Shrimp Stomp BayBears 7-4

MOBILE, Ala. - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (12-24, 40-64) defeated the Mobile BayBears (14-21, 51-52) by a 7-4 score in the first game of the five-game series at Hank Aaron Stadium on Saturday night.

Jumbo Shrimp right-handed starting pitcher Nick Neidert (9-6) became tied for the Southern League lead in wins with his ninth victory of the season. He worked six and two-thirds innings allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Mobile right-handed starting pitcher Jose Rodriguez (6-9) took the loss, allowing five runs on 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Jumbo Shrimp relief pitcher Ryan Newell recorded the final four outs to earn his first Double-A save.
Justin Twine started the scoring in the top of the second with an RBI double to put the lead at 1-0, and that also extended his hitting streak to nine games to begin his time at the Double-A level. Sharif Othman immediately followed with a two-run homer to grow the lead to 3-0. Twine continued his hot hitting in the top of the fourth with a solo homer, his first Double-A blast, to give the Shrimp a 4-0 lead. Braxton Lee added to the lead with an infield RBI single in the top of the sixth to put the lead at 5-0.
After Neidert's first five innings were scoreless, the BayBears struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. First Jose Rojas delivered an RBI double before he was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Roberto Baldoquin to cut Jacksonville's lead to 5-2.
The Jumbo Shrimp responded with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. John Norwood hit a triple and then scored from third on a BayBears throwing error to grow the lead to 6-2. Two batters later Brian Schales blasted a solo homer over the left field wall, a career-high seventh homer of the year, to put the lead at 7-2. The BayBears added a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth, with Baldoquin adding an RBI double off reliever Lukas Schiraldi, then a wild pitch by reliever Ryan Newell scored Jack Kruger to make it a 7-4 game.  
All but two hitters in the order recorded a hit in the contest, with six batters collecting multi-hit games, led by a three-hit performance by Jacksonville leadoff batter Lee.
The Jumbo Shrimp and BayBears will continue their series with the second contest of the five-game set on Sunday night at Hank Aaron Stadium at 6:05 p.m. eastern. Right-handed pitcher Max Duval (2-10, 7.32 ERA) will start for Jacksonville against BayBears right-handed pitcher Jason Alexander (0-5, 4.76 ERA). Fans can listen to Saturday's game on the Jumbo Shrimp Network presented by Community First, beginning at 5:50 p.m. eastern with the pregame show "Shrimp On Deck" locally on Sunny 102.3 FM, on the TuneIn Radio app, and www.jaxshrimp.com.
The Jumbo Shrimp return home on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 7:05 p.m. against the Mississippi Braves. Gates open at 6 p.m. for Publix Corks & Forks Wednesday, when fans can purchase a game ticket and the opportunity to sample food, beer, and wine from Publix in the Safe Harbor Seafood Palm Tree Pavilion for $15 at tinyurl.com/jaxshrimpportal (password "PUBLIX"). Reserved tickets may be upgraded at the Pavilion or box office. That night's featured wine will also be available in your neighborhood Publix. Anyone who donates a canned food item at the box office can save $1 off a gameday ticket (limit $1 off per ticket).
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League's Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy, and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by General Manager Harold Craw. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.
EndFragment