Lutz' Late Homer Comes Up Short As Wahoos Walk Off Shuckers 9-8

The Biloxi Shuckers (23-24) tied their game against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (23-21) in the ninth but ultimately fell 9-8 in walk-off fashion on Friday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Trailing 8-5 heading to the ninth, Felix Valerio started the frame with a single off RHP Eli Villalobos (W, 2-1; BS,1) and Jakson Reetz was hit by a pitch in the ensuing bat, bringing the tying run to the plate. After Thomas Dillard flied out to deep center field, Tristen Lutz hit a game-tying three-run homer over the right-field wall, his seventh of the season and second in as many days, evening the score level at 3-3. Cam Devanney singled to put the go-ahead runner on base, but the Shuckers were unable to advance Devanney to scoring position. In the home half of the ninth, RHP J.T. Hintzen (L, 3-3) retired the first batter he faced but the next two batters walked, and Troy Johnston singled to right field to drive in the winning run.

The Shuckers jumped out to a lead in the top of the first inning. Sal Frelick was hit by a pitch and stole second base before Valerio worked a walk. Reetz doubled to right, driving in both runners to give Biloxi a 2-0 lead three batters into the ball game. Dillard roped a single to right to score Reetz in the next at bat and Lutz worked a walk to move Dillard into scoring position. Yeison Coca singled in Dillard to cap the scoring in the first and give the Shuckers a 4-0 lead.

RHP Victor Castañeda allowed two runs in the second and one in the fifth but turned in five quality innings on the night, surrendering just two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven.

With the Wahoos trailing by just a run in the sixth, Devanney gave the Shuckers some breathing room with a solo home run to center field, his second in as many days and seventh of the season, extending the Biloxi lead back to 5-3. Reetz doubled to start the seventh inning and stole third but was left stranded on a pair of strikeouts and a fielders’ choice. Pensacola took the lead with a five-run bottom of the seventh, sending 10 men to the plate in the frame.

Seeking their second win in the series, the Shuckers continue their six-game tilt with the Wahoos on Saturday night at 6:05 pm. RHP Noah Zavolas (0-1, 10.13) gets the start for Biloxi against Pensacola RHP Jeff Lindgren (0-1, 3.86). The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard locally on WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9 or online here. Individual tickets, Shuck Nation Memberships, Flex Plans and group outings are available for the 2022 season by calling (228) 233-3465 or visiting biloxishuckers.com.

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:

The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers are members of the Southern League and play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.