Runaway Lead Lands Shuckers Series-Evening Win Over BayBears

Three multi-run innings from the Biloxi Shuckers (25-22) opened up an eight-run lead and eventual 11-4 victory over the Mobile BayBears (19-27) on Thursday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. The 14-hit effort came on the heels of back-to-back shutout losses and evens the first series meeting of 2019 between the two clubs at a game apiece.
Hacking out of the gate, Biloxi compiled four runs in the top of the first against Mobile starter Max Herrmann (L, 0-1) and saw the first seven batters of the inning reach base. Michael O'Neill and Luis Aviles Jr. singled while Jake Gatewood drew a walk to load the bases. Patrick Leonard singled home the first run of the game and Weston Wilson drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0. Cooper Hummel capped the inning with a two-run bouncing single into center, swelling the lead to 4-0. 
With an insuring cushion on the hill, Johan Belisario (W, 4-0) worked a scoreless first inning before allowing a solo home run to Jhoan Urena in the second inning. The Shuckers struck for two more runs in the third with an RBI double from Dillon Thomas and a sacrifice fly by C.J. Hinojosa that plated the sixth run against Herrmann to bookend his night. Thomas finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate and walked twice to reach all five times.   
Leading 6-1, Aviles broke the game open in the fourth with a three-run home run to left field against Michael Santos for a 9-1 advantage. Belisario continued to work through five but allowed an RBI double to Brandon Sandoval in the fourth and a two-run double to Brandon Marsh in the fifth. The right-hander from Venezuela struck out six to record his fourth win over his last five starts. 
Marcos Diplan and the Shuckers bullpen took over in the sixth and silenced any hope of a Bay Bears bounce back. Diplan retired three in a row while Cody Ponce fired two perfect innings, covering until the ninth. Jake Gatewood provided the double-digit swing in the sixth with a solo home run to left, his third of the year, to make it a 10-4 game. Hinojosa singled home Thomas in the eighth for the final run of the night while Aaron Kurcz stranded a man on third to conclude matters in the ninth.        
The Shuckers continue their series with the BayBears on Friday at Hank Aaron Stadium with a scheduled 7:05 pm first pitch. Biloxi will send RHP Trey Supak (4-2, 2.39) to the mound and Mobile will counter with RHP Jesus Castillo (2-4, 4.15).
Full Season Shuck Nation memberships, Weekender Shuck Nation memberships and Group Outings for the 2019 Biloxi Shuckers season are on sale now and are available for purchase by calling 228-233-3465, online at biloxishuckers.com or by visiting the MGM Park front office. Biloxi will host the 2019 Southern League All-Star Festivities, with a Home Run Derby on Monday, June 17 and the All-Star Game at 6:35 pm on Tuesday, June 18 at MGM Park. Tickets for 2019 All-Star Events are on sale now.
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 will host the 2019 Southern League All-Star Game on June 18. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.