Stokes Jr. Homers in Third Straight Game, But Shuckers Drop Fourth in a Row

Lookouts Halt Early Baserunners on a Friday Night

(Michael Krebs)

By Spencer Siegel

May 18, 2018

The Biloxi Shuckers (25-17) left the tying run on second base in the ninth inning, as the Chattanooga Lookouts (28-14) took game two of a five-game series 3-2 on Friday night. Troy Stokes Jr. homered for Biloxi in his third consecutive contest.
RHP Cody Ponce allowed a solo home run to Nick Gordon in the top of the first inning, but kept Chattanooga off the board for the rest of his start. Ponce struck out three allowing five hits over six strong innings to keep Biloxi in the game.
RHP Kohl Stewart pitched out of trouble in the first three innings, but did not surrender a run in his five innings. The righty walked a pair of batters in the first and third. In the third, Stewart wiggled out of a bases loaded, nobody out jam with a force out at home off the bat of Jake Gatewood and Jake Hager inning-ending double play.
The Shuckers tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when Clint Coulter smacked an opposite field home run to right against RHP Ryan Eades (W, 2-0), Coulter's fourth of the season. Chattanooga responded quickly in the top of the eighth. The Lookouts loaded the bases against LHP Quentin Torres-Costa (L, 1-2) who departed with one out for RHP Nate Griep. Chris Paul sent a slow-roller down the third base line that Lucas Erceg bare-handed. With little chance of a putout at home, Erceg went to first, but Gatewood could not dig out a low throw. On a fielder's choice, Ryan Walker drove in Chattanooga's third run.
Troy Stokes Jr. answered in the bottom of the eighth with his third home run in as many games to cut the deficit to one. Coulter was plunked by RHP Williams Ramirez (S, 6) to begin the ninth. After tagging up to second base on a fly ball out to right, Coulter was stranded to end the game. Ramirez got Mitch Ghelfi to fly out to left, and after a long battle, Trent Grisham bounced out to second to end the game.
The Shuckers attempt to halt their four-game losing streak on Saturday night at 6:35 PM CT with RHP Zack Brown (2-1, 2.89) on the hill. He opposes the Lookouts' RHP Omar Bencomo (3-0, 2.41) on a Super Saturday that features a beach towel giveaway presented by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, and a tribute to the 1998 Kelly Cup Champion Mississippi Sea Wolves.
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.

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