Jacksonville clubs three home runs, takes seesaw battle from Durham

DURHAM, N.C. - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp came back from three different deficits Wednesday, grabbing the lead for the first time in the fifth inning, on their way to 6-4 victory over the Durham Bulls.

The Jumbo Shrimp (7-3) tallied 11 hits in the ballgame, while blasting a trio of home runs, to take three games to one lead in the series over Durham (6-4).

The Bulls scored a run in the first inning to take an early lead. Wander Franco singled with one out, and then advanced to second on a passed ball. After a dropped third strike, Franco took off for third on the throw down to first base, and then come home on an overthrow as the Shrimp attempted to throw him out on the play.

Jacksonville responded in the second. Jazz Chisholm Jr. belted a game-tying home run to center field, to even the score at one. He has now hit safely in all three of his rehab starts.

After the Bulls plated another unearned run in the third inning, the Shrimp bats again had an answer. This time it was Jesús Sánchez, who returned to the lineup Friday, belting his fifth home run of the season to right field in the fourth inning to tie the score at 2-2.

In the home half of the fourth, Taylor Walls countered with a solo home run off of Jason Alexander to put the Bulls back in the driver’s seat at 3-2. That was the lone mistake Alexander made in his first start of the season. He gave up just one earned run in 3.2 innings, striking out six, and he did not walk a batter. He was removed from the game in the fourth inning with an injury.

Jacksonville rallied again in the fifth. Brian Navarreto led off the inning with an opposite field home run to right, his third of the season to tie the score at 3-3 against Durham reliever Tyler Zombro (loss, 0-1). Corey Bird then followed with a double, and Luis Marte reached on a bunt single, setting up Chisholm Jr. who singled to center to put Jacksonville in front for the first time in the ballgame. Monte Harrison then brought another run home on an RBI groundout to put the Shrimp ahead, 5-3.

That was all the offense Josh Smith (win, 1-0) would need. Smith fired 3.2 innings in relief, yielding just a run, while striking out four. He gave up four hits and a walk.

Jacksonville added an insurance run in the seventh as José Devers beat out an infield single with the bases loaded to push the lead to 6-4.

Steven Okert (save, 3) entered with the tying run aboard in the eighth inning, to strand a pair, and then retired the Bulls in order in the ninth to earn a five-out save.

The series continues Saturday at 6:35 p.m. when Jacksonville sends lefty Braxton Garrett (1-0, 6.23) to the hill to do battle with Bulls’ right-hander Chris Ellis (0-1, 9.31). The broadcast will get underway at 6:20 p.m. on ESPN 690, as well as online at espn690.com, 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.