Shuckers win rubber match over Jumbo Shrimp, 8-3

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Biloxi Shuckers third baseman Lucas Erceg homered among four hits and finished the series with hits in six straight at-bats to lead his team to an 8-3 victory over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in front of 2,635 at the series rubber match on Half-Price Yuengling Monday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

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The Shuckers (13-11 second half, 54-40 overall) took the lead against right-hander Merandy Gonzalez (1-4) with Erceg's one-out solo home run - his third of the series. Shortstop Luis Aviles singled to center field, went to second base on right fielder Trent Grisham's walk, advanced to third base on catcher Max McDowell's flyout, and scored on a double steal.
Jacksonville (10-15, 38-55) scored once in the third inning against Biloxi right-hander Trey Supak (1-6). Left fielder Brian Miller reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Erceg's error on center fielder Monte Harrison's ground ball.
Jax Jumbo Shrimp Highlights - July 16, 2018 
The teams traded fifth-inning runs, as center fielder Corey Ray hit a one-out single, stole second base and scored on second baseman Keston Hiura's RBI double. Jumbo Shrimp catcher Rodrigo Vigil hit a leadoff single, went to second base on Gonzalez's sacrifice and reached third base on Miller's single. When Miller stole second base, Vigil scored on McDowell's errant throw. Supak allowed two unearned runs on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts in five innings.
Erceg led off the sixth inning with a single and went to third base on Grisham's single and right fielder Braxton Lee's error. Gonzalez's wild pitch scored Erceg, and McDowell's sacrifice fly scored Grisham. Gonzalez left with a 5-2 deficit, allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks with a season-high nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Randy Ready Postgame vs. Biloxi 7/16/18
Biloxi scored three seventh-inning runs off left-hander Miguel Del Pozo. Ray doubled, Hiura walked, first baseman Jake Gatewood hit an RBI single, Erceg singled with an error by Lee, and Aviles hit an RBI double. Biloxi right-hander Jon Perrin went the final four innings for a save, allowing a ninth-inning run when Lee doubled and scored on two groundouts.
UP NEXT: The Jumbo Shrimp will open a five-game series in Pensacola at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday. The Jumbo Shrimp return home to face Montgomery on Monday, July 23, at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. for VyStar Credit Union Charity Begins at Home with Mission House raising funds through ticket sales and the Launch-A-Ball promotion. VyStar Credit Union members can get a buy-3-get-1 free ticket special by showing their VyStar credit or debit card at the box office. Half-Price Yuengling Monday means 16-oz. Yuengling cans are half-price. For Wear Your Favorite Jersey Night, anyone wearing a jersey will receive $2 off a game day ticket at the box office.
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.