López homers but Jacksonville falls 6-2
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Otto López reached base four times and hit a home run Thursday, but the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp fell to the Charlotte Knights 6-2 at 121 Financial Ballpark. Charlotte’s (3-9) bats hurt Jumbo Shrimp (7-4) early. Zach DeLoach ripped a leadoff single in the second. Two batters later,
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Otto López reached base four times and hit a home run Thursday, but the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp fell to the Charlotte Knights 6-2 at 121 Financial Ballpark.
Charlotte’s (3-9) bats hurt Jumbo Shrimp (7-4) early. Zach DeLoach ripped a leadoff single in the second. Two batters later, Carlos Pérez reached on an error and Brett Phillps walked to load the bases. Following a strikeout, Rafael Ortega worked a walk to tie the game at one. The walk extended the inning and Danny Mendick cleared the bases with a three-run double, bringing the Knights’ lead to 4-1.
The Knights bats stayed hot in the third. With one out, Deloach singled for his second hit of the game. Adam Hackenberg laced a base hit, putting runners at first and second. DeLoach was caught stealing third on a double-steal attempt and Pérez cracked a double, which brought home Hackenberg from second. Phillps followed Pérez and hit an RBI double, giving Charlotte a 6-1 lead.
The Jumbo Shrimp were able to chip away at their deficit in the fifth. López (2) launched a home run, continuing his torrid start to the 2024 season.
Jacksonville got off to a fast start in the first. López and Troy Johnston hit back-to-back singles. A wild pitch advanced López to third and he scored two batters later on a ground ball hit by Tristan Gray.
Jacksonville and Charlotte continue the series Friday with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. The Knights starter is RHP Jake Woodford (0-0, 16.88) while the Jumbo Shrimp will counter with LHP Braxton Garrett (0-0, 4.15). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN690, Bally Live and MiLB.tv.
Gates open at 6 p.m. for Red Shirt Friday. Jumbo Shrimp players and staff will wear red each Friday to support the military. Fans who wear red will save $1 on their ticket at the box office. Be sure to stick around after the game for “Friday Night Fireworks” presented by Big D Building Center.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The team calls 121 Financial Ballpark home for baseball but also a wide variety of additional community focused events with a goal of providing Affordable, Family, FUN to Northeast Florida. Winners of many marketing and sales awards and recognition since the team was rebranded prior to the 2017 season, the Jumbo Shrimp continually lead the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations.