Shuckers' Arcia clubs first Double-A homer

On paper, Saturday's game between Biloxi and Pensacola should have been the start of the Shuckers' second series on their first homestand. In reality, Milwaukee's Double-A affiliate won't play a game at MGM Park for six more weeks.

Orlando Arcia is loving his time on the road.

The Brewers' top prospect smacked his first Double-A homer, doubled and scored twice as Biloxi held on for a 4-3 win at Pensacola.

"It was a good performance," Shuckers manager Carlos Subero said. "He's had a good year so far ... and he had quality at-bats tonight and hit the ball hard. Overall, tonight was another good night for Orlando."

Batting third and playing shortstop, Arcia lined to left field in the first inning, doubled off the left field wall in the third and homered to left-center in the fifth. Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2010, he was hit in the back by a pitch with one out in the seventh, then grounded to third base on the eighth pitch of his at-bat to end the ninth.

"He took two curveballs for balls and waited for a pitch that stayed middle-in," Subero said of the homer. "Off the bat, you knew it was gone. It was a no-doubter. What he did tonight and what he's done all year is lay off breaking balls that are not strikes and put himself in good hitting counts. Pitchers just aren't giving him good pitches early, but there's no chase in Orlando right now."

The outing raised MLB.com's No. 86 overall prospect's average to .458. Only Tennessee's Daniel Vogelbach (.460) and Bradenton's Jin-De Jhang (.487) have higher averages than Arcia, the younger brother of Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia.

The 20-year-old Venezuela native has eight multi-hit efforts in his first 15 games, including each of his last three contests. Arcia, who missed the entire 2012 season with a fractured right ankle suffered while sliding into second base in Spring Training, has reached base in every game and hit safely in eight straight.

What makes Arcia's numbers -- as well as the fact that Biloxi is the first Southern League team to record 10 wins -- more impressive is that the Shuckers have yet to play a game at home. The franchise relocated from Huntsville to Biloxi in the offseason, but construction delays on $36 million MGM Park means the team likely will not play at its new field until at least June 6.

That's a 55-game, 60-day road trip through eight cities before the Shuckers get to step inside their own locker room.

"We've only had 15 games so far, but it's a mind-set thing," Subero said. "We know that after five games we'll hit the road again, go to another hotel and then play on somebody else's field. I think once we're around 40 games in, then it'll be unique. But right now, the season is fresh, so you can't pick up on much. It will be interesting."

Subero said the road trip has an effect on a number of things, from practice schedules and routines to familiar food and locker room furniture.

"When you're at home, you get plenty of work in. On the road, you minimize the work load," he added. "At home, you get your early work and you have a regular routine. On the road, you get one hour, that's what the other team gives you. You try to compensate, to add a little bit more in because you're not getting that regular work, but you have to be wise because you're always going from one state to another.

"At home, you can go back to an apartment. Kids all have their own rooms, it's a privacy thing. Then you get to the stadium and you know it's your own place. You have your locker and your couch and your pregame meal. But that's baseball and we knew the situation and we can't use it as an excuse."

Catcher Parker Berberet was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Biloxi. Jaye Chapman (1-1) earned the win, working 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief.

Pensacola starter Robert Stephenson (0-2), the Reds' top prospect, gave up four runs -- two earned -- on six hits and three walks while striking out five over 5 2/3 innings.