Shuckers Rally Past Shrimp 12-7

BILOXI, Miss. - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (5-11) fell to the Biloxi Shuckers (8-8) by a 12-7 score in the first game of the five-game series at MGM Park on Saturday night.

Biloxi right-handed relief pitcher Nattino Diplan (1-0) earned the win in relief of starter Marcos Diplan (no relation) who worked the first four and two-third innings. Jacksonville right-handed starting pitcher Cody Poteet (1-2) suffered the loss, working five innings where he allowed five runs (all earned) on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

After the first three innings were scoreless, the Shuckers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back two-out RBI singles from Michael O'Neill and Luis Aviles, Jr. Jacksonville struck back with a pair of runs also with two outs in the top of the fifth, with an RBI double from Justin Twine before Joe Dunand tied the game at 2-2 with his RBI single.

After Magneuris Sierra extended his Southern League-best hitting streak to 14 games and stole second base, Brian Miller brought him home with an RBI double to give Jacksonville a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth. With Twine at the plate next, Miller stole third and scored on a missed catch error by the third baseman to give the Shrimp a 4-2 lead.
Biloxi answered with eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 10-4 lead. The rally included a two-run triple by Trent Grisham that put Biloxi in front 6-4, then a two-run homer by Dillon Thomas that was followed by a solo home run by Weston Wilson that put the score at 10-4.
Miller set a new career high with five hits in a game, as he delivered an RBI single in the top of the eighth to make it a 10-5 score. Biloxi added back-to-back homers by Wilson and Leonard in the bottom of the eighth to grow the lead to 12-5. In the ninth, Bryson Brigman added a two-run homer that cut Biloxi's lead to 12-7, which would be the final.

On Sunday the Jumbo Shrimp will continue their five-game series with the Biloxi Shuckers at MGM Park at 3:35 p.m. eastern. Left-handed pitcher McKenzie Mills (0-2, 6.75 ERA) will start for Jacksonville against Biloxi right-handed pitcher Trey Supak (1-1, 2.16 ERA). Fans can listen to the game on the Jumbo Shrimp Network presented by Community First, beginning at 3:20 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.

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.