SL1 Biloxi Shuckers

Three Homers Back Salas in 6-2 Victory to Stay Perfect

Published on April 8, 2016 under Southern League (SL1)
Biloxi Shuckers News Release


BILOXI, MS - The Biloxi Shuckers got home runs from Jacob Nottingham, Victor Roache and Brett Phillips on Friday night, backing Javi Salas' big night on the mound during the Shuckers 6-2 win over Chattanooga. The Shuckers stay perfect on the season 2-0 for the first time in franchise history.

In mirror image of the season opener on Thursday, the Shuckers used a three-run first to jump all over Chattanooga for a second consecutive night.

Back-to-back doubles from Nathan Orf (2x4, 2 R, 2B) and Brett Phillips (3x4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2B) plated the first run of the game, setting up Jacob Nottingham's (1x4, HR, 2 RBI, R) two-run blast to straightaway center for the quick three-run advantage.

Javi Salas (1-0) took the bump for Biloxi and continued the hot stretch of pitching to start the 2016 season. The 24-year-old righty retired the first seven Lookouts to step in the batter's box before hitting Stuart Turner with a first-pitch curveball.

The Coral Gables, Fla. native took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Turner burned the starter again, this time with a leadoff double. Chattanooga would plate its first run of the game two batters later on a RBI groundout by Zach Granite.

Salas tossed 5.2 innings, surrendered one run on two hits, and collected a career-high, eight strike outs, en route to his first career victory at the Double-A level.

The Lookouts tallied another run in the seventh with an opposite-field homerun to right off the bat of Mitch Garver to cut the Shuckers' lead to 3-2.

Biloxi added insurance after the stretch when Victor Roache (1x3, HR, RBI, R) fought off a couple of two-strike pitches before lifting a 2-2 offering from southpaw Mason Melotakis over the wall in right-centerfield for his first homerun of the season.

Daniel Tillman (2.1 IP, R, 2 H, 3 SO) took over for Salas out of the bullpen with a runner on first and two outs, and racked up three punchouts

Phillips added two more RBIs to his total on the night with an opposite-field shot with Orf on first and two outs in the eighth to stretch the Biloxi lead to four in the home-half of the frame.

Jaye Chapman (IP, 2 SO) worked a clean ninth to secure the victory.

Through two games, the Shuckers' offense has scored 10 runs, while the pitching has only surrendered two while picking up 24 strikeouts.

Biloxi will look to win its first series of the season with a win on Saturday night, as the Shuckers will take on the Lookouts in game three of the five-game series to open the 2016 regular season. RHP Adrian Houser makes his first start of the season for the Shukcers, while Chattanooga will send out LHP David Hurlbut. First pitch is 7:10 p.m., and can be heard on the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network beginning with the Beau Rivage Biloxi Shuckers Pregame Show at 6:50 p.m. through the flagship station, WGCM 1240 AM, and the TuneIn Radio app.

Fans can also stay after the contest for a post-game fireworks extravaganza that will light up the night sky of downtown Biloxi on Saturday night.

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 April 8, 2016


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