Down 6-0, Shrimp Storm Past Lookouts 9-6

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (12-13, 42-53) defeated the Chattanooga Lookouts (19-6, 61-34) by a 9-6 score in the fifth and final game of the five-game series at AT&T Field on Monday afternoon.

Jacksonville trailed 6-0 after the first two innings, only to storm back with nine runs across the middle innings to win the final game of the series. This marked Jacksonville's biggest comeback of the season, after previously overcoming five-run deficits twice during the 2017 campaign.
Jumbo Shrimp reliever Joe Gunkel (3-6) earned the win by working two scoreless innings of relief. Chattanooga reliever Randy LeBlanc (3-4) took the loss, allowing three runs to the Shrimp in the top of the sixth inning that would be the difference in the game. Jacksonville reliever Clayton Mortensen got the final four outs of the game to record his fourth save of the season and preserve the 9-6 win.
The Lookouts built their lead first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first against Jacksonville starter Omar Bencomo. With two outs in the bottom of the second, Chattanooga designated hitter Andy Wilkins blasted a grand slam home run to put the Lookouts ahead 6-0.
Jacksonville's comeback started in the top of the fourth, when Taylor Ard brought in a run on a groundout to third to cut the deficit to 6-1. The Jumbo Shrimp erupted for five runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game. After Austin Dean's two-RBI double made it a 6-3 game, Dustin Geiger collected an RBI double of his own to make it 6-4. David Vidal followed with an RBI single to make it 6-5, then Ard tied the game with his RBI single.
An inning later in the top of the sixth, Jacksonville loaded the bases and Geiger cleared them, bringing in three runs on a double to put the Jumbo Shrimp ahead 9-6, which would be the final score. The Lookouts did not score during their last seven innings at the plate.
The Jumbo Shrimp had one of their most productive games at the plate, scoring their nine runs on 16 hits. Five Jumbo Shrimp batters had multi-hit games, led by three hit performances by Braxton Lee, catcher Rodrigo Vigil, and Dean.
The Jumbo Shrimp will bus home throughout the rest of Monday and enjoy an off day on Tuesday before welcoming the Tennessee Smokies to the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville for the start of a five-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. For Canines & Crustaceans Bark in the Park, the Jumbo Shrimp welcome dogs to the ballpark, free of charge with a paying human companion. Dog-free seating will be available in Sections 110 and 111. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the Date Night Special, when a package of two tickets, two hot dogs, two sodas and popcorn is just $20 at the box office windows. Fans can listen to the game on the Jumbo Shrimp Network presented by Community First, beginning at 11 a.m. with the pregame show "Shrimp On Deck" on, the TuneIn Radio app, and www.jaxshrimp.com.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are beginning a new era of affordable family fun with the 2017 season presented by Community First Credit Union at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. With a new lineup of ticket and group options, there is a reason for everyone to get part of the action by calling the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visiting www.jaxshrimp.com.