Lutz' Late Heroics Salvage Shuckers Victory
Tristen Lutz drove in four runs in the final two innings as the Biloxi Shuckers (12-18) topped the Montgomery Biscuits (12-17) 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at Riverwallk Stadium. Biloxi’s offense exploded for 14 hits, the most in a game for the Shuckers this season. With the game knotted at 3-3,
Tristen Lutz drove in four runs in the final two innings as the Biloxi Shuckers (12-18) topped the Montgomery Biscuits (12-17) 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at Riverwallk Stadium. Biloxi’s offense exploded for 14 hits, the most in a game for the Shuckers this season.
With the game knotted at 3-3, Mitch Longo led off the top of the eighth inning with a triple to the left-field gap. Lutz then connected for a two-run homer to right field off RHP Joel Peguero (L, 0-4), his fourth of the year, to put Biloxi ahead 5-3.
After RHP Zach Vennaro (W, 1-0) worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth, the Shuckers padded their lead in the top of the ninth. Brice Turang and Payton Henry both singled, and after Longo flied out, Lutz doubled to right field, driving home both runners to extend the Shuckers advantage to 7-3.
LHP Ethan Small turned in his second consecutive dominant outing, allowing just two hits in 5.2 scoreless innings of work. The southpaw issued just two walks and immediately induced a double play after both free passes. The lefty was in line to finish six frames before a rain delay with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning cut his outing short after 75 pitches. Small still pitched a career high 5.2 innings and struck out eight, giving him 19 strikeouts over 10.2 scoreless innings during his two starts this week against Montgomery.
Biloxi jumped out to a lead in the second inning thanks to the middle of the lineup. Longo and Lutz both singled to start the inning and sacrifice fly by Spanberger drove in Longo to put Biloxi up 1-0. Brent Diaz drove in another run in the top of the fourth on a single to left and Tyler Friis gave Biloxi a 3-0 lead with a sacrifice fly two batters later. Longo, Turang and Lutz all finished with three hits in the ball game. For Turang, it extended his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest streak for a Shuckers’ hitter this season.
Montgomery tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a pair of fielding errors and a wild pitch, spoiling Small’s shot at the win.
After an off day on Monday, the Shuckers return to MGM Park to begin a six-game series against the Mississippi Braves on Tuesday night. RHP Noah Zavolas (2-1, 4.76) is set to take the mound for Biloxi opposite M-Braves’ LHP Hayden Deal (1-2, 3.97) for a 6:35 pm first pitch. 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 June 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.