JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-hander Keury Mella pitched seven scoreless innings, and left fielder Brian O'Grady hit an eighth-inning home run for a 1-0 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp before 5,762 saw NAPA AutoCare Family Fireworks at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Friday night.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-hander Keury Mella pitched seven scoreless innings, and left fielder Brian O'Grady hit an eighth-inning home run for a 1-0 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp before 5,762 saw NAPA AutoCare Family Fireworks at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Friday night.
In the first game of his rehab assignment in Jacksonville, Miami Marlins shortstop JT Riddle - a 2016 Southern League Postseason All-Star - played seven innings at shortstop and went 1-for-3 with a first-inning single off the right-field wall.
Jax Jumbo Shrimp Highlights - April 27, 2018
Jumbo Shrimp right-hander Pablo López matched Mella (3-0) for the first five innings, scattering four hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Lopez has begun his Double-A career with two scoreless starts for nine combined shutout innings. Pensacola (10-12) came closest to scoring in the top of the third inning, when second baseman Shed Long hit a two-out single and went to second base when the ball got past right fielder John Norwood. Shortstop Luis Gonzalez singled to left field, and Long tried to score but was out on left fielder Austin Dean's throw to catcher Rodrigo Vigil. Long left the game in the bottom of the fourth inning - a switch that brought O'Grady into the game in left field.
Randy Ready Postgame vs. Pensacola 4/27/18
After Lopez, Jumbo Shrimp right-hander Jorgan Cavanerio (0-1) pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings, but O'Grady hit the first pitch of the eighth inning to the right-field bleachers, homering for the second straight game against Jacksonville (9-12). Cavanerio allowed four total hits in 2 2/3 innings, walking two batters and striking out five. Right-hander Marcus Crescentini allowed one hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Mella held Jacksonville (9-12) to three hits and no walks with nine strikeouts. Blue Wahoos right-hander Carlos Navas pitched a perfect eighth inning and worked around a ninth-inning, one-out single for his first save.
UP NEXT: The Jumbo Shrimp continue their series with Pensacola at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, when Jacksonville right-hander Cody Poteet (1-1) is scheduled to face Blue Wahoos right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez (0-3). Gates open at 5:30 p.m., when the first 2,000 fans receive a Jumbo Shrimp Cap, courtesy of 121 Financial and Darley's Plumbing. The Jumbo Shrimp will wear custom, limited edition Guy Harvey Jumbo Shrimp and Marlin Jerseys, which will be auctioned during the game to raise money for the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. Jumbo Shrimp season ticket holder and author Armand Rosamilia will be signing his latest book, A View From My Seat: My Baseball Season With The Jumbo Shrimp. For Boy Scout Night, Boy Scouts will have a pregame Scout March and overnight campout in the outfield. Following the game are Saturday Fireworks, which continue at each Saturday home game through June 16.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. 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. 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.
