Sweep Avoided As Francis and Company Silence Generals

Bowden Francis (W, 4-4) was nearly untouchable on Sunday afternoon tossing shutout ball as the Biloxi Shuckers (41-29) avoided a series sweep with a 4-0 win over the Jackson Generals (39-31) at The Ballpark at Jackson. The Shuckers 12th shutout victory of the season also puts an end to seven consecutive losses to the Generals dating back to the 2018 Southern League Championship Series. 
C.J. Hinojosa scored the first run of the game in the second inning after doubling off Joel Payamps (L, 1-2). Max McDowell rolled a ball to third and Drew Ellis skipped a throw past first allowing the run to score. Galli Cribbs Jr. tripled off of Francis in the bottom of the second inning, was stranded aboard, and wound up being the final base runner of the game as Shuckers pitching was perfect the rest of the way. 
Francis worked around the triple striking out three in the second and punching out the side once more in the third. The right-hander retired 16 hitters in a row to complete seven scoreless innings while striking out ten hitters along the way and not issuing a walk. Sunday marked the second straight start for Francis with at least ten strikeouts. 
Two more runs scored for Biloxi in the sixth inning when Bruce Caldwell hit a ball through first baseman, Ramon Hernandez. Caldwell only picked up on RBI due to the fielding error as Luis Aviles Jr. and Cooper Hummel crossed to make it a 3-0 game. Facing new reliever Tyler Mark, C.J. Hinojosa hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to cap the score at 4-0. 
Out of the Biloxi bullpen, Marcos Diplan and Cody Ponce each tossed a 1-2-3 inning to close the game with a stretch of 22 consecutive batters retired.     
The Shuckers now host the Southern League Home-Run Derby and Southern League All-Star game at MGM Park June 17th and 18th before starting the second half Thursday with five-game homestand against the M-Braves. Starters are still to be announced for Thursday's game. The Southern League All-Star Game 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.
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.