BayBears hold off Jumbo Shrimp in series opener, 3-1

MOBILE, Ala. - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp right-hander Max Duval pitched a season-long seven innings, not allowing a hit in six of them, but the Mobile BayBears scored three runs on four hits in the second inning and shut out the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp until two outs in the ninth inning of a 3-1 win in the opener of a four-game series at Hank Aaron Stadium.

Duval (2-8) allowed the BayBears (7-5 second half, 44-36 overall) to score all their runs and tally all four of their hits in the bottom of the second inning. First baseman Jared Walsh doubled to left field and went to third base on third baseman Zach Houchins' single to center field. After shortstop Roberto Baldoquin popped out, second baseman Jose Rojas hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Walsh. Catcher Michael Barash then hit a two-run home run to left-center field.
Mobile did not have another runner in scoring position after the second inning. At one point, Duval retired 10 batters in a row. He walked three batters and struck out three. After Duval, right-hander Reilly Hovis pitched a perfect eighth inning.
BayBears right-hander Alex Klonowski (5-1) shut out Jacksonville (3-10, 31-50) for the first six innings, allowing a hit in each of his innings but stranding six runners on base. He did not walk a batter and struck out six. Following Klonowski, right-hander Tyler Stevens pitched a perfect seventh inning and worked around a pair of singles in the eighth inning, striking out three batters in two scoreless innings.
With Jacksonville trailing 3-0 and two outs in the ninth inning against Mobile right-hander Zac Ryan, Jumbo Shrimp catcher Rodrigo Vigil singled to center field. Third baseman Brian Schales walked, and left fielder Brian Miller hit an RBI double to right field. With the tying runs at second and third base, Jacksonville center fielder Monte Harrison, already with a game-best three hits, grounded out to Baldoquin at shortstop to end the BayBears' 3-1 win with Ryan's second save.
UP NEXT: The Jumbo Shrimp will continue their series in Mobile at 7:35 p.m. Thursday. Jacksonville returns home to begin a nine-game homestand with the opener of a four-game series against Chattanooga at 6:05 p.m. Sunday. Gates open at 5 p.m., when families can play catch on the field, followed by player autographs as part of Baptist Health Sunday Family FUNday presented by Wolfson Children's Hospital Rehab. Kids activities will be in the Wolfson Children's Hospital Kids Zone, and following the game, kids 12 and under can run the bases. Star Wars Night presented by Bowden Eye includes face painting, balloon animals, and the chance to meet Star Wars characters in person, thanks to the 501st Legion and WasabiCon. The game is presented by Easy 102.9.
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.