M-Braves Walk-Off Shrimp 8-6 in 10 Innings

PEARL, Miss. - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (20-28) fell to the Mississippi Braves (21-27) by an 8-6 score in 10 innings in the third game of the five-game series at Trustmark Park on Friday night.

Jacksonville led 6-5 going to the bottom of the tenth, only to see Mississippi tie the game on a Tyler Neslony RBI single, then win the game with a two-run walk-off home run by Tyler Marlette to give the Braves their first win of the series.
Jacksonville right-handed relief pitcher Kyle Keller (0-1) took the loss, allowing the winning runs in the bottom of the tenth. Despite allowing a run in the top of the tenth, Mississippi right-handed relief pitcher Chad Sobotka (1-0) earned the win).
The Braves started the scoring in the bottom of the first, as Michael Reed led off the inning with a solo home run to put the lead at 1-0. Jacksonville answered in the top of the third, as a double steal put Cade Gotta at third and Monte Harrison at second, and then John Norwood delivered a two-out two-run single to give Jacksonville a 2-1 lead. The Shrimp added to the lead in the top of the fourth when Cade Gotta drew a bases-loaded walk to put the lead at 3-1.
Tyler Neslony led off Mississippi's bottom of the fourth with a triple, and then Travis Demerritte brought him home with a sacrifice fly to cut Jacksonville's lead to 3-2. Jacksonville again grew the lead a half inning later in the top of the fifth, with Brian Schales delivering an RBI double for his third hit of the night, putting the Shrimp lead at 4-2.
The Braves rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. With two outs, Luis Marté made it a one-run game with an RBI single that cut the lead to 4-3. The next batter, pinch-hitter Connor Lien, gave Mississippi the lead with a two-run double to left to put the score at 5-4, a score that remained until the ninth inning.
In the top of the ninth, the Jumbo Shrimp loaded the bases with no outs to begin the inning. Eric Jagielo brought home Harrison from third base on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 5-5 for the inning's first out. The next batter Schales struck out, and on the third strike Norwood was picked off first base by catcher Alex Jackson to quickly end the inning.
Jacksonville lefty relief pitcher Jeff Kinley worked a scoreless ninth to send this game into extra innings. With Schales automatically starting the 10^th inning at second base, Rodrigo Vigil moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt. Chris Diaz then brought Schales home with a sacrifice fly to right field that tied the game at 6-6.
Against Keller in the bottom of the tenth, Neslony tied the game on his RBI single before Marlette's two-run blast gave the Braves the two-run victory.
The loss ends Jacksonville's three-game winning streak, and the Jumbo Shrimp are now 1-5 in extra-inning games this season, including a 0-3 mark on the road. Jacksonville left 10 men on base in the game, and the Shrimp were 1-for-10 batting with runners in scoring position.
Jumbo Shrimp starting pitcher Robert Dugger worked five and two-thirds innings allowing five runs on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts in his second start for Jacksonville, and he left the game with the Jumbo Shrimp trailing 5-4.
The Jumbo Shrimp and Braves will continue their series with the fourth game of the five-game series on Saturday night at Trustmark Park at 7 p.m. eastern. Right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet (2-4, 4.31 ERA) will be opposed by Mississippi right-handed starter Andres Santiago (2-0, 4.12 ERA). Fans can listen to Saturday's game on the Jumbo Shrimp Network presented by Community First, beginning at 6:45 p.m. eastern with the pregame show "Shrimp On Deck" locally on Sunny 102.3 FM, on the TuneIn Radio app, and www.jaxshrimp.com.
The Jumbo Shrimp return to the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Tuesday, May 29, for the opener of a five-game series with Pensacola. Gates open at 6 p.m. for Community First Credit Union Two-for-Tuesday, when tickets are 2-for-1 at the box office for Community First members using a CFCU credit or debit card, and fans can learn about the Jumbo Shrimp VISA® Debit Card on the concourse. Coors Light $2 Tuesday means $1 12-oz. and $2 24-oz. Coors Light. Small sodas are $1 at the concession stands. Painting With A Twist will offer a painting class during the game, which fans can purchase in advance in a package including Sky Deck seating and a picnic buffet. Space is limited. The package is on sale at tinyurl.com/jaxshrimpportal (password "TWIST").
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. 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. 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.