Charlotte takes series opener 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Brian Miller hit a single, double and triple, coming up just shy of the cycle, in the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s 9-5 series-opening loss to the Charlotte Knights on Tuesday evening at 121 Financial Ballpark.

Down 1-0, the Knights (22-24) touched Jumbo Shrimp (21-23) starter Devin Smeltzer (0-2) for four runs in the second inning. After issuing a walk to Nate Mondou, Smeltzer yielded three consecutive doubles to Victor Reyes, Carlos Perez and Yolbert Sanchez, scoring a trio of runs for Charlotte. Stephen Piscotty followed with a single, pushing Sanchez to third. Then, Erik Gonzalez grounded into a double play, though, the fourth run of the inning came across the plate.

In the third inning, Lenyn Sosa lined a double to left and Mondou earned his second walk of the contest. After that, a single by Reyes juiced the bases. Two batters later, Sanchez knocked a single to tally the Knights fifth run. Then, back-to-back bases loaded walks extended Charlotte’s lead to 7-1.

In the home half of the third frame, the Jumbo Shrimp put up a three-spot against Knights reliever Tanner Banks (2-0). Miller smashed a triple, giving him his second extra-base hit of the game. Then, Jordan Groshans (2) banged a two-run home run to cut into the Knights lead 7-3. C.J. Hinojosa and Austin Allen earned back-to-back two-out walks and Charles Leblanc clubbed a single to tack on another run, making it 7-4.

With two outs in the fifth, Piscotty walked, Gonzalez singled and Zach Remillard reached on an error to extend the lead 8-4.

The score remained that way until the eighth when Remillard (4) hit a solo shot in to widen the gap to 9-4.

Jacksonville countered with a lone run of their own in the eighth. Allen doubled and Leblanc walked before back-to-back groundouts yielded the final run of the game.

The Jumbo Shrimp scratched across a run in the first to grab an early 1-0 advantage. Miller laced a leadoff double and advanced to third on a groundout. With one down, Jake Mangum hit a sacrifice fly to plate the first run of the game.

Jacksonville and Charlotte continue their series Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. RHP Ronald Bolaños (1-4, 7.50 ERA) starts for the Jumbo Shrimp against the Knights RHP Sean Burke (0-3, 8.83 ERA). Coverage begins at 11:50 a.m. on Bally Live, MiLB.tv, ESPN 690 and www.espn690.com.

Wednesday’s contest is a Yuengling Business Person Special. For $26 ($30 for a dugout reserved upgrade), fans receive a field reserved seat, hot dog, chips and a Yuengling or soda. It’s also a Good is Everywhere Wednesdays presented by VyStar. VyStar Credit Union members can enjoy a buy-one, get one free ticket special by using their VyStar credit or debit card at the box office. Offers cannot be combined.

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.