Jacksonville takes fifth straight behind Encarnacion

CHARLOTTE – Jerar Encarnacion reached base four times, homered, threw out a runner at the plate and scored two runs Thursday as the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp recorded their fifth straight win with a 7-2 triumph at the Charlotte Knights from Truist Field.

With Charlotte (5-7) ahead 1-0, Encarnacion singled and Peyton Burdick walked against Knights starter Daniel Ponce de Leon (0-1) to start the second. A bunt pushed the runners into scoring position before Jacob Amaya laced a double off the right field wall to plate two and give Jacksonville (7-4) a 2-1 advantage.

The Jumbo Shrimp tacked on more offense in the third. Xavier Edwards walked to begin the frame. After a fly out, consecutive walks to Jordan Groshans and Encarnacion loaded the bases for Burdick, who laced an RBI single to widen the gap to 3-1.

The score remained that way until the fifth. An Erik González single coupled with an error put a runner on second to begin the inning. After a pair of ground outs, Zach Remillard drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Adam Haseley then smashed a ball down the right field line to plate González. Remillard tried to score from first, but Encarnacion delivered a perfect throw from right field to nab Remillard at the plate and preserve the Jacksonville advantage.

One-out singles by Edwards and C.J. Hinojosa put two runners on in the sixth. Following a strikeout, Encarnacion bashed a three-run homer to right to put the tally at 6-2.

Jacksonville capped the scoring in the ninth. Amaya singled with two outs and raced around to score on a Charles Leblanc triple, putting things at 7-2.

The Knights initially took the lead in their first at-bats. Remillard walked and advanced to second on a balk. After a fly out, Remillard scored on a Victor Reyes single for the game’s first run.

Robert Garcia (1-1) earned the win in relief with 1.1 scoreless innings. Dylan Bice picked up the save with 3.0 innings of one-hit ball in his Triple-A debut.

Jacksonville vies for their sixth straight win in Friday’s 7:04 p.m. start at Charlotte. RHP Bryan Hoeing (0-0, 5.14 ERA) starts for the Jumbo Shrimp against Knights RHP Davis Martin (0-0, 4.50 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:49 p.m. on ESPN 690, www.ESPN690.com and the MiLB First Pitch app.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by general manager Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marked the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.