Pitching Leads Charge on Both Sides, Shuckers Fall to Trash Pandas, 2-1

BILOXI, MS – Despite 6.1 scoreless innings from Shuckers relievers T.J. Shook and Nick Bennet, two third-inning runs from the Rocket City Trash Pandas (15-17) lifted them to a 2-1 win over the Biloxi Shuckers (19-13) on Saturday night at MGM Park.

All scoring came in the third for both sides, with Rocket City taking a 2-0 lead in the third after three doubles in the second from Edgar Quero, Jeremiah Jackson and Livan Soto. Soto’s double drove in Jackson for his first RBI of the year with the Trash Pandas, and knocked Shuckers’ starter Brandon Knarr out of the game. Zavier Warren led off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot, his fifth of the year and fourth of the series.

From there, pitching dominated the rest of the way. Shuckers reliever T.J. Shook allowed one hit over 4.1 scoreless innings, extending his scoreless streak to 7.2 innings to set a new season high. Rocket City starter Brett Kerry retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced to get through five innings, including three straight after Felix Valerio led off the fifth with a triple to the wall in center.

In the eighth, Nick Bennett worked around a leadoff walk to strand two base runners and struck out two more in the ninth to keep the defecit at one. In the bottom of the ninth Kenyon Yovan entered for Rocket City and worked around a leadoff single from Jackson Chourioto earn his second save of the year.

Knarr (0-2) took the loss for Biloxi while Kerry (1-2) earned the win for Rocket City.

The two will meet for the series finale on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Christian Mejias (2-1, 5.14) is set to start for Biloxi while Jack Kochanowicz will make his Double-A debut for Rocket City. Groups of four or more can grab a Fun Day Four Pack for $19 per person, including four reserved level tickets, hot dogs, chips and a drink. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for pregame player autographs and enjoy a postgame catch on the field. Fans can also receive a Shuckers team poster presented by Mele Printing.

Individual tickets, group outings, Shuck Nation memberships and Flex Plans for the 2023 Biloxi Shuckers season are available now by calling (228) 233-3465 or visiting biloxishuckers.com.

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:

The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers are members of the Southern League and play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.

ABOUT SHUCKERS BASEBALL, LLC:

Shuckers Baseball, LLC is a MS entity owned and operated by John Tracy. Shuckers Baseball operates the Biloxi Shuckers baseball franchise, including operating MGM Park for Biloxi Shuckers minor league baseball games and other entertainment and recreational events.