Shuckers take first ever series after 7-2 triumph on Saturday

PENSACOLA, FLA. - The Biloxi Shuckers could not have asked for a better start to the franchise's history, as the club won its third game in three tries after taking down the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Saturday night, 7-2. Biloxi has dominated Pensacola 18-3 through the first three games of the series and sit alone atop the entire Southern League with the 3-0 record.

Entering Saturday's game, the Shuckers were just one of just three minor league teams to have not surrendered an earned run (Columbus, AAA CLE, New Hampshire, AA TOR).

It didn't take long for the Shuckers to jump on the scoreboard when Orlando Arcia (2x4, 3B, R, RBI) continued to swing a hot bat and tripled with one out in the first. Nathan Orf (3x4, RBI) followed with a single up the middle to score Arcia to give Biloxi a 1-0 lead. Arcia has recorded three straight multi-hit contests and is 7-for-12 with four runs, two doubles, a triple and four RBI to open the 2015 season. His seven hits lead the Southern League in hits.

Pensacola was quick to respond when Seth Mejias-Brean singled up the middle to bring in Juan Silva to tie the game at one.

The Shuckers (3-0) responded in the second inning, putting up two runs to retake the lead.

Yadiel Rivera (3x3, SB, 3B, RBI, BB, 2 R) and Josh Fellhauer (1x4, R, BB) reached safely on singles to put runners on the corners before Parker Berberet struck out looking. Hobbs Johnson tried to lay down a bunt to advance Fellhauer, but ended up reaching safely on an error by pitcher Tim Adleman to load the bases.

Kyle Wren (2x5, R) flew out to center for the second out to set up the hot-hitting Arcia.

The Brewers' No. 2 prospect, according to Baseball America, promptly lined a single to left that was misplayed by Sean Buckley and scored two, giving the Shuckers a 3-1 lead they would never relinquish.

Nick Ramirez (1x2, HR) placed himself in the Biloxi Shuckers record book as he blasted a pinch hit homer over the right field wall in the top of the seventh, extending the lead to 4-1.

Biloxi tacked on two more runs in the eighth and another in the ninth to give the Shuckers their final tally.

Starting pitcher Hobbs Johnson labored through 2.2 innings, allowing a run on two hits, four walks and two strike outs, but needed 61 pitches.

Brent Suter whirled a gem out of relief for Johnson. The left-handed reliever retired Mejias-Brean and Kyle Skipworth to get out of the bases-loaded jam in the third, and allowed just three base runners over his 3.2 innings of work to go along with six punch outs.

Austin Ross (2 IP, R, 2 SO) and Damien Magnifico (IP, SO) held down Pensacola in the final three innings to wrap up the contest.

Pensacola (0-3) starter Tim Adleman allowed three runs - one earned - on 10 hits in his quality start.

The combination of Carlos Gonzalez (IP, R), Kevin Shackelford (IP, 2 R) and Ben Klimesh (IP, R, SO) took the final three frames for the Blue Wahoos.

The two teams will play game four of the five-game set Sunday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, where RHP Jorge Lopez will make his first start of 2015 against LHP Wandy Peralta. Lopez was Milwaukee's lone reprehensive in the MLB Futures Game in 2014. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., with coverage beginning at 3:45 p.m. on 1240-AM WGCM 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. The game can also be seen, live, on MiLB.TV.