Brice, 10-run third inning doom Shuckers in 12-1 loss to Suns
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Jacksonville starter Austin Brice tossed eight shutout innings on one hit and struck out 13 Biloxi batters while the Suns' offense plated 10 runs in the third en route to a 12-1 win over the Shuckers Monday at Bragan Field. The Shuckers set season highs in strikeouts in a game at the plate with 13, surrendered their most runs allowed in a game and suffered their worst defeat of the season. This coming a day after beating the Suns 11-1 on Sunday and setting a season-high with a 10-run margin of victory. Despite the loss, Biloxi still dominated the season series against Jacksonville, taking 11 of the 15 meetings in 2015.
Biloxi starter Brooks Hall (7-4) allowed one run in the first on a sacrifice fly by Matt Juengel and worked a perfect second before the wheels came off in the third. The righty gave up six-consecutive singles and a walk to bring in four runs before being relieved by Trevor Seidenberger (3 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 SO). The lefty reliever forced in a run with a walk to Zack Cox before recording the first out of the inning on a strikeout to Chadd Krist. Jacksonville (2-3) would go on to tally 10 runs on seven hits in the frame, the most given up by Biloxi pitching in any inning this season.
The Shuckers' starter ended up yielding eight runs on seven hits and two walks in matching his shortest outing of the season, which happened against the Suns on May 17. The Anderson, South Carolina native has allowed 16 runs in 10 innings against Jacksonville this season.
Martin Viramontes (0.2 IP, H) came on to take the sixth for Biloxi (3-2), but had to leave due to an apparent lower-body injury after allowing two base runners and recording two outs. Manny Barreda (2.1 IP, 2 H, 3 SO) relieved the 25-year-old and retired Cox on a pop out.
Brice (3-6) struck out Nathan Orf (0x3, BB) to start the game and allowed a hit to the second batter he faced in Josh Fellhauer (1x3, BB), but cruised through his eight innings of work, setting down 20-consecutive Shuckers after the single - 12 via strikeout. Taylor Green (0x2, BB) broke the stretch with a one-out walk in the eighth. In total, Brice retired 24 of 26 batters faced and set a career-high with 13 strikeouts.
Biloxi broke up the shutout against reliever Craig Stem in the ninth when a passed-ball third strike to Orlando Arcia (0x4) brought in Adam Weisenburger (0x0, R, BB).
Arcia's hitless performance ended his seven-game hitting streak and his four strikeouts tied him for the most strikeouts in a game with Nick Ramirez (0x4) at four.
Biloxi will have an off day on Tuesday before returning home to take on their Magnolia state rival, the Mississippi Braves, for a three-game set at MGM Park. RHP Tyler Wagner (6-2, 2.44) will take the mound for the Shuckers in game one, while the Braves will counter with RHP Greg Ross (2-7, 6.20). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:55 a.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.
The Shuckers face the Braves Wednesday through Friday with Wednesday and Thursday being a 7:10 pm start while Friday, July 3 is a 6:10 pm start time with post-game fireworks. In addition to purchasing tickets at the MGM Park Box Office, fans may also use the options listed below from Ticketmaster. In order to purchase tickets over the phone, please call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. The MGM Park Box Office does not process any phone sales. All phone sales must be made through Ticketmaster with the number provided. In order to purchase tickets online, please visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.BiloxiShuckers.com. Tickets may also be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets. Please visit www.ticketmaster.com for additional locations in your area. ** There are no refunds or exchanges for individual game tickets**