Eight-run fifth inning sinks Jacksonville on Wednesday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp enjoyed a multi-homer game from Deven Marrero, but were unable to overcome an eight-run fifth inning from the Norfolk Tides in a 9-3 loss Wednesday at 121 Financial Ballpark.

Jacksonville (19-13) was out-hit 12-5 in the ballgame, while also committing a pair of errors and walking five Norfolk (12-18) batters.

Marrero gave the Jumbo Shrimp an early 1-0 advantage in the second inning when he took Alex Wells (win, 3-2) deep to left field for his second home run of the season.

That was the only blemish on Wells’ line. He worked five innings, striking out five, allowing just the one run on three hits, and did not walk a batter.

Early on, he was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Luis Madero (loss, 4-2). The Jumbo Shrimp righty allowed just three base runners in the first four innings, striking out four. Madero ran into trouble in the fifth inning when Ramon Urias led off the frame with a home run to left field to tie the score at 1-1.

Unfortunately, the inning would spiral for the Jumbo Shrimp, as eight of the next nine batters reached. Jose Mesa Jr. took over for Madero after 4.1 innings, and gave up a grand slam to Domingo Leyba to blow the game open. Ultimately, Jacksonville yielded eight runs on four hits, and two errors in the frame helped the Norfolk lead swell to 8-1.

In the seventh, after Chad Wallach reached on a two-out single, Marrero connected on his second home run of the day, a moonshot to left field, to make it a 9-3 ballgame. It was the third time in Marrero’s career that he has hit two home runs in one game.

Sean Guenther made his first appearance for Jacksonville out of the bullpen and fired three scoreless innings to finish the contest, allowing just three hits and striking out four.

Jacksonville will look to rebound Thursday when they send right-hander Jordan Holloway (0-0, 3.86) to the mound to make his second rehab start of the season. He’ll be opposed by Norfolk righty Spenser Watkins (0-2, 3.15), with first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m.

Gates open at 6 p.m. for a Budweiser Thirsty Thursday at 121 Financial Ballpark, where fans can purchase $2 (12 oz. draft) and $3 (24 oz. draft) Budweiser products on the left field brown canopy, Oasis concession stand, and right field bleachers. It’s also Pride Night, where the Jumbo Shrimp will celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, friends, family, and organizations.

The broadcast will begin at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN 690 and online on the ESPN 690 Facebook page, MiLB.tv, 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 marks 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.