Allen’s homers lead Jacksonville to gritty 11-inning win

Jumbo Shrimp grind past Redbirds 6-2

Austin Allen went 3-for-5 with a double and two home runs to lead Jacksonville to a 6-2 win at Memphis. (Joey Mims/Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp)

By Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

May 5, 2023

MEMPHIS – Austin Allen blasted two home runs on Friday to lead the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to a 6-2 win in 11 innings over the Memphis Redbirds from AutoZone Park. The score was tied at two in the 11th inning. With Charles Leblanc starting the frame on second, Memphis (20-11)

MEMPHIS – Austin Allen blasted two home runs on Friday to lead the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to a 6-2 win in 11 innings over the Memphis Redbirds from AutoZone Park.

The score was tied at two in the 11th inning. With Charles Leblanc starting the frame on second, Memphis (20-11) reliever Kodi Whitley (0-1) induced a ground out before walking Brian Miller and yielding a base hit to Jacob Amaya. C.J. Hinojosa followed with a sacrifice fly to give Jacksonville (15-14) its first lead. Allen then smashed a three-run shot to widen the gap to 6-2.

After Anthony Maldonado, pitching on back-to-back days, worked 2.0 scoreless innings, Dylan Bice threw a shutout bottom of the 11th to seal the victory.

The Redbirds initially got on the board in the third when Masyn Winn homered off Jumbo Shrimp starter Sean Nolin. After an Allen solo shot in the fourth tied the score, Winn went yard against Nolin again in the sixth. Nolin pitched well outside those mistakes, ceding two runs on six hits in 6.2 innings. Jackson Rose pitched 1.1 scoreless frames before ceding to Maldonado.

Down 2-1, Allen doubled to start the seventh. Cobie Fletcher-Vance then tied things with a double of his own to even things at a pair.

Jacksonville plays at Memphis in Saturday’s 4:05 p.m. ET first pitch. RHP Johnny Cueto (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes a rehab start for the Jumbo Shrimp against Redbirds LHP Matthew Liberatore (3-1, 2.14 ERA). Coverage begins at 3:50 p.m. ET on ESPN 690, www.ESPN690.com and the MiLB First Pitch app.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. 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. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marked the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. 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.