Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp: Game Notes, April 27 vs. Tennessee
April 27, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp look for their fourth straight win when they host the Tennessee Smokies at 6:35 p.m. from the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. On Halfway To Pumpkin Spice Night presented by 121 Financial, the first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive a special Jumbo Shrimp coffee tumbler. Fans can also enjoy Pumpkin Spice Shrimp and win pumpkin spice prizes that may or may not have been purchased last October when they were still in the store. Following the game, the Jumbo Shrimp will unveil a Saturday Night Fireworks show presented by 121 Financial.
JACKSONVILLE ROLLS BY TENNESSEE 6-3
Bryson Brigman lashed three hits and reached base four times and McKenzie Mills fired six strong innings Friday to lead the Jumbo Shrimp to a 6-3 win over Tennessee. Robel Garcia's RBI double gave the Smokies a 1-0 lead in the first, but Jacksonville immediately responded. A Joe Dunand sacrifice fly and Brigman RBI single in the bottom of the frame put the Jumbo Shrimp ahead. Justin Twine drew a bases-loaded walk before another Dunand sacrifice fly and Brigman RBI single to make it 5-1 Jacksonville in the second. Twine blasted an RBI single in the fourth to widen the margin to 6-1. P.J. Higgins launched a two-run home run in the ninth, but Tennessee could get no closer. Mills whiffed eight batters and allowed just one run on five hits.
SO MANY HUGS, SO MUCH LOVE
Jacksonville's first three-game winning streak of the season has been spurred by a suddenly-hot offense. The Jumbo Shrimp have put up 21 runs in the last three games after having scored just 43 in the campaign's first 20 contests. Jacksonville erupted for 11 tallies on Wednesday at Biloxi, their most runs in a game in almost exactly a year, when they plated 11 on April 22, 2018 in an 11-5 triumph at Tennessee. The club followed that up Thursday with an 11-hit barrage against Tennessee. The Jumbo Shrimp then matched their season-high in hits (13) in Friday's contest against the Smokies, which had previously been set at the beginning of this three-game stretch. Jacksonville has seen 14 multi-hit efforts in the last two games.
*STARTING* TO FIGURE IT OUT?
In the first 20 games of the season, Jacksonville starting pitchers compiled a 2-13 record and 5.33 ERA over 81.0 innings. Jumbo Shrimp lid-lifters combined for 41 walks (4.7 BB/9), 78 strikeouts (8.7 K/9) and 84 hits allowed (9.3 H/9). However, the club's three-game winning streak has seen stellar starting pitching. Over these last three games, Jordan Yamamoto, Cody Poteet and Jordan Mills have combined for a 3-0 record and 2.50 ERA. The trio of starters have walked seven (3.5 BB), fanned 14 (7.0 K/9) and yielded 15 hits (7.5 H/9). Poteet hurled seven scoreless innings on Thursday against Tennessee, becoming the first Jumbo Shrimp starter this year to complete seven innings. Mills ceded just one run on five hits in six innings on Friday.
IT'S MILLER'S TIME
In five games from April 12 through April 17, Jacksonville outfielder Brian Miller went just 2-for-18 (.111), dropping his season batting line to .178/.213/.267. However, in the eight games since, including a five-hit barrage on April 20, Miller is 12-for-33 (.364/.417/.576) with two doubles, one triple, one home run and five RBIs. After posting batted ball rates to center field of 24.6 percent (2017, Low-A), 26.5 percent (2018, High-A) and 23.7 percent (2018, Double-A), Miller is using the middle of the field 36.5 percent this year.
JUST IN TWINE
Infielder Justin Twine has been a consistent force on offense for Jacksonville. The Falls City, Texas native has reached base in 16 of the last 18 games, batting 22-for-69 with a double, two triples, home run, eight RBIs, four walks and two hit-by-pitches to post a .319/.382/.435 batting line during this run. After recording 37.4 and 44.9 percent pull rates with Jacksonville and High-A Jupiter, respectively, in 2018, Twine is pulling the ball at a 51.8 percent rate this season. That figure is the 14th-highest such mark in the Southern League.
ARMS RACE
Jumbo Shrimp catchers Rodrigo Vigil, Santiago Chavez and B.J Lopez (currently back with High-A Jupiter) have teamed to form a dynamic defensive backstop trio this season for Jacksonville. Chavez's eight men caught stealing is tied for the Double-A lead, and as a team, the Jumbo Shrimp have gunned down 16 potential base stealers, trailing only the Down East Wood Ducks' (High-A, Texas Rangers) 18 for the MiLB lead. The Shrimp's 44.4 percent caught stealing rate ranks seventh in Double-A.
SHRIMP SCOPES
The Shrimp have served up 23 home runs this season, vaulting the club into a tie for 27th in Double-A... The club loves the performance of late from Corey Bird, who has unlocked a strong streak over his last 12 games started. In this run, Bird is 13-for-37 (.351) with a double and RBI, collecting four walks and four stolen bases. Bird owns an on-base percentage of .415 over the last 12 games. He has registered six steals on the year (T-4th in the SL)... Needing one more victory for a series win against the Smokies, Robert Dugger starts Saturday for Jacksonville.
Southern League Stories from April 27, 2019
- M-Braves Suffer Heartbreaking Doubleheader Sweep on Saturday - Mississippi Braves
- Peralta Strikes out Seven But Shuckers Drop Third Straight to Lookouts - Biloxi Shuckers
- Dugger, Dunand Power Shrimp to 6-3 Victory - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Bullpen Falters in 4-3 Defeat against Pensacola - Jackson Generals
- Wahoos Earn Slim Win over Generals, 4-3 - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Biscuits Edge Barons, 3-2 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Offensive Struggles Continue as Barons Fall to Biscuits - Birmingham Barons
- Smokies Doubled Up, Drop Fourth Straight - Knoxville Smokies
- Highly-Rated Pitching Prospect Luis Madero Joins BayBears - Mobile BayBears
- Freddy Peralta Assigned to Shuckers on Rehab - Biloxi Shuckers
- Generals Gameday: April 27 vs. Pensacola - Jackson Generals
- Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp: Game Notes, April 27 vs. Tennessee - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
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