M-Braves blast by Shuckers 10-3 on Tuesday to take series
BILOXI, MS - The Biloxi Shuckers dropped their second consecutive rubber match with a 10-3 loss to the Mississippi Braves in front of a crowd of 1,990 at MGM Park on Tuesday evening. The series defeat is the second time the Shuckers have fallen in back-to-back series in their inaugural season, and first since losing to the Braves and Jackson Generals from May 6 to the 15.
The M-Braves blasted three more home runs, giving the Atlanta Braves' affiliate 11 in eight games at MGM Park, 35% over their season total of 31, in 113 games.
Despite the loss, the Shuckers maintain a 10-8 lead in the Magnolia State series and will play five more games at Trustmark Park, August 28 through September 1. Biloxi trails the M-Braves and Pensacola Blue Wahoos by 4.5 games with 25 games to play, including 15 with teams in front of them in the standings.
Biloxi (21-23) jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first. Brett Phillips (1x4, 2 R, 2B, BB, SB) started the inning with a walk, swiped second for his first stolen base as a Shucker and advanced to third on an errant throw by catcher Braeden Schleheuber. Nathan Orf (2x4, 2 RBI, R, 2B) brought the runner home with a liner to right go put the home team ahead, 1-0.
Mississippi (27-19) grabbed the lead in the fourth after Levi Hyams walked to start the frame. A single by Kevin Ahrens and a walk to KD Kang loaded the bases with nobody out for the Braves.
Hobbs Johnson (7-6) struck out Sean Godfrey for the first out of the inning, but Rio Ruiz tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center. Schleheuber doubled to center to bring home Ahrens and Kang, putting the Shuckers in a 3-1 hole.
The southpaw picked up his third quality start of the season by working the minimum six innings, and allowing the maximum of three runs. The North Carolina alum walked five and struck out four in his 21st start of the season.
The score stayed the same into the seventh until Mississippi again broke out the long ball, lifting two homeruns off of reliever Martin Viramontes (IP, 4 R, 4 H) for four runs to extend the Shuckers' deficit to six.
Drew Gagnon (2.0 IP, 3 R, 3 H, BB, 4 SO) made his second appearance since being transferred to Biloxi in the eighth, and the Braves greeted him with a three-run shot off the bat of Matt Lipka to increase the lead to 10-1.
Mississippi came into the series with just 23 homeruns as a team coming into the five-game set, and ended up hitting eight in the five games against Biloxi at MGM Park.
The Shuckers used three doubles in the home-half of the eighth to bring in two runs and cut into the Braves' lead. Phillips started things off with a double. Two batters later, Orf drove in his second run of the game with the second double of the inning for Biloxi. Victor Roache (2x3, RBI, 2B, BB) drove in Orf with a double to center to bring the Suckers within 10-3.
Biloxi welcomes the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to MGM Park for the first time ever to start a five-game series beginning on Wednesday. RHP Jorge Lopez (10-5, 2.62) will start the opener for the Shuckers, while the Blue Wahoos send out Daniel Wright (8-8, 4.62). First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:25 p.m. on 1240-AM WGCM, 1580-AM WPMO and the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network. Fans can also listen to the game using the TuneIn Radio app or by going to www.biloxishuckers.com.
Wednesday, the Shuckers will recognize the communities of Ocean Springs, St. Martin and Vancleave with a special night of activities. For more information on contact the administrative offices at 228-233-3465.
The Shuckers season-long homestand goes through August 16, featuring Community Night's August 11-13. Saturday, August 15 is filled with promotions. The first 1,000 kids ages 12-and-under will get a souvenir baseball courtesy of the Mississippi Forestry Commission, plus a special guest appearance by Smokey Bear. Also, August 15 is Bark in the Park, a pet friendly day out at MGM Park, courtesy of Mars PetCare and Pedigree, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers and the South Mississippi Humane Society. Bring your four-legged friend and sit on our berm with other pet owners! Also fans will be encouraged to bring donation items that will go towards helping all the fur babies at the Humane Society of South Mississippi. The night also includes the most famous bat boy in baseball, Breakin' BBoy McCoy, who will bring his dance moves and act that has taken the country by storm.
In addition to purchasing tickets at the MGM Park Box Office or CLICKING HERE, fans may also use the options listed below from Ticketmaster. In order to purchase tickets over the phone, please call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. The MGM Park Box Office does not process any phone sales. All phone sales must be made through Ticketmaster with the number provided
In order to purchase tickets online, please visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.BiloxiShuckers.com. Tickets may also be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets. Please visit www.ticketmaster.com for additional locations in your area. ** There are no refunds or exchanges for individual game tickets**