first man he faced before recording the next two outs. RHP Matt Hardy (S, 4) was summoned from the bullpen for a second time in three days and induced a fly out to center for the last out in the eighth before pitching a 1-2-3 inning to lock down the save.
Biloxi can win the series against the M-Braves when the two teams meet again on Friday night. RHP Lucas Erceg (0-2, 6.16) gets the start for the Shuckers against M-Braves’ RHP Freddy Tarnok (NR) for a 6:35 pm first pitch. The game can be heard locally on Cruisin’ WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9.
Individual tickets are on sale for all 2021 Shuckers home games and promotions for July and August 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.