Lutz' Late Homer Vaults Shuckers To 6-5 Victory 

For a second straight night, the Biloxi Shuckers (2-0) played a back-and-forth contest with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (0-2) and used a late home run by Tristen Lutz to win 6-5 on Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Trailing 5-4 going to the top of the ninth, Felix Valerio led off the frame with a single. Lutz then stepped to the plate and worked a 2-2 count before launching a two-run homer over the left field wall, his second in as many nights, to put the Shuckers ahead 6-5. LHP Andrew Nardi (L, 0-1) walked two of the next three hitters but stranded both with a pair of strikeouts.

RHP Nash Walters (W, 1-0), who had recorded the final out in the eighth, returned for the ninth and issued a lead-off walk to Ray-Patrick Didder. The designated hitter for the Wahoos stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error, putting the tying run at third with no outs in the inning. Cobie Fletcher-Vance popped out to shallow center field and Walters retired the next two hitters on a strikeout and a groundout to secure the win for Biloxi.

The Shuckers jumped out to a lead in the top of the second inning. Noah Campbell singled in his first Double-A at bat and two hitters later Valerio drilled a two-run homer to left, his second of the season, giving Biloxi a 2-0 advantage. Pensacola responded with a two-run homer of their own from Fletcher-Vance, his first of the season, to knot the game at 2-2.

Biloxi used a two-out rally to reclaim the lead in the top of the third. Garrett Mitchell singled to right and was awarded third on a failed pickoff throw to first. Joey Wiemer then ripped a double down the left-field line, easily scoring Mitchell to give Biloxi a 3-2 lead.

Valerio and Lutz combined to stretch the Shuckers’ lead in the fourth when Valerio walked, stole second, moved to third on a throwing error and scored on a single by Lutz. Though he didn’t factor into the decision, LHP Andy Otero allowed just two runs over four innings and struck out eight.

Pensacola pulled within a run on a solo homer by Santiago Chavez in the sixth, his first of the year. The Wahoos would go in front in the home half of the seventh thanks to two hit batsmen, two walks and an infield single.

With a series victory in hand, the Shuckers can sweep the Wahoos in the series finale on Sunday at 4:05 pm. RHP Victor Castaneda is set to start for the Shuckers opposite Wahoos’ RHP Bryan Hoeing. The game can be heard locally on WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9 or online here. Biloxi then returns to MGM Park for their home opener against the Mississippi Braves on Tuesday, April 12 at 6:35 pm. 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.