Miscues cost Shuckers in 9-2 loss to Barons
BILOXI, MS. - The Biloxi Shuckers tied a season-high with four errors on Tuesday night including two in the fifth inning, as the home team fell, 9-2, to the Birmingham Barons at MGM Park, snapping a three-game winning streak. The loss paired with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos walk-off victory over the Montgomery Biscuits places the Shuckers a game back of first place in the Southern League South division with six games remaining in the first half.
Biloxi (36-27) found itself down 4-1 after four innings for a second-consecutive night, but Birmingham (27-37) would stop any thought of a comeback in the fifth. The fateful inning saw the Barons bring 11 batters to the plate in a five-run frame, ending the night for Shuckers' starter Jorge Ortega (0-6) after 4.1 innings.
Joey DeMichele started the inning by reaching on a dropped third strike, Jake Peter singling to left and Eudy Pina reaching on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with one out. Trey Michalczewski poked a run-scoring single to left, scoring DeMichele. Keon Barnum roped a double to right-center to plate Pina for the sixth run of the game for the visitors, prompting a pitching change for the home team.
Tyler Spurlin entered with runners at second and third, and Jeremy Dowdy reached on an error by second baseman Nick Shaw, scoring Michalczewski to increase the Shuckers' deficit to six. Marcus Lemon stroked a single to center to bring home Barnum for the fourth run of the inning. Adam Engel continued the attack with an RBI single, scoring Dowdy for the fifth run of the inning and putting Biloxi in a 9-1 hole.
Jacob Nottingham continued his hot stretch at the plate, as the Shuckers' backstop picked up two more hits, raising his average to .264 after ending April with a .159 clip. The 21-year-old has reached base safely in 21 of his last 22 games and hit in 18 of his last 22 games.
Brett Phillips singled and doubled to extend his on-base streak to six games, as the outfielder has reached base safely in 16 of his last 17 contests.
Barons' starter David Holmberg (5-4) won his third-consecutive start, and fourth-consecutive decision, with six innings of two-run ball on eight hits, a walk and five strikeouts.
The two clubs will wrap up the five-game set on Tuesday night at MGM Park. LHP Wei-Chung Wang (2-3, 4.61) takes the mound for Biloxi, while Birmingham will counter with 2015 first-round draft pick RHP Carson Fulmer (3-7, 5.37). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m., with coverage starting at 6:50 p.m. on the Biloxi Shuckers' Radio Network's flagship station WGCM 1240 AM, 100.9 FM, Pascagoula's WPMO 1580 AM and the TuneIn Radio app.
Tuesday's contest will feature Gulfport Community Night at the stadium.
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).