PENSACOLA, Fla. - Trailing 6-1 in the eighth inning, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp rallied for four runs, including a three-run home run by shortstop Joe Dunand, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos retained the lead for a 6-5 win in the second game of a five-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Trailing 6-1 in the eighth inning, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp rallied for four runs, including a three-run home run by shortstop Joe Dunand, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos retained the lead for a 6-5 win in the second game of a five-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium Thursday night.
The Jumbo Shrimp (10-17 second half, 38-57 overall) took a lead with two outs in the top of the second inning. Pensacola right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez hit third baseman Brian Schales and balked to move him to second base. Second baseman Justin Twine hit an infield single, and Gutierrez's third-strike wild pitch scored Schales. Pitcher Max Duval singled, but right fielder Aristides Aquino threw out Twine at home plate and hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the inning.
Randy Ready Postgame at Pensacola 7/19/18
The Blue Wahoos (18-8, 48-46) broke the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third inning. Gutierrez hit a one-out single to center field, and center fielder Jose Siri hit a go-ahead, two-run home run to left-center field. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Duval walked Aquino, who went to third base on shortstop Luis Gonzalez's single and scored on double steal to make it 5-1. Duval went five innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts. Pensacola added a run in the sixth inning against Jacksonville right-hander Lukas Schiraldi. Sparks walked with two outs and went to second base on a wild pitch. Okey grounded to Schiraldi, whose errant throw to first base allowed Sparks to score for a 6-1 Pensacola lead.
After Gutierrez went seven innings with a season-high 10 strikeouts, five hits and no walks, Jacksonville rallied in the top of the eighth inning against left-hander Juan Martinez. Right fielder Braxton Lee and center fielder Monte Harrison hit consecutive singles, and first baseman Eric Jagielo hit an RBI single to left field. Right-hander Alejandro Chacin entered and allowed shortstop Joe Dunand's three-run home run to center field, closing Pensacola's lead to 6-5. Chacin worked around Twine reaching on a two-out error and Harrison's ninth-inning, two-out single to earn his sixth save.
UP NEXT: The Jumbo Shrimp continue their series in Pensacola at 7:35 p.m. Friday, when Jacksonville right-hander Robert Dugger (2-3) is scheduled to face Blue Wahoos right-hander Tony Santillan (1-0). The Jumbo Shrimp return home to face Montgomery on Monday, July 23, at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. for VyStar Credit Union Charity Begins at Home with Mission House raising funds through ticket sales and the Launch-A-Ball promotion. VyStar Credit Union members can get a buy-3-get-1 free ticket special by showing their VyStar credit or debit card at the box office. Half-Price Yuengling Monday means 16-oz. Yuengling cans are half-price. For Wear Your Favorite Jersey Night, anyone wearing a jersey will receive $2 off a game day ticket at the box office.
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.
