by Hunter Dawkins, Owner/Publisher – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm

BILOXI (GG) — The Biloxi Shuckers (55-41, 13-14) scored seven of the game’s final eight runs in a 7-2 win over the Rocket City Trash Pandas (34-61, 10-17) at Keesler Federal Park on Saturday night, July 26. In the win, Mississippi native Cooper Pratt recorded a three-hit night and reached base five times. The Shuckers clinched their 11th series win of the year and their seventh over their last eight home series.

The Shuckers fell behind in the first inning with a sacrifice fly from Denzer Guzman, scoring Travis Blakenhorn from third. In the third, Matthew Wood gave the Shuckers a 3-1 lead with a three-run home run to right-center, his fourth of the year. Jheremy Vargas added onto the Shuckers’ lead in the fourth with an RBI single to center, scoring Adam Hall. Darrien Miller made it 6-1 in the seventh inning with a two-RBI double off the wall in left-center. Both teams scored a run in the eighth inning with an RBI single from Denzer Guzman in the top half and a wild pitch that scored Garrett Spain from third in the bottom half.

Nate Peterson started strong for the Shuckers with 4.0 innings and one run allowed, trying his longest appearance of the season. Zach Peek (4-1) earned the win with 3.0 shutout innings and two strikeouts, while Abdiel Mendoza closed out the game with a strikeout over 2.0 innings. Sean Poppen (2-4) took the loss for the Trash Pandas. At the plate, Cooper Pratt (3-for-3) and Darrien Miller (2-for-3) each recorded a multi-hit performance for the Shuckers.

In the series finale, the Biloxi Shuckers fell to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, 3-2, at Keesler Federal Park on Sunday night. Despite the loss, Shuckers’ pitchers Mark Manfredi and Alexander Cornielle starred, limiting the Trash Pandas to one run on two hits across the first seven innings.

The Trash Pandas struck first in the top of the first inning with an RBI single from Oscar Colás, making it 1-0. Darrien Miller responded in the fifth inning with a solo home run to right, his sixth of the season. Zavier Warren then gave the Shuckers the lead in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Luis Lara from third. Sam Brown homered in the ninth inning, which gave the Trash Pandas a 3-2 lead on their first hit since the first inning. The Shuckers also retired 16 consecutive batters between the fourth and ninth innings.

On the mound, Alexander Cornielle struck out four, allowed one run over 4.0 innings and finished the week with 11 strikeouts and one run allowed over 8.0 innings and two starts. Out of the bullpen, Mark Manfredi turned in his longest appearance of the season with 3.0 perfect innings and a strikeout on 25 pitches. Brian Fitzpatrick (4-3) took the loss for the Shuckers while Brady Choban (2-5) earned the win. At the plate, Darrien Miller reached three times and finished the series by going 5-for-9 with two doubles and a home run over the final three games.

After an off-day on Monday, the Shuckers will begin a 12-game road trip on Tuesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.  K.C. Hunt (5-6, 5.11) is slated to start for the Shuckers against Alex Williams (3-0, 1.82) for the Blue Wahoos. Fans can listen live on the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network with pregame coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m.

The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers are members of the Southern League and play at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information, please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.

Shuckers Baseball, LLC is a MS entity owned and operated by John Tracy. Shuckers Baseball operates the Biloxi Shuckers baseball franchise, including operating Keesler Federal Park for Biloxi Shuckers minor league baseball games and other entertainment and recreational events.

(Front Photo by Shuckers Baseball, LLC)