Four-run second not enough as Jumbo Shrimp fall late

PAPILLION, Neb. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp scored four runs in the second inning, but were edged 6-5 on Thursday by the Omaha Storm Chasers at Werner Park.

With the score tied at five, Drew Waters started the bottom of the eighth with a double before Jumbo Shrimp (17-19) reliever Luarbert Arias walked. Arias rebounded for a strikeout and foul out. A wild pitch then bumped both runners into scoring position. On a 2-2 count, Storm Chasers (21-12) third baseman Nate Eaton checked his swing on a pitch in the dirt before running to first. He was chased by Jacksonville catcher Will Banfield. With home plate vacated, Waters sprinted in, stealing home for a 6-5 Omaha advantage.

Jacksonville put two runners on in the ninth, but could not score as Carlos Hernandez picked up his first save.

The Storm Chasers got off to the lead in their first at-bats. John Rave singled before reaching third on an error. He scored the game’s first run on a double play.

The Jumbo Shrimp struck back in the second. Banfield led off with a double and Griffin Conine walked. Jonathan Davis tied the game with an RBI single and Jonathan Guzman followed with a base hit of his own. Two batters later, an error plated Conine to put Jacksonville in front. Troy Johnston then bashed a two-run double to make it 4-1.

Omaha chipped away from there. Nick Loftin doubled with one out in the fourth. After a strikeout, Devin Mann singled him in. Tyler Gentry later led off the fifth with a home run to pull the Storm Chasers within one.

With the score still 4-3, Mann jumpstarted the seventh with a base hit, A fielder’s choice placed Eaton on first, and he stole second and third. After Gentry walked, a Cam Devanney squeeze bunt scored Eaton to tie the game. Two batters later, Rave’s RBI single brought home Gentry to again give Omaha the advantage.

The Jumbo Shrimp rallied to tie in the eighth. Tristan Gray laced a one-out double and advanced to third on a Banfield base hit. A Conine sacrifice fly equalized things at five.

Jacksonville and Omaha meet in Friday’s 8:05 p.m. ET contest. RHP Max Meyer (0-2, 9.90 ERA) starts for the Jumbo Shrimp against Storm Chasers RHP Jonathan Bowlan (4-1, 2.08 ERA). Coverage begins at 7:50 p.m. ET on ESPN 690 AM and www.ESPN690.com.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The team calls 121 Financial Ballpark home for baseball but also a wide variety of additional community focused events with a goal of providing Affordable, Family, FUN to Northeast Florida. Winners of many marketing and sales awards and recognition since the team was rebranded prior to the 2017 season, the Jumbo Shrimp continually lead the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations.