Series Secured As Shuckers Win Third Straight In Tennessee

KODAK, TN - The home run swing was on display Friday night at Smokies Stadium as the Biloxi Shuckers (70-47, 29-18 2nd Half) pummeled three long balls to top the Tennessee Smokies (49-68, 16-32 2nd Half), 5-2. The third straight win over Tennessee secures the five-game series and also guarantees the Shuckers a fifth consecutive winning season with 70 total victories. 
Friday's game remained scoreless until the third inning when Ryan Aguilar drew a lead-off walk from Cory Abbott (L, 6-8). Tennessee's right hander recorded a pair of outs before Joantgel Segovia took him deep for a two-run home run to center field. The blast was Segovia's first in Double-A and gave the Shuckers a 2-0 advantage. 
Drew Rasmussen struck out four over 2.2 shutout innings and departed the game after walking Roberto Caro in the third. Tyler Spurlin recorded the final out of the inning and Johan Belisario (W, 9-1) entered from the bullpen in the fourth. Eddy Martinez knocked an RBI single off Belisario in the fourth and Jared Young tied the game with a run-scoring single in the sixth.  
With Abbott still working in the seventh, Weston Wilson drilled a leadoff double and came in to score on a ground-rule double from Bruce Caldwell. Abbott completed seven innings and struck out ten but departed the game with the Shuckers leading 3-2. 
Belisario and Justin Topa (H,4) held Tennessee off the board in the seventh and eighth before the offense tacked on insurance in the ninth. Cooper Hummel and Wilson bashed back-to-back home runs off Jordan Minch and secured a 5-2 lead before the Smokies final at bat. Topa recorded two outs in the bottom of the ninth before Nate Griep (S,19) entered and struck out pinch-hitter Ian Rice to end the game.  
The Shuckers continue their five-game series with the Smokies on Saturday at Smokies Stadium with first pitch at 6:00 pm CT. The Shuckers will send RHP Alec Bettinger (5-7, 3.63) to the mound and Tennessee will throw RHP Erich Uelman (0-1, 7.94). The game can be heard locally in Biloxi on Cruisin' WGCM AM 1240/100.9 FM, TuneIn Radio or the MiLB First Pitch App and can be seen on MiLB.TV. Fans can save $10 off their subscription when they use the promo code 'Shuckers' at checkout.
Half-Season Shuck Nation Memberships, Flex Plans 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. The Biloxi Shuckers will host Game 1 and Game 2 of the South Division Championship Series on September 4 & 5 at MGM Park. Tickets for all six potential playoff games at MGM Park 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. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.