BILOXI, Miss. - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (18-18, 48-58) fell to the Biloxi Shuckers (15-21, 51-54) by a 4-3 score in the first game of the five-game series at MGM Park on Sunday night.
BILOXI, Miss. - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (18-18, 48-58) fell to the Biloxi Shuckers (15-21, 51-54) by a 4-3 score in the first game of the five-game series at MGM Park on Sunday night.
Biloxi left-handed relief pitcher Quintin Torres-Costa (1-1) earned the win, working an inning and two-thirds in relief where he allowed a pair of runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout. Jacksonville left-handed starter Matt Tomshaw (9-6) took the loss, allowing four runs on 10 hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Biloxi right-handed relief pitcher Jorge López earned his second save by pitching a scoreless ninth.
The Shuckers started the scoring with a sacrifice fly from René García in the bottom of the second that gave Biloxi a 1-0 lead. Biloxi added a run in the top of the third with an RBI single from Angel Ortega to grow the lead to 2-0.
Jacksonville responded with a two-run top of the fifth. After Braxton Lee got the Shrimp on the board with an RBI single, he was brought home on an RBI triple by Austin Dean to tie the game at 2-2. The Shuckers quickly went back in front in the bottom of the fifth, first with a solo homer by Troy Stokes, Jr., his first Double-A homer, to go up 3-2. Then Jacob Nottingham added an RBI single to put the Biloxi lead at 4-2. Jacksonville would get a run closer in the top of the sixth inning with an infield RBI single by Lee to cut Biloxi's lead to 4-3, which would be the final.
The Jumbo Shrimp started the ninth inning against Lopez with singles by Lee and Dean, with Lee having a 3-for-5 performance at the plate near his hometown of Picayune, Mississippi. However Lopez set down David Vidal, Dustin Geiger, and John Norwood in order to close out the game in a one-run Shuckers win.
Biloxi spot starter Travis Hissong worked four and a third innings, allowing a run on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts in just his second career start.
The Jumbo Shrimp and Shuckers will continue their series with the second game of the five-game series on Monday night at MGM Park at 7:35 p.m. ET. Right-handed pitcher Trevor Richards (3-2, 2.90 ERA) will start for Jacksonville against Biloxi right-handed pitcher Jon Perrin (3-2, 3.44).Fans can listen to the game on the Jumbo Shrimp Network presented by Community First, beginning at 7:20 p.m. with the pregame show "Shrimp On Deck" locally on FM 100.3 The Biz and AM 1600, 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.
