JACKSONVILLE, FL - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (56-61, 28-20) broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run Stone Garrett home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to hand the Mississippi Braves (56-61, 23-25) a 5-2 loss in game four of a five-game series at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (56-61, 28-20) broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run Stone Garrett home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to hand the Mississippi Braves (56-61, 23-25) a 5-2 loss in game four of a five-game series at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The third-straight loss spoiled the first quality start for M-Braves right-hander Nolan Kingham , who didn't allow a hit through his first 3.0 innings. The former Texas Longhorn worked 6.0 innings of two-run baseball, scattering five hits while striking out five and walking just one.
The game was played through a deluge in Jacksonville and started after a 55-minute rain delay. The Shrimp struck first on a solo home run to straightaway centerfield by Lewin Diaz in the fourth inning. Jacksonville pushed their lead to 2-0 in the sixth inning on a two-out double by Garrett.
Marlins top prospect Sixto Sanchez also came away with a no-decision, exiting Saturday's game after 5.0 innings of five-hit baseball. Reliever McKenzie Mills struck out the side in the sixth inning, but Mississippi got to the Jacksonville reliever in the seventh inning. William Contreras and Connor Lien opened the frame with singles, and after a Daniel Lockhart groundout, both scored on a game-tying two-run pinch-hit single from Alejandro Salazar .
Jonathan Aro threw up a scoreless inning in the bottom of the seventh inning and turned the game over to Jordan Harrison (L, 2-3) for the eighth inning. The left-hander retired the first two batters, before issuing free passes to the next two. Garrett took advantage with an opposite-field three-run homer to give Jacksonville a 5-2 lead.
Vincenzo Aiello (W, 1-1) and Tommy Eveld (S, 6) held the M-Braves off the scoreboard in the final two innings to preserve the series-clinching win.
The 21st and final meeting this season between Jacksonville and Mississippi will take place on Sunday at The Baseball Grounds.RHP Claudio Custodio (4-3, 2.22) will start for the M-Braves against LHP Trevor Rogers (0-1, 3.86) for the Jumbo Shrimp. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 pm CT with coverage beginning at 5:20 pm on 103.9 WYAB, TuneIn Radio, First Pitch App, and MiLB.tv (subscription required).
The M-Braves will return to Trustmark Park for an 11-game homestand in ten days against the Birmingham Barons and Pensacola Blue Wahoos. The homestand features Clunker Car Night and Thirsty Thursday on Aug.15, Austin Riley Kids T-Shirt Giveaway, and Post-Game Fireworks on Friday, Aug. 16 and another Post-Game Fireworks Show and Princess Night on Saturday, Aug. 17.
