JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Mississippi Braves and Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp met for the 12th time in 2018 on Wednesday night, but for the first time at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The homestanding Shrimp took the series opener 3-1 to even the season series at 6-6.
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Mississippi Braves and Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp met for the 12th time in 2018 on Wednesday night, but for the first time at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The homestanding Shrimp took the series opener 3-1 to even the season series at 6-6.
The M-Braves (23-22, 52-63) lost despite the longest outing of the season and first career quality start from 29-year-old Elian Leyva (L, 2-2). Making his second straight start for the first time this season, the Lleida, Spain native, gave up two first-inning runs to give Jacksonville (18-27, 45-67) a 2-0 lead. Leyva walked leadoff hitter Braxton Lee and then struck out the next two batters. Lee swiped second base to get into scoring position and then scored on an RBI single from Brian Schales. The next batter, Joe Dunand brought home Schales with a double.
Marlins top prospect Monte Harrison led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run against Leyva and Jacksonville took a 3-0 lead.
Jacksonville starter Merandy Gonzalez W, 3-6) was stingy on the mound, limiting the M-Braves to just one run on four hits over 7.0 innings. The lone run came across in the top of the fifth inning. Gonzalez walked Travis Demeritte to start the innings and then Tyler Marlette split the right-center gap with a double scoring Demeritte to trim the deficit to 3-1.
Leyva and relievers Rex Brothers and Jason Hursh combined to shutout the Jumbo Shrimp over the final six innings on Wednesday night. Leyva finished with 6.0 innings of work and 101 pitches, scattering the three runs on six hits with one walk and matching a season-high with seven strikeouts. Gonzalez gave up one run over 7.0 innings for a third consecutive start in the win.
M-Braves leadoff hitter Cristian Pache was 1-for-3 with a walk and has hit in five of his first seven M-Braves games. Ray-Patrick Didder was 1-for-3 and has reached safely in 23 of his first 25 games in Mississippi.
The M-Braves and Jumbo Shrimp will play game two of the five-game series on Thursday night at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Fresh off his Southern League Pitcher of the Week award, RHP Enderson Franco (5-7, 3.49) starts for Mississippi against RHP Kolton Mahoney (3-7, 4.11) for Jacksonville. First pitch is set for 6:05 pm CT with coverage beginning at 5:50 pm CT on 103.9 WYAB and the free TuneIn Radio App.
The M-Braves have 10 regular season home dates remaining in 2018, with back-to-back fireworks nights, August 17-18 and August 24-25, following those Friday and Saturday home games. Promotions and tickets are at www.mississippibraves.com/tickets.
