Jacksonville takes opening game in Memphis 7-4

Banfield, Bride knock in multiple runs in win

Will Banfield knocks in two runs in Jacksonville's 7-4 win over Memphis Tuesday afternoon. (Wyatt Lucovsky/Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp)

By Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

June 18, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Will Banfield and Jonah Bride both knocked in multiple runs as the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp opened their six-game set with a 7-4 win over the Memphis Redbirds Tuesday afternoon at AutoZone Park. After falling behind in the first, Jacksonville (32-38) took the lead in the fifth and

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Will Banfield and Jonah Bride both knocked in multiple runs as the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp opened their six-game set with a 7-4 win over the Memphis Redbirds Tuesday afternoon at AutoZone Park.

After falling behind in the first, Jacksonville (32-38) took the lead in the fifth and never looked back. Griffin Conine opened the inning with a double off Memphis (36-34) starter Nick Raquet (L, 0-3). Troy Johnston grounded out in the following at-bat but Conine advanced to third. Will Banfield continued his hot hitting with a double, plating Conine to tie the game at one. A flyout pushed Banfield to third, and Jonathan Davis drove him in with a two-out base knock giving the Jumbo Shrimp a 2-1 advantage.

Jacksonville never looked back, building on their lead in the sixth. Javier Sanoja led off with a walk and stole second with one out. Bride walked and Conine laced a base hit to center, scoring Sanoja for a two-run lead. Bride went to second on the single and scored on a base hit from Johnston to make the score 4-1.

Trailing 4-1, the Redbirds responded in the bottom of the sixth. César Prieto reached on an error to start the inning and Thomas Saggese followed with a base hit. With runners on first and second, Nick Dunn ripped a single to load the bases. After a pitching change, Nick Raposo laced a two-run single off Jacksonville reliever George Soriano cutting the deficit to 4-3.

After a scoreless seventh, the Jumbo Shrimp bats went back to work in the eighth. Sanoja started the inning with a bunt single and Victor Mesa Jr. followed with a base hit. With two runners on, Bride smacked a two-run double, pushing the lead to 6-3. Two batters later, Johnston singled advancing Bride to third and Banfield drove in Bride with a base hit pushing the advantage to 7-3.

The Redbirds tried to mount a rally in the ninth but fell short. With one out, Matt Koperniak doubled and Luken Baker drew a walk. Two batters later, Thomas Saggese plated Koperniak with a base hit to make it a three-run game, 7-4. Nick Dunn singled in the next at-bat to load the bases. As the winning run, Alfonso Rivas III grounded out to end the game.

Jacksonville and Memphis continue the series Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. ET from AutoZone Park. The Redbirds will hand the ball to RHP Gordon Graceffo (7-5, 4.11). Coverage begins at 7:50p.m. ET on ESPN 690 and espn690.com.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The team calls 121 Financial Ballpark home for baseball but also a wide variety of additional community focused events with a goal of providing Affordable, Family, FUN to Northeast Florida. Winners of many marketing and sales awards and recognition since the team was rebranded prior to the 2017 season, the Jumbo Shrimp continually lead the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations.