Walk-off home run dooms Jacksonville in extras

PAPILLION, Neb. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp rallied from three runs down by scoring twice in the eighth and once in the ninth on Sunday, but they fell 6-5 in 10 innings to the Omaha Storm Chasers on a walk-off two-run home run by Ryan Fitzgerald at Werner Park.

Jhonny Pereda started as the zombie runner at second base with the score tied at four in the 10th. Omaha (24-12) reliever Steven Cruz (2-1) retired the first two batters he faced easily. Cristhian Rodriguez then grounded a ball up the middle for a base hit to score Pereda and give Jacksonville (17-22) its first lead at 5-4. It was the first Triple-A hit and RBI for Rodriguez.

With pinch-runner Drew Waters starting on second, Jumbo Shrimp reliever Emmanuel Ramirez (1-1) retired the first batter he faced in the bottom of the 10th. However, Fitzgerald clocked a two-run shot into right to win it for the Storm Chasers.

Omaha grabbed the lead initially in the second. Nick Pratto singled and Devin Mann walked to jumpstart the inning. A sacrifice bunt pushed the runners to second and third for Tyler Gentry, who clubbed a two-run double off the wall. Following a fly out, Cam Devanney’s RBI single made it 3-0.

The score remained that way until the sixth. Jonah Bride and Troy Johnston notched consecutive two-out doubles to put Jacksonville on the scoreboard.

The Storm Chasers promptly got that run back, however. Nate Eaton’s third double of the game came with one out in the seventh. After a fly out, Pratto lashed an RBI single to put Omaha ahead again by three runs.

In the eighth, Bride drew a leadoff walk. After a pair of outs, Griffin Conine smashed a two-run home run to draw the Jumbo Shrimp within one.

Jacksonville rallied to tie in the ninth. Omaha reliever Will Klein entered the game and walked the bases loaded for Bride, who lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to even the score at four.

Following Monday’s off day, Jacksonville returns home to start a six-game series with the Nashville Sounds in Tuesday’s 7:05 p.m. contest from 121 Financial Ballpark. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. ET on Bally Live, MLB.tv, MiLB.tv, ESPN 690 AM and www.ESPN690.com.

On a Forever Vets Canines and Crustaceans Dog Day, canines get in free as long as their human companion buys a ticket.

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.