Hader tosses a season-high seven innings, but Shuckers fall late, 4-3, to BayBears
BILOXI, MS - In true Biloxi Shuckers vs. Mobile BayBears fashion, Wednesday night's contest went down to the final innings in front of a crowd of 2,079 at MGM Park. Unfortunately for the hometown fans, the Shuckers fell, 4-3, in the 13th one-run game out of the 26 meetings between the clubs in 2015.
The loss drops the Shuckers to 2.5 games back in the Southern League South Division standings, with 11 games remaining in the regular season.
Mobile (31-26) grabbed the first run of the game after a one-out double by Sean Jamieson in the top of the first inning. Two wild pitches to Jack Reinheimer by Josh Hader allowed the runner to score and put the Shuckers down, 1-0.
Biloxi's (30-28) deficit would not last long as the Shuckers struck for three in the home-half of the first.
Yadiel Rivera (0x3, R, BB) walked to start the first and Orlando Arcia (2x4, R, 2B) singled the runner up to second and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Tyrone Taylor (2x3, HR, 3 RBI, R, 2B) came up two outs later and launched a three-run homer to left-centerfield to give the Shuckers a 3-1 advantage.
The homer for Taylor were his first since hitting long balls in back-to-back games on June 9-10, vs. Mobile at MGM Park. Taylor had a double later in the game and the two extra-base hits matched his August total, during the first 21 games this month.
Hader kept the lead going into the fourth, but a solo homerun for Jamieson cut the Biloxi lead to one. Another solo shot for Mobile in the sixth, off the bat of Reinheimer knotted the game at three.
The 21-year-old southpaw turned in his longest outing since June 9, 2014 with seven innings. The Maryland native allowed three runs on six hits, one walk and six strikeouts, tallying four of those six in his final two frames. The outing was the starting rotations 10th over the last 15 games and 53rd on the season, which is more than the overall win totals of Jacksonville and Jackson.
Braden Shipley (9-9) took over for starter Zack Godley and allowed just two hits over six innings for Mobile, while striking out seven on just 72 pitches.
Yhonathan Barrios (1-2) allowed two base runners in the eighth, but left the runners stranded. The righty got the leadoff man in the ninth on a groundout, but gave up a single to Gabriel Guerrero. With Ronnie Freeman at the plate, Guerrero stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Parker Berberet. Freeman went down looking, setting the table for pinch hitter Tom Belza, who doubled to center to plate the go-ahead run.
Josh Fellhauer (1x4) singled to lead off the ninth against Daniel Gibson (SV, 1) and made it to second on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor. Nick Ramirez (1x4, 2B) would strike out swinging and Victor Roache (0x4) flew out to right to end the game.
Nathan Orf's (0x4) 14-game on-base streak was snapped with a hitless performance.
The Shuckers will look to take the rubber match from the BayBears on Thursday night at MGM Park before heading up to Pearl, Miss. RHP Tyler Wagner (10-5, 2.21) will toe the rubber for Biloxi, while the BayBears will send out RHP Gabriel Arias (4-1, 1.69). 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.
Thursday is Picayune and Kiln Community Night: These communities will be recognized throughout the night and also be able to use unique promo codes for ticket specials. Contact the Shuckers administrative office for more details or to book a group at 228-233-3465.Promo Codes for residents: Picayune: PIC27 | Kiln: KIL27 (codes expire at midnight on 8/26)
A total of six regular season games remain on the home schedule, featuring the current five-game series' against the BayBears (ARI), Aug. 23-27 and Tennessee Smokies (CHC), Sept. 3-7. There will be post-game fireworks following the final Saturday and Sunday games of the regular season, Sept. 5-6. The 2015 regular season ends on Labor Day, Monday, September 7.
Playoff Tickets On-Sale: Biloxi Shuckers Southern League South Division Series playoff tickets are on sale now to the general public. Fans can purchase playoff tickets online through biloxishuckers.com, ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000 or visiting the MGM Park box office. The Southern League South Division first half champions will open the best-of-5 series against the South Division second half winner or division wildcard at 7:10 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 10.
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**