SL1 Biloxi Shuckers

Shuckers Win Fifth Straight Series After Doubleheader Split against Smokies

Published on May 2, 2016 under Southern League (SL1)
Biloxi Shuckers News Release


BILOXI, MS. - The Biloxi Shuckers split a twin bill with the Tennessee Smokies Monday night at MGM Park, taking the first game 3-2, and dropping the nightcap, 4-1 in extra innings. After nearly five hours of baseball on Monday, the Shuckers earned their fifth consecutive series victory to start the 2016 season and remain 10 games over .500, boasting the best record in the Southern League at 17-7.

Shuckers' game one starting pitcher Javi Salas worked a perfect first inning, but ran into trouble in a two-run second.

Billy McKinney walked to start the frame for Tennessee and moved to second on a stolen base while Mark Zagunis was at the plate, and advanced to third on Zagunis' hard-hit infield single to short.

Zagunis would be caught stealing with Kelly Dugan at the plate for the first out of the inning, just before the first baseman drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left and gave the Smokies the lead.

David Freitas walked to put a runner on first for Carlos Penalver, who then drove a triple to right centerfield to plate the second run of the inning.

Biloxi responded with a rally of its own in the bottom half of the frame, putting up three runs to grab the lead for good.

Jacob Nottingham reached on an error to kick things off, and scored on Garrett Cooper's one-out double to right centerfield to get the Shuckers on the board.

A four-pitch free pass to Nick Shaw put two runners on for Brandon Macias, who took a curveball off the left shoulder to load the bases for Salas. The pitcher could not help his own cause, as he went down on strikes.

Kyle Wren stroked a two-run double to the left-center gap to bring home Cooper and Shaw to give the Shuckers the one-run advantage.

Salas took the lead into the fifth, and recorded two outs after walking the leadoff man, Penalver. A free pass issued to Chesny Young ended the day for the 24-year-old, who gave way to Steve Peterson. The Shuckers' starter allowed two runs on two hits over 4.2 innings, with a season-high five walks and struck out four on 93 pitches - 50 strikes.

Peterson (4-0) induced a groundout off the bat of Jeimer Candelario to escape the fifth with the 3-2 lead.

The southpaw allowed a single to McKinney to start the sixth before striking out Zagunis and Dugan to end his relief appearance.

Shuckers' manager Mike Guerrero called upon Stephen Kohlscheen, who needed only two pitches to set down Freitas on a fly ball to center.

Jaye Chapman (SV, 10) worked a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 10 chances to start the 2016 season. The 28-year-old has retired 34 of 36 batters faced in 12 games.

Nick Ramirez singled in the third inning to become the fourth Shucker this season with a hitting streak of five, or more, games.

Biloxi (17-7) looked for the sweep in the finale at MGM Park.

Neither team put up much offense through the first three innings, combining for just two hits and three total base runners.

Wei-Chung Wang worked efficiently through the first four innings, allowing just one hit and walking a batter while facing the minimum.

The Shuckers jumped in front with Phillips' (2) opposite-field home run off of reliever Brad Markey to left for a 1-0 lead in the fourth.

The edge did not last long, as Tennessee (13-12) evened the score in the fifth.

McKinney and Victor Caratini singled to start the frame and advanced on a walk to Mark Zagunis.

The scenario prompted pitching coach Chris Hook to stroll to the mound and talk things over with his starting pitcher. The chat appeared to work as the lefty induced a run-scoring double play by Ryan Dent and a fly out to center by Penalver to limit the damage.

The score stayed knotted at one going into the seventh and Wang still on the mound. The Taiwan native recorded the first two outs of the inning before being lifted for Tristan Archer. The lefty tossed both a season- and team-high 6.2 innings, with the one run allowed on three hits, three walks and two strikeouts.

Archer (1-2) sat down Caratini on strikes to get out of the seventh, but got hit hard in the eighth.

A leadoff home run off the bat of Zagunis just made it over the wall in straightaway center to put the Shuckers down a run. Dugan followed three batters later with a three-run shot off the auxiliary scoreboard in left.

The Shuckers have an off day on Tuesday, but will take to the road for a five-game trip to Pensacola to face off against the Blue Wahoos starting Wednesday, May 4. The Shuckers will play 17 of the next 22 games away from Biloxi. RHP Adrian Houser (1-2, 7.20) takes the mound in game one for Biloxi, while Pensacola will send out RHP Sal Romano (0-1, 4.090. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with coverage starting at 6:10 p.m. on the Biloxi Shuckers' Radio Network's flagship station WGCM 1240 AM, 100.9 FM, Pascagoula's WPMO 1580 AM and the TuneIn Radio app. The contest can also be seen on milb.tv.

The Shuckers return to MGM Park for a five-game homestand against the Miami Marlins affiliate Jacksonville Suns, Monday, May 9th through Friday, May 13th. The homestand features Bark in the Park, presented by Raising Cane's on May 9th, Diamondhead, Long Beach and Pass Christian Community Night on May 10th, Negro League Tribute Night, honoring the Biloxi Dodgers and Double Play Thursday $2 ballpark specials on May 12th and post-game fireworks on May 13th.

Tickets for individual regular season games are currently on-sale and may be purchased by visiting the MGM Park box office or any Ticketmaster outlet. Season Tickets, Shmini Plans, Group Tickets, Party Deck Tickets and Mercedes-Benz Mini Suite Tickets are available by calling the Shuckers at 228-233-3465. For more details, visit biloxishuckers.com.

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Southern League Stories from May 2, 2016


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