Shuckers Drop Series Opener to Mobile, 9-4

The Biloxi Shuckers (45-32) jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, but the Mobile BayBears (41-34) smacked 16 hits to earn a 9-4 victory at MGM Park on Thursday night.
LHP Wade Miley (L, 1-2) looked sharp early on, blanking the BayBears over the first two innings. This allowed Biloxi to take the lead by plating four runs in the bottom of the second. Gabriel Noriega drove in Lucas Erceg with a single. With two outs and two on, Corey Ray rifled a ball to centerfield that fell in front of Brennon Lund. With the sun glaring, the ball hopped past Lund and trickled to the wall. Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. and Tyler Heineman both scored on the play as Ray raced around the bases to complete the inside-the-park home run. It's the second such home run for the Shuckers against Mobile this season as Jake Hager completed the same feat earlier in the year at Hank Aaron Stadium.
The BayBears began their comeback in the top of the third with three runs against Miley. Jack Kruger provided a two-run single to make it 4-3. A frame later, Riley Unroe singled with two runners on against RHP Daniel Reynolds. Trailing runner Zach Gibbons was at first base when Trent Grisham's throw home skipped past Heineman and sailed into the Mobile dugout, awarding Gibbons home to give the BayBears a 5-4 lead. All told, Miley gave up five runs on eight hits over 3.1 innings (47 pitches).
Mobile added another tally in the fifth on Kruger's second Double-A home run. The BayBears piled on three more in the eighth with a two-run triple from Brennon Lund and another Kruger single, his fourth RBI of the night.
RHP Alex Klonowski (W, 4-1) did not allow a hit in his final five frames after surrendering six in the four-run second inning. He twirled seven frames to pick up the win and was backed by two scoreless stanzas from LHP Adrian Almeida to close out the game.
The Shuckers and BayBears play a 6:35 PM CT contest on Friday night, a Fireworks Friday at MGM Park. LHP Kodi Medeiros (5-3, 3.38) and RHP Jose Rodriguez (6-7, 5.77) battle in the second game of a six-game series.
The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers 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.com. Single game tickets for the Biloxi Shuckers 2018 season are on sale now and can be purchased at the MGM Park box office or over the phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Season tickets, flex plans and group outings are also available and can be reserved by calling 228-233-3465 or visiting www.biloxishuckers.com.