BayBears outlast Shuckers in franchise's first extra-inning game
HUNTSVILLE, AL - In the longest game in franchise history Friday night, the Shuckers dropped game two of their five-game series with the Mobile BayBears, 4-2, in 13 innings at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville. The BayBears struck for two runs in the top of the 13th inning after the Shuckers rallied to tie the game in the ninth and send the game to extras. The win was the seventh in-a-row for Mobile and second straight over Biloxi, propelling them into first place by a ½ game over the Shuckers.
Friday's game was 4 hours in duration and 12 pitchers were used, six on each side. The Shuckers wore throwback Huntsville Stars jerserys that were auctioned during the game, which proceeds benefitted the Huntsville area Alzheimer's Association.
Brooks Hall (6 IP, 3 H, 6 SO) surrendered a leadoff double to Tom Belza to open the game, but retired 13-straight BayBears before allowing back-to-back singles to Alex Glenn and Ronnie Freeman in the fifth. The righty from Anderson, South Carolina then sat down the final five batters he faced before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the sixth. Hall, making his team-leading fifth start has a 0.96 ERA which is tied with Mobile's Braden Shipley for tops in the Southern League
Biloxi (14-8) had a chance to get on the board first in the sixth when Kyle Wren (1x4, R, SB, 2 BB) singled with one out and advanced to second on a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Gebhardt. With Yadiel Rivera (0x6) at the plate, Wren stole third, but a strikeout to Rivera and a groundout by Orlando Arcia (1x6, RBI, R, SB) ended the Shuckers' threat.
Jacob Barnes (2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, SO) came on in the seventh and allowed two runs on three hits in the frame.
Rudy Flores started things with a single and moved to second on a one-out single by Alex Glenn. After a Ronnie Freeman groundout put runners at second and third, Gebhardt sent a 3-2 pitch up the middle to bring in two and give Mobile a 2-0 lead.
The Shuckers tied the game in dramatic fashion in the ninth. Mobile starter Gabriel Arias, trying for a complete game shutout, walked Wren to start the inning and advanced to third on a ground out by Rivera. Arcia singled in Rivera and advanced on the throw to get Biloxi on the board and put the tying run in scoring position.
Nick Ramirez (0x5, BB) struck out against lefty reliever Will Locante, but Michael Reed (3x5, RBI, 2B) doubled off of Patrick Schuster to tie the game at two and send the game to extras.
Damien Magnifico (IP, 2 H, SO) and Jaye Chapman (IP, SO) held off the BayBears' offense until Austin Ross came in and dominated in his two innings of relief, striking out five and extending his scoreless-innings streak to 11.
Mobile (14-7) grabbed two runs against Wirfin Obispo (L, 0-1, IP, 2 R, 2 H, BB, SO). After starting the inning with back-to-back strikeouts, Flores singled to right and advanced to second on a passed ball by Adam Weisenburger (0x5). An intentional-walk to Raul Navarro put two on with two out for pinch hitter Gerson Montilla who doubled home both runners before being tagged out trying to make third on the play
Wren walked to lead off the bottom-half of the 13th for Biloxi, but would only make it to second on defensive indifference before Ramirez struck out looking to end the game.
The Shuckers will try to stave off dropping their second series of the year against the BayBears on Saturday night when they send out the Southern League leader in wins, RHP Tyler Wagner (4-0, 2.05), against RHP Aaron Blair (1-1, 4.01) First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:55 p.m. on 1240-AM WGCM, 1580-AM WPMO and the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network. Fans can also listen to the game using the TuneIn Radio app or by going to www.biloxishuckers.com.