Smokies Edge Shrimp 5-4 in 12 Innings

Dunand homers for Jacksonville

By Roger Hoover

August 15, 2019

KODAK, Tenn. - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (59-63, 30-22) fell to the Tennessee Smokies (51-71, 18-35) by a 5-4 score in 12 innings in the third game of the five-game series at Smokies Stadium on Thursday night.

Tennessee right-handed relief pitcher Bailey Clark (2-1) earned the win, while Jacksonville's right-handed relief pitcher Josh Roeder (1-4) took the loss allowing the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning.

Jacksonville right-handed starting pitcher and MLB Pipeline's No. 1 Marlins prospect Sixto Sanchez had a no decision. He worked six innings where he allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Tennessee right-handed starting pitcher Cory Abbott also had a no decision, working six and two-third innings where he allowed two runs (both unearned) on one hit with two walks and a career-high 12 strikeouts.

After the first two innings were scoreless, Jacksonville built a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Lewin Diaz brought in the first run with a groundout, then Joe Dunand's sacrifice fly to left field put the lead at 2-0 Jumbo Shrimp. Tennessee quickly responded in the bottom of the second with a Roberto Caro RBI single cutting Jacksonville's lead to 2-1. In the bottom of the fourth, Eddy Martinez tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single.

The game remained tied into extra innings. Joe Dunand hit his first home run since June 10 when he blasted a two-run shot to left field to give the Jumbo Shrimp a 4-2 lead in the top of the 11th inning. The Smokies responded with an RBI groundout by Jhonny Pereda to make it 4-3, then tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning on an RBI single by Christian Donahue to even the score at 4-4 and force the 12th inning. After Jacksonville did not score in the top of the 12th, Tennessee won the game 5-4 with a walk-off RBI single by Jared Young to begin the bottom of the 12th inning.

The Jumbo Shrimp and Smokies will continue the series with the fourth game of the five-game set at Smokies Stadium on Friday night at 7 p.m. Left-handed pitcher Daniel Castano (5-1, 3.02 ERA) will start for Jacksonville against Tennessee right-handed pitcher Erich Uelmen (0-1, 6.00 ERA). Fans can listen to the game on the Jumbo Shrimp Network presented by Community First, beginning at 6:45 p.m. 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.