SL Biloxi Shuckers

Shuckers' Bullpen Tosses Five Shutout Innings, Smokies Win, 4-2

August 12, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Biloxi Shuckers News Release


Biloxi Shuckers' Luis Amaya
Biloxi Shuckers' Luis Amaya
(Biloxi Shuckers, Credit: Mike Krebs)

BILOXI, MS - The Biloxi Shuckers' bullpen dazzled to the tune of five shutout innings, but the Tennessee Smokies (62-44, 26-12) scored four early runs to defeat the Shuckers (54-53, 20-18), 4-2, at MGM Park on Saturday night.

The Smokies offense scored first for the fourth time in the series, using a sacrifice fly in the first from Owen Caissie to score Bradlee Beesley and take a 1-0 lead. After Haydn McGeary walked, BJ Murray smashed a two-run home run to left, extending the lead to 3-0.

Shuckers' starter TJ Shook struck out the side in the second. In the third, Owen Caissie lined a double to the wall in left-center, scoring Bradley Beesley from first, and making it 4-0. Shook danced around a baserunner in the fourth, ending his night with his sixth, and final, strikeout.

Smokies' starter and former Southern Miss Golden Eagle, Walker Powell, limited the Shuckers' offense in his return to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He faced the minimum through the first three and used a double play in the fourth to escape trouble. In the fifth, he induced a two-out popout to catcher Pablo Aliendo to work out of a jam, ending his night with five shutout innings on just 62 pitches.

The Shuckers' bullpen continued to dominate after four shutout innings on Friday. Lefty Luis Amaya retired all six batters he faced in two perfect innings, and James Meeker worked around three hits and a walk to tally two more scoreless.

In the eighth, a wild pitch brought Lamar Sparks home for the Shuckers' first run. During the same at-bat, Carlos Rodriguez rolled a ball to first, but a headfirst slide beat the play, allowing Isaac Collins to make it 4-2.

In the ninth, Zach Vennaro tallied a perfect inning for Biloxi, but Braylin Marquez stranded two Shuckers' baserunners with a looking strikeout. The strikeout secured a 4-2 Smokies' win and clinched a series win for Tennessee.

The teams will meet tomorrow at MGM Park for the series finale with first pitch at 5:05 p.m. Christian Mejias will start for Biloxi against Joe Nahas for the Smokies. Southeastern Louisiana Lions baseball head coach, Bobby Barbier will be at MGM Park to throw out the first pitch. Groups of four or more can also grab a Fun Pack for $19 per person, including four reserved level tickets, hot dogs, chips and a drink. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for pregame player autographs and enjoy a postgame catch on the field. Fans can receive a Shuckers team poster presented by Mele Printing, receive pregame autographs and have a catch on the field after the game.

The game can be heard on Cruisin' WGCM 1240 AM, 100.9 FM with coverage beginning at 4:50 p.m. with the Biloxi Shuckers Pregame Show. The game can also be seen live on MiLB.tv.

Individual tickets, group outings, Shuck Nation memberships and Flex Plans for the 2023 Biloxi Shuckers season are available now by calling (228) 233-3465 or visiting biloxishuckers.com.

Check out the Biloxi Shuckers Statistics




Images from this story

Biloxi Shuckers' Luis Amaya
Biloxi Shuckers' Luis Amaya
(Mike Krebs)		   



Southern League Stories from August 12, 2023


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