Jacksonville blanked 2-0 by Gwinnett

Walters delivers five strong innings and six strikeouts

Jake Walters spins five strong innings with six strikeouts in Jacksonville's loss to Gwinnett Friday night. (Austin Dahl-Pantaleo/Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp)

By Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

September 15, 2023

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite five strong innings and six strikeouts from Jake Walters (L, 0-3), the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp fell 2-0 to the Gwinnett Stripers Friday night in front of 7,918 fans at 121 Financial Ballpark. Gwinnett (67-73, 34-31) took their first and only lead in the top of the

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite five strong innings and six strikeouts from Jake Walters (L, 0-3), the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp fell 2-0 to the Gwinnett Stripers Friday night in front of 7,918 fans at 121 Financial Ballpark.

Gwinnett (67-73, 34-31) took their first and only lead in the top of the fifth. After two quick outs, Joe Hudson doubled off Jacksonville (68-74, 36-32) reliever Richard Rodriguez and then scored off a base hit from Dalton Guthrie to put the Stripers ahead 1-0.

The Stripers added to their final run of the game in the eighth. Andrew Velazquez led off with a single and stole second. After a strikeout, Vaughn Grissom and Joe Dunand drew consecutive walks to load the bases and Braden Shewmake hit a sac fly, scoring Velazquez to give Gwinnett a two-run advantage.

Jacksonville didn’t notch their first hit until the bottom of the fifth, finishing with four hits, while going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

The series wraps up Saturday at 121 Financial Ballpark with a doubleheader, starting at 5:05 p.m. Jacksonville will hand the ball to LHP Enmanuel De Jesus (4-5, 4.97 ERA) for game one and LHP Ryan Weathers (3-0, 1.86 ERA) for game two. Gwinnett will counter with LHP Dylan Dodd (3-6, 6.55 ERA) for game one and RHP Allan Winans (9-4, 2.95 ERA) will get the ball for game two. Coverage begins at 4:50 p.m. on Bally Live, MiLB.tv, ESPN 690, and espn690.com.

For the final Saturday game of the season, gates will open at 4:00 p.m. for Fan Appreciation Night presented by 121 Financial Credit Union and FIS. The final giveaway of the season is a whimsical hat for the first 2,000 fans, presented by 121 Financial Credit Union. Tomorrow night will conclude with some amazing Fan Appreciation Night fireworks, presented by 121 Financial Credit Union and FIS!

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.