Jumbo Shrimp grind out 5-3 win to end slide

Allen, Leblanc, Encarnacion all homer, bullpen stars in victory at Louisville

Charles Leblanc went 2-for-3 with a home run and walk in Saturday's 5-3 win at Louisville. (Joey Mims/Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp)

By Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

May 20, 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Home runs from Austin Allen, Charles Leblanc and Jerar Encarnacion, as well as 5.0 scoreless innings from the Jumbo Shrimp bullpen Saturday helped Jacksonville end a four-game skid with a 5-3 victory over the Louisville Bats from Louisville Slugger Field. Jacksonville (20-22), which had scored two runs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Home runs from Austin Allen, Charles Leblanc and Jerar Encarnacion, as well as 5.0 scoreless innings from the Jumbo Shrimp bullpen Saturday helped Jacksonville end a four-game skid with a 5-3 victory over the Louisville Bats from Louisville Slugger Field.

Jacksonville (20-22), which had scored two runs or fewer in three of the first four games of the series, got back-to-back homers from Allen and Leblanc in the second to take the lead.

Louisville (21-22) grabbed the advantage in the third. Alejo Lopez doubled to begin the frame. Two batters later, Elly De La Cruz drew a walk. Christian Enarnacion-Strand got the Bats on the board with an RBI double before Jason Vosler tied things with a sacrifice fly. Matt Reynolds’ RBI single then put Louisville in front 3-2.

The Jumbo Shrimp loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth on a C.J. Hinojosa single, Allen double and Leblanc walk. Joe Rizzo’s RBI ground out brought home Hinojosa for the equalizer at 3-3.

In the fifth, Bats reliever Jake Wong (0-1) surrendered a solo shot to Encarnacion to give the Jumbo Shrimp a lead they would not relinquish.

The score remained that way until the ninth. With one out, Brian Miller walked, stole second and moved to third on an error. He scored on Jordan Groshans’ RBI single to make it 5-3.

The Jacksonville bullpen trio of Nic Enright (1-0), George Soriano and Geoff Hartlieb combined to work 5.0 scoreless innings, totaling seven strikeouts.

Jacksonville and Louisville wrap up their series with Sunday’s 1:05 p.m. first pitch. LHP Enmanuel De Jesus (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his Jumbo Shrimp debut against Bats RHP Brett Kennedy (1-0, 1.80 ERA). Coverage begins at 12:50 p.m. on ESPN 690, www.ESPN690.com 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 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.