Jacksonville fall 11-2 in finale with Norfolk 

NORFOLK, Va. – Despite tying the game in the top of the third, the Norfolk Tides scored 10 unanswered runs and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp fell 11-2 Sunday afternoon.

Norfolk (84-53, 36-27) regained the lead in the bottom of the third and never looked back. With one out, Jackson Holliday drew a walk against Jacksonville (67-70, 35-28) reliever Archie Bradley (L, 0-2) and Colton Cowser singled. Holliday went to third and Coby Mayo (10) clubbed a three-run home run to give the Tides a 4-1 advantage.

The lead grew for the Tides in the bottom of the fourth. Lewin Díaz walked to start the inning and Maverick Handley doubled. After a pitching change, Joseph Rosa doubled home both runners off Jumbo Shrimp right-hander Eli Villalobos. Holliday grounded out and Rosa scored in the next at-bat off a single from Cowser to give Norfolk a six-run advantage, 7-1.

After a few scoreless frames, Norfolk added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh. Daz Cameron singled, stole second and advanced to third on an error. Josh Lester and Díaz walked to load the bases. Handley smacked an RBI single, and Rosa grounded out but drove in a run to give the Tides a 9-1 lead. With runners on second and third, Holliday drove in Handley for a 10-1 Norfolk lead.

Jacksonville’s second run came in the top of the eighth. Jacob Amaya led off with a double and went to third on a base hit by Troy Johnston. With runners at the corners, Peyton Burdick hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Amaya to cut the deficit to 10-2.

Norfolk’s final run came in the bottom of the eighth. Heston Kjerstad started with a base hit and went to second when Josh Lester was hit by a pitch. Díaz laced a double, scoring Kjerstad to increase the lead to 11-2.

The Tides took the early lead in the bottom of the first. Holliday led off with a double and went to third on a passed ball. Cowser hit a sac fly, to score the first run of the game.

The Jumbo Shrimp tied the game in the top of the third. Charles Leblanc led off with a single and went to second on a fielding error charged to Norfolk second baseman Rosa. Brian Miller reached on the error and C.J. Hinojosa reached on the second error of the inning to load the bases. Two batters later, Amaya drew a walk that scored Leblanc to even the game at one.

The Jumbo Shrimp return home for a six-game series with the Gwinnett Stripers starting Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. It’s the final Community First Credit Union Two-for-Tuesday. Community First Credit Union members can get a two-for-one ticket special by using their CFCU credit or debit cards at the Miller Electric Box Office. Join the Jumbo Shrimp as well as Sight & Sound Productions as they partner with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund for Childhood Cancer Awareness Night.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by general manager Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marked the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.