Shuckers win rubber match over Barons, 4-1, taking series
BIRMINGHAM, AL. - The Biloxi Shuckers head back to Biloxi after winning their first series of the second half, taking the rubber match against the Birmingham Barons, 4-1, on Sunday night at Regions Field. The victory gives the Shuckers a 7-3 record against the Barons during the 2016 season, with five games remaining between the two clubs.
Biloxi (4-6, 43-36) went down in order in the first, but broke through the scoreboard in the second to grab an early lead in the finale.
Garrett Cooper (2x4, 2 R, 2B, BB) walked to extend his club-record on-base streak to 24 games to lead off the inning and moved up to second on a single to right off the bat of Jacob Nottingham (1x4, R, RBI). After Nick Ramirez (0x4) struck out and Gabriel Noriega (1x4) grounded out to third, Javier Betancourt (1x3, 2 RBI) snapped an 0-for-20 stretch with a two-run single to left-center to give the Shuckers a 2-0 lead.
Biloxi would scratch another tally in the third on Nottingham's RBI fielder's choice with that bases loaded, scoring Tyrone Taylor (2x5, R). Cooper preceded the run-scoring knock with a single that hit off the umpire at second base to lengthen to Auburn product's hitting streak to a Shuckers' season-high 11 games.
Birmingham (5-5, 34-45) answered with a run of its own in the third after Adam Engel started the frame with a single to left, and stole second with Eddy Alvarez at the plate. An errant throw by Nottingham sailed into center, allowing Engel to reach third. Alvarez lined a single to left to score the Barons' first run of the game and cut the Shuckers' lead to two.
The Shuckers jumped back to a three-run edge in the fifth after Cooper ripped his 22nd double of the season down the line in right with one out. The designated hitter moved up to third when Nottingham reached on an error by Alvarez at short, and scored on a wild pitch to Ramirez in the next at-bat.
Brandon Woodruff (3-5) took the mound for Biloxi in the rubber match, and the Wheeler, Miss. native came an out short of his third quality start at the Double-A level. The 23-year-old lasted 5.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits, with a walk and seven strikeouts on 98 pitches (67 strikes). The right-hander earned his first win since June 5 against the Montgomery Biscuits (four starts).
Shuckers' manager Mike Guerrero turned to Tristan Archer with two on and two out in the sixth, and the Kingsport, Tenn. native induced a lineout to right by Jeremy Dowdy to end the inning. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed a hit in 1.1 innings of work out of the bullpen on Sunday night.
Junior Rincon worked a perfect eighth inning. The 24-year-old has retired all 12 batters faced to start his time in Biloxi. Stephen Kohlscheen (SV, 8) earned his eighth save in nine opportunities with a perfect ninth by striking out the side.
James Dykstra (2-4) allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, two free passes and eight strikeouts across five innings in the spot-start for the Barons. The former sixth-round pick has dropped his last two decisions.
Biloxi heads back home to MGM Park to host the Jacksonville Suns for five games starting Monday night. RHP Brooks Hall (2-1, 4.54) takes the mound in game one for the Shuckers, while RHP Hunter Adkins (1-2, 5.79) toes the rubber for the Suns. 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.
Shuckers' baseball returns to MGM Park when the club hosts the Jacksonville Suns at MGM Park, tomorrow through Friday, July 8th. Celebrate a family friendly Independence Day with Shuckers baseball on the tomorrow, followed by a special Independence Day Patriotic Themed Fireworks Extravaganza. The sky will light up Biloxi with over 4,000 shells being fired from center field. Fans will enjoy $2 ballpark specials on Double Play Thursday, July 7th and the homestand concludes on Friday July 9th, with the first 1,500 fans receiving a Biloxi Shuckers Beach Towel, courtesy of Beau Rivage.
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).