Shuckers Held To Trio Of Hits in 3-1 Defeat

The Biloxi Shuckers (52-51, 18-18 2nd Half) were held to just three hits in a 3-1 loss to the Rocket City Trash Pandas (60-55, 19-17 2nd Half) on Thursday night at MGM Park.

In his home debut, LHP Robert Gasser worked out of a jam in the first inning. Gasser walked the first batter he faced and an RBI double from Zach Neto gave the Trash Pandas a 1-0 lead. Gasser would walk two of the next three batters to load the bases but struck out Torii Hunter Jr. and got a groundout from Kevin Maitan to limit the damage.

Biloxi replied in kind in the home half of the first. Andruw Monasterio drew a one-out walk and Tristen Lutz also earned a free pass two batters later to put a pair of runners on for Cam Devanney. The Shuckers’ designated hitter doubled to left, scoring Monasterio to knot the game at 1-1.

Gasser settled in over his next three innings, allowing just one base runner on a hit by pitch. The southpaw retired ten in a row after loading the bases in the first and 11 of the final 12 he faced, surrendering just one run on one hit while striking out five.

Rocket City took the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a single by Neto and a two-run homer by Logan O’Hoppe off of Shuckers’ RHP Arnaldo Hernandez (L, 5-2), moving the Trash Pandas in front 3-1.

The Shuckers best scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the fifth. Jason Lopez worked a one-out walk and moved to second on a groundout. Monasterio followed with a walk, ending the night for LHP Ky Bush. Garrett Whitley greeted RHP Sean McLaughlin (W, 2-3) with an infield single, loading up the bases, but the righty struck out the next batter to end the threat.

RHP Carlos Luna kept Biloxi within striking distance, giving up just one hit and not walking a batter over 3.1 scoreless innings of relief. The Shuckers’ comeback efforts were stymied by RHP Luke Murphy (H, 10), who issued just a walk in two scoreless innings for Rocket City.

In the bottom of the ninth, Shuckers’ first baseman Thomas Dillard drew a one-out walk, his 68th of the season, moving him past former Shuckers’ OF Brett Phillips for the most walks in a single season in franchise history. LHP Eric Torres (S, 15) retired the next two batters though to close out the ballgame.

Biloxi and Rocket City continue their six-game series on Friday night at MGM Park. LHP Brandon Knarr (1-4, 4.61) is set to take the hill for the Shuckers against Trash Pandas’ RHP Sam Bachman (0-0, 2.01) for a 6:35 pm first pitch. The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard locally on WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9 or online here. 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.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.