Fortes, Cabrera power Jumbo Shrimp by Knights

Jacksonville wins 4-2 for eighth victory in nine games

Edward Cabrera struck out 12 batters in 4.2 innings in Friday's win at Charlotte. (Matthew Bernanke/Matthew Bernanke Photography)

July 30, 2021

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nick Fortes socked a two-run home run and Edward Cabrera struck out 12 in 4.2 innings on Friday to lead the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to a 4-2 victory over the Charlotte Knights from Truist Field. Charlotte (27-48) led 1-0 when Bryson Brigman doubled off Knights starter Mike

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nick Fortes socked a two-run home run and Edward Cabrera struck out 12 in 4.2 innings on Friday to lead the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to a 4-2 victory over the Charlotte Knights from Truist Field.

Charlotte (27-48) led 1-0 when Bryson Brigman doubled off Knights starter Mike Wright (6-4) to begin the sixth. A Monte Harrison infield single coupled with a Charlotte error scored Brigman to tie the game. Fortes followed with a two-run shot to put the Jumbo Shrimp (42-33) in front for the first time.

The clubs traded sacrifice flies in the seventh inning, with Brigman tacking on a run for Jacksonville in the top of the frame and Blake Rutherford doing the same in the bottom of the inning.

Cabrera finished one punchout shy of a career-high in his 4.2 innings, yielding a run on four hits with four walks and 12 strikeouts. Mason Melotakis (3-1) fanned two in 1.1 innings and Parker Bugg ceded just an unearned run in 2.0 frames. Andrew Bellatti worked a perfect ninth for his second save, sealing the Jumbo Shrimp’s eighth victory in nine games.

The Knights scored the game’s first run in the second when Nate Nolan homered in the second inning to go up 1-0.

Jacksonville sends RHP Paul Campbell (0-0, 1.04 ERA) to the mound in Saturday’s 7:04 p.m. contest against Knights RHP Jonathan Stiever (3-5, 6.41 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:49 p.m. on ESPN 690 AM and www.ESPN690.com.

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.