Shuckers Stunned By Wahoos Four-Run Ninth

For a second consecutive night, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (24-21) walk-off the Biloxi Shuckers (23-25), claiming the contest 8-7 on Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

With the game tied at 3-3 in the eighth, the Shuckers put together a rally to go back in front. Jakson Reetz singled and moved to second when Tristen Lutz was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Yeison Coca doubled to right field, driving home two to put Biloxi up 5-3.

Pensacola responded with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, but RHP Taylor Floyd (L, 0-1; BS,1) induced a foul out double play that got the Shuckers out of the inning with a 5-4 lead.

In the top of the ninth, the Shuckers added on two more runs against LHP Jefrey Yan. Gabe Holt drew a four-pitch walk and after a flyout, Sal Frelick was hit by a pitch. The runners advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch and Felix Valerio worked a walk, loading the bases. Yan struck out Reetz but Thomas Dillard singled through the left side to drive in two runs and give Biloxi a 7-4 advantage. RHP Colton Hock (W, 4-2) entered to face Lutz who made solid contact but lined out to second to end the top of the frame.

Floyd returned for the bottom of the ninth inning and struck out J.D. Osborne to begin the inning. J.D. Orr chopped an infield single to reach and Jose Devers tripled down the right-field line, making it 7-5. Troy Johnston tied the game with a two-run homer, and after a walk and double, former Shuckers’ shortstop Luis Aviles Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to center, winning the game for the Wahoos.

As they did on Friday night, Biloxi took a lead in the first inning on a Frelick walk and two-out double by Dillard. Johnston’s first home run of the night tied the game at 1-1 in the home half of the first.

Coca put the Shuckers back in front in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run to right, his first of the year, to make it 2-1 Biloxi. The Wahoos used the long ball to even the contest again on a solo homer by Ray-Patrick Didder in the bottom of the fourth, his fifth home run of the year. The home runs to Johnston and Didder were the only two runs allowed by RHP Noah Zavolas over five frames.

A lead-off homer in the bottom of the sixth by Paul McIntosh vaulted the Wahoos back in front 3-2, but Jason Lopez hit his first home run with the Shuckers, a solo blast in the seventh, to bring the score square the game at 3-3.

Biloxi concludes their six-game series against Pensacola on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 pm. LHP Nick Bennett (2-4, 5.21) takes the hill for the Shuckers against Wahoos’ RHP Cody Mincey (3-2, 4.79). 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.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.