Jumbo Shrimp fall to BayBears 9-3

MOBILE, Ala. - The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (28-26, 58-66) fell to the Mobile BayBears (28-27, 58-66) by a 9-3 score in the fifth and final game of the five-game series at Hank Aaron Stadium on Sunday evening.

Mobile right-handed starting pitcher Luis Pena (1-0) earned the win in his Double-A debut, pitching six innings where he allowed one unearned run on three hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. Jacksonville right-handed starting pitcher Joe Gunkel (4-9) took the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits with two strikeouts in his five innings of work.
The BayBears started the scoring with a two-run bottom of the first, featuring RBI doubles by Matt Thaiss and Jose Rojas to lead 2-0. Jacksonville made it a one run game in the top of the fourth inning, when Austin Dean scored from third base as David Vidal hit into a double play, and the Jumbo Shrimp trailed 2-1. The BayBears got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Alberto Triunfel to grow the lead to 3-1. Mobile made it a 5-1 game in the bottom of the fifth, as Zach Houchins hit a two-run home run off Gunkel in his final inning of work.
The BayBears added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh, and then in the eighth Thaiss added a two-run double to grow the lead to 9-1. In the top off the ninth, Vidal powered a two-run home run over the left field wall to put the score at 9-3, which would be the final.
The Jumbo Shrimp will bus home through the night to Jacksonville, and Monday will begin a six-game series against the Birmingham Barons at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville at 7:05 p.m. Right-handed pitcher Chris Mazza (3-7, 2.88 ERA) will start for Jacksonville against Birmingham left-handed pitcher Tanner Banks (3-5, 4.50 ERA). Fans can listen to the game on the Jumbo Shrimp Network presented by Community First, beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the pregame show "Shrimp On Deck" locally on FM 100.3 The Biz and AM 1600, on the TuneIn Radio app, and www.jaxshrimp.com.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are beginning a new era of affordable family fun with the 2017 season presented by Community First Credit Union at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. With a new lineup of ticket and group options, there is a reason for everyone to get part of the action by calling the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visiting www.jaxshrimp.com.