Late Runs Down Shuckers In Tennessee

The Biloxi Shuckers (7-10) saw a tie game fade away in the final three frames in a 7-2 defeat as the Tennessee Smokies (7-9) scored six runs late on Saturday night at Smokies Stadium.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, RHP Matt Hardy (L, 1-1) came on for Biloxi and used a double play ball to wipe out a leadoff single. Grayson Byrd and Nelson Maldonado drew back-to-back walks before Connor Myers doubled to right field, pushing across a pair of runs to put Tennessee up 3-1.

Biloxi struck back in the top of the eighth inning on a solo home run by Mitch Longo, his first of the season, to draw the Shuckers within a run at 3-2. In the home half of the frame, however, the Smokies sent eight men to the plate and scored four runs, putting Tennessee ahead 7-2.

In the top of the ninth, Payton Henry singled with one out and Chad Spanberger followed with a walk, but RHP Manuel Rodriguez induced a groundball that resulted in a game-ending double play.

After RHP Luis Contreras pitched just the first inning, LHP Cody Beckman entered for the Shuckers in long relief. The southpaw allowed a run in the bottom of the second inning but settled in and blanked the Smokies over his next three frames of work. All told, Beckman matched a career high with four innings pitched, allowing one run on four hits while walking one and striking out four.

The Shuckers drew even in the top of the fifth inning. Lucas Erceg started the frame with a single and went first-to-third on a single by Spanberger. Tyler Friis then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Erceg to knot the contest at 1-1. Biloxi did put a man at third in the top of the sixth inning, but RHP Dakota Mekkes (W, 1-0) retired the next two batters to keep the Shuckers off the board.

Biloxi concludes their six-game series with the Smokies on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm CST. RHP Noah Zavolas (0-1, 5.59) takes the mound for the Shuckers opposite Smokies’ RHP Matt Swarmer (0-0, 3.75). The game can be heard locally on Cruisin’ WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9, online here or on the MiLB App.

Individual tickets are on sale now for all 2021 Shuckers home games and promotions for May can be found here. Full Shuck Nation Membershipsand 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.