Black Sets Franchise Record with 28-Game On-Base Streak in 4-3 Shuckers Win

PEARL, MS – With a single in the first inning, Tyler Black set a new Biloxi Shuckers’ franchise record by reaching base in 28 consecutive games, and the bullpen combined for 3.2 shutout innings to give Biloxi (27-26) a 4-3 win over the Mississippi Braves (25-27) at Trustmark Park on Wednesday night. Black’s single broke Cooper Hummel’s previous franchise record of 27 consecutive games in 2019.

After Black reached to set the record as the first batter of the game, Jeferson Quero drove him in with a bloop double to left that give Biloxi an early 1-0 lead. The M-Braves struck back with two runs to take the lead in the second. A wild pitch scored one and Landon Stephens gave the M-Braves the lead with a double to left.

In the fourth, Biloxi tied the game with an RBI double from Freddy Zamora that scored Felix Valerio. Zamora’s double was his first hit in his first appearance since being involved in a collision with Shuckers’ outfielder Isaac Collins in a game last Wednesday at MGM Park. He later came around to score on a passed ball to give Biloxi a 3-2 lead. Carlos Rodriguez, who had reached after his second-straight double to left, scored in the same at-bat on a sacrifice fly to left from Ethan Murray.

The M-Braves scored their final run of the night on a solo home run from Cade Bunnell in the bottom of the fourth that made it 4-3 Biloxi.

From there, the two bullpens traded zeros. After Shuckers’ starter Christian Mejias exited the game with a career-high 96 pitches, Nick Bennett retired each of the three batters he faced to keep the Shuckers ahead. Zach Vennaro and Luis Contreras combined for 1.2 innings of perfect work, striking out three of the five batters faced.

In the ninth, Shuckers’ closer Abner Uribe entered in a save situation. The first batter, Drew Lugbauer, reached on a single, but Uribe retired the next two batters on strikeouts, including a looking strikeout on a 98 MPH fastball. Uribe induced a fielder’s choice to short that retired the pinch-runner, Andrew Moritz, gave the Shuckers a 4-3 win and earned his sixth save of the year.

Mejias (3-3) earned the win after 5.1 innings of work while Alan Rangel (1-6) took the loss for the M-Braves.

The teams will meet on Thursday night at Trustmark Park for the third game of the series. Carlos Rodriguez (2-2, 3.72) is set to start for Biloxi against Scott Blewett (2-2, 4.38) for the M-braves. 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. The Shuckers return to MGM Park for a 12-game homestand starting on Tuesday, June 20 against the Chattanooga Lookouts.

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.