Bennett Sets New Season-High with Five Relief Innings in Shuckers' Loss to M-Braves

BILOXI, MS – The Biloxi Shuckers (36-36, 2-1) tallied a hit in six of their nine innings at the plate, but the Mississippi Braves (34-37, 1-2) used a three-run third and 3.1 shutout innings from the bullpen to win, 4-1, at MGM Park on Friday night.

After two scoreless innings from Shuckers’ starter James Meeker, making his fourth career start, the M-Braves tallied their first run of the night off a single from Luke Waddell with two outs in the third. After another single and a walk loaded the bases, Jesse Franklin V lined a two-RBI single to right, increasing the M-Braves lead to 3-0. They increased the lead to four with a solo shot from Franklin in the fifth.

On the mound, M-Braves starter Luis De Avila continued a terrific month of June. He scattered hits over his first four innings and struck out two in a perfect fifth. In the sixth, the Shuckers got on the board after Jackson Chourio walked and was driven in by a double from Tyler Black. Black tried to extend it into a Double-A leading sixth triple of the year, but was nabbed on a relay from left-center. The double was part of Black’s third straight multi-hit night. Quero then singled as the next batter to tally his second three-hit night of the year, but was stranded.

Shuckers’ reliever Nick Bennett continued on in relief of Meeker. After entering in the fourth, he allowed one run over five innings, a new season-high. Kaleb Bowman then entered in the ninth for Biloxi and pitched a perfect frame, extending his scoreless streak to 5.2 innings, his longest of the year with the Shuckers.

In the ninth, Daysbel Hernandez worked around a one-out walk with three strikeouts to secure his second save of the year. Meeker (3-3) took the loss for Biloxi while De Avila (5-4) took the win for the M-Braves.

Tobias Myers is set to start for Biloxi on Saturday night against lefty Domingo Robles. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Shuckers Hawaiian Short presented by Conecuh Sausage. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

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.