Shuckers Fall In Extras To Smokies 6-5

In their first extra-innings game of the 2021 season, the Biloxi Shuckers (5-9) fell to the Tennessee Smokies (6-8) 6-5 in ten innings on Wednesday night at Smokies Stadium.

In the top of the 10th inning, Cam Devanney started as the bonus runner at second and moved to third on a one-out single by Brice Turang. Jamie Westbrook then hit a slow chopper in front of the plate and Devanney was tagged out in a rundown between third and home. Turang advanced to third base on the chopper, but was left stranded as RHP Manuel Rodriguez (W, 1-1) struck out Luis Castro.

RHP Peter Strzelecki (L, 0-2) came out for Biloxi in the bottom of the 10th and induced a groundout from Nelson Maldonado to start his outing. Unfortunately, the bonus runner Christopher Morel was able to advance to third on the groundout, putting the winning run 90 feet away. Vance Vizcaino was intentionally walked, and Conner Myers failed to execute a squeeze bunt, popping out to Castro at first for the second out. With runners on the corners, Darius Hill stepped up for Tennessee and bounced a single up the middle, scoring Morel from third to win the game for the Smokies.

Biloxi took a lead in the first inning on a solo home run by Jamie Westbrook, his first of the season, but an RBI single from Maldonado in the bottom of the second squared the contest at 1-1. Castro reached in the top of the fourth with one out on a hit by pitch and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt by RHP Erich Uelman. Alexander Palma drove in Castro with an RBI double, and after moving to third on a groundout, Palma came in to score on the second wild pitch of the inning by Uelman, putting Biloxi ahead 3-1.

Tennessee needed just three batters to reclaim the lead in the home half of the fourth. LHP Leo Crawford hit Tyler Payne with a pitch and walked Andy Weber, bringing up Morel, who hit a three-run homer to left, his second of the year, to claim the first lead of the night for the Smokies at 4-3.

The Shuckers tied the game without the aid of a hit in the top of the sixth when Turang walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, tagged up on a fly out and scored on another wild pitch, knotting the contest at 4-4. Biloxi would take the lead again in the top of the seventh inning thanks to the bottom of the lineup. Lucas Erceg started the inning with a flair double down the left field line and was replaced by pinch runner Mitch Longo. Payton Henry lined a single to right in the next at bat and Devanney plated Longo from third on a sacrifice fly, giving the Shuckers a 5-4 advantage.

LHP Nathan Kirby (BS, 1) came on to pitch the seventh and ran into early trouble, walking Hill before Levi Jordan doubled in front of Miguel Amaya, who hit a sacrifice fly to right field that drove in the tying run. RHP Jake Cousins came on and stranded runners on the corners as part of a fifth consecutive scoreless appearance for the righty.

Turang gave the Shuckers a chance to take the lead in the top of the eighth when he started the frame with a double, his first extra-base hit of the year. After RHP Dakota Mekkes retired the next two batters, Turang stole third with Palma batting, his fifth steal in as many nights. Mekkes was able to induce a groundout from Palma, ending the Shuckers scoring threat.

Biloxi continues their six-game series against the Smokies on Thursday night at 6:00 pm CST. RHP Bowden Francis (2-0, 3.48) is set to take the mound for the Shuckers opposite Smokies’ RHP Javier Assad (0-1, 4.76). The game can be heard locally on Cruisin’ WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9, online here or on the MiLB App.

Individual tickets are on sale now for all 2021 Shuckers home games and promotions for May can be found here. Full Shuck Nation Membershipsand Half Shell Shuck Nation Memberships, flex plans and group outings are available by calling 228-233-3465 and selecting Option 3.

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 are members of the Double-A South. For more information, please visit biloxishuckers.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.