Leblanc's home runs, Meyer's pitching spark Jacksonville
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charles Leblanc socked two home runs and Max Meyer pitched 6.2 strong innings on Saturday to lead the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to a 5-1 victory over the Charlotte Knights from Truist Field. Leblanc broke a scoreless tie in the second by homering off Charlotte (9-14) starter John
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charles Leblanc socked two home runs and Max Meyer pitched 6.2 strong innings on Saturday to lead the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to a 5-1 victory over the Charlotte Knights from Truist Field.
Leblanc broke a scoreless tie in the second by homering off Charlotte (9-14) starter John Parke (1-2) with two outs.
The Jumbo Shrimp (13-10) loaded the bases with no one out in the third inning thanks to a Joe Dunand walk and singles from Erik González and Peyton Burdick. A double play ground ball plated Dunand to extend the lead to 2-0.
With the same score in the top of the seventh, Leblanc smashed his second long ball of the game for his second multi-homer game in 10 days.
The Knights finally broke through against Meyer in the seventh. Dwight Smith Jr. doubled with two outs before a Jameson Fisher RBI single and Zach Remillard base hit ended Meyer’s afternoon. The right-handed ceded just one run on six hits in a career-high 6.2 innings, fanning six against one walk.
JJ Bleday started the ninth with a walk. Two batters later, Norel González smashed a two-run home run to widen the gap to 5-1.
Dylan Floro pitched a 1-2-3 eighth in a rehab appearance and Grant Dayton tossed a perfect ninth to seal the win.
Jacksonville looks for a series win in Sunday’s 1:05 p.m. first pitch. LHP Braxton Garrett (2-1, 3.86 ERA) starts for the Jumbo Shrimp against Knights RHP Emilio Vargas (0-2, 8.10 ERA). Coverage begins at 12:50 p.m. on ESPN 690 and 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.