Jumbo Shrimp overpowered by IronPigs

Jacksonville surrenders six home runs in 12-6 loss to Lehigh Valley

Griffin Conine hit his first Triple-A home run on Friday at Lehigh Valley. (Kate Kirsch/Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp)

By Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

August 18, 2023

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Home runs from Xavier Edwards and Griffin Conine weren’t enough on Friday for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs smashed six round-trippers en route to a 12-6 victory at Coca-Cola Park. Thanks to Edwards’ leadoff home run and a Peyton Burdick RBI single later

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Home runs from Xavier Edwards and Griffin Conine weren’t enough on Friday for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs smashed six round-trippers en route to a 12-6 victory at Coca-Cola Park.

Thanks to Edwards’ leadoff home run and a Peyton Burdick RBI single later off Lehigh Valley (63-52, 27-15) starter Shaun Anderson (2-1) in the first inning, Jacksonville (56-61, 24-19) led 2-0 after their first at-bats. That advantage, however, quickly evaporated. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Aramis Garcia singled off Jumbo Shrimp starter Devin Smeltzer (4-8). Darick Hall then clocked a two-run homer to tie the score.

The IronPigs grabbed the lead in the second. Cristian Pache singled, stole second and advanced to third on an error. After a walk, Pache scored on Jim Haley’s RBI ground out.

In the third, Garcia crushed his first long ball of the game to make it 4-2. However, in the fourth, Conine’s first Triple-A dinger brought the Jumbo Shrimp within one.

Lehgh Valley again answered immediately. Scott Kingery singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Haley followed with a two-run shot. Two batters after that, Dustin Peterson went yard to widen the gap to 7-3.

Another two-out rally for the IronPigs helped them add to the lead in the sixth. After Brandon Marsh walked, Garcia went yard for the second time to make it 9-3.

An inning later, Pache led off by reaching on an error. Two batters later, Haley walked. Cal Stevenson then smoked a three-run bomb to put the margin at 12-3.

The Jumbo Shrimp finally got back on the scoreboard in the ninth. Jake Mangum doubled and Edwards walked to jumpstart the inning. After a ground out and strikeout, Jorge Alfaro and Austin Allen each drew a free pass, with the latter scoring a run. Burdick then drove in two more runs with a double, but Jacksonville could get no closer in a 12-6 defeat.

Jacksonville meets Lehigh Valley in Saturday’s 6:35 p.m. contest. RHP Chi Chi González (6-8, 6.00 ERA) starts for the Jumbo Shrimp against IronPigs RHP Tyler Phillips (0-1, 4.20). Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on ESPN 690 and www.ESPN690.com.

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.