Shuckers shutout Lookouts in season opener
BILOXI, MS - The Biloxi Shuckers opened the 2016 on Thursday night with a 4-0 win over the defending Southern League champion Chattanooga Lookouts at MGM Park. The win makes the Shuckers 2-0 in season-opening games, having won the opener on April 7, 2015 at Pensacola by the score of 4-0.
Biloxi jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Kyle Wren (3x4, 2 R, SB) started his big night with a single to center to start the offense and moved to second on Nathan Orf's (2x4, R) single up the middle. After a fly out by Brett Phillips (1x4, RBI, SB) and a free pass to Jacob Nottingham (0x3, R), Tyrone Taylor (0x4) struck out to set up an early key moment for the Shuckers.
Garrett Cooper (1x3, 2 RBI) worked a 2-2 count before driving a single the other way to right field, plating Wren and Orf for a 2-0 lead. Victor Roache (1x3, RBI, 2B) followed with a ground-rule double to straightaway center, bringing home Nottingham for the third run of the frame.
The three-spot would be enough for Shuckers' pitching, which posted a three-hit shutout. Starter Josh Hader (4 IP, 2 H, 5 SO), came out of the gate strong, striking out the side in the first. The lefty from Maryland walked Travis Harrison to start the second, but got Mitch Garver to pop out to second and induced a double play off the bat of Leo Reginatto to get out of the frame.
Hader worked around a jam in the fourth, as Chattanooga placed runners second and third with two outs. The newly-turned 22-year-old bore down and struck out Stuart Turner to escape the threat and end his outing. Hader threw 84 pitches, 54 for strikes in his first start of 2016 and first career opening day start.
Biloxi turned to the bullpen for the final five innings, and the combination of Drew Gagnon (W, 1-0, 3 IP, 5 SO) and Tristan Archer (2 IP, SO) combined for five shutout innings and six strikeouts lineup to finish off the game.
Gagnon retired the first six men he faced, including striking out the side in the sixth, before finally surrendering a hit to Garver to start the seventh. Archer worked a clean eighth and ninth on just 17 pitches - 13 strikes.
Phillips added on an insurance run for the Shuckers with an RBI single in the fifth to bring home Wren.
The two clubs go back at it on Friday night, with the Shuckers looking to take a two-game lead in the five-game series to open the 2016 campaign. RHP Javi Salas will make his Biloxi debut and face off against Chattanooga's D.J. Baxendale. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and can be heard on the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network starting at 6:50 p.m. with the Beau Rivage Biloxi Shuckers Pregame Show. Fans can listen to the game on WGCM 1240 AM, 100.9 FM and the TuneIn Radio App. The game is also available on MiLB.tv
On Friday night Shuckers' fans will receive a magnet schedule courtesy of Take 5 Oil Change.
Tickets for individual regular season games are currently on-sale and may be purchased by visiting the MGM Park box office or any Ticketmaster outlet. Season Tickets, Shmini Plans, Group Tickets, Party Deck Tickets and Mercedes-Benz Mini Suite Tickets are available by calling the Shuckers at 228-233-3465. For more details, visit biloxishuckers.com.
About the Biloxi Shuckers:
The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and a member of the Southern League. For up-to-date news and notes throughout the offseason, visit biloxishuckers.com, follow the club on Twitter (@biloxishuckers), Instagram (@officialbiloxishuckers) or like the team on Facebook (facebook.com/biloxishuckers).