by Hunter Dawkins, Owner/Publisher – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
BILOXI (GG) — With multi-home run games from Garrett Spain and Blake Burke, the Biloxi Shuckers (66-54, 24-27) earned a series win with a 9-3 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts (62-53, 24-25) at Keesler Federal Park on Sunday night. The game marked the Shuckers fourth straight win, outscoring the Lookouts 30-10 during the streak for their 12th series win of the season.
Blake Burke started the scoring with a first-inning home run, a 353-foot solo blast to left. He then made it 5-0 in the third with a grand slam to right-center, off the bat at 106 MPH. The Shuckers added on with an RBI groundout from Garrett Spain in the fourth, making it 6-0.
Spain struck again in the seventh with a 371-foot solo home run to right-center, off the bat at 104 MPH. A fielding error with the bases loaded later in the inning allowed Blake Burke to score from third, making it 8-0.
The Lookouts got on the board in the eighth inning with an RBI single from Ethan O’Donnell, but Garrett Spain erased the run in the bottom of the inning with his second home run of the day, a solo shot off the bat at 105 MPH. In the ninth, an RBI single from Austin Hendrick and an RBI fielder’s choice from Edwin Arroyo made it 9-3.
Alexander Cornielle (5-7) earned the win after 5.0 shutout innings on 71 pitches, while Zach Willeman (3-2) took the loss for the Lookouts.
Garrett Spain’s multi-home run game marked the fifth of his career and his second over the last two weeks. Blake Burke’s multi-homer night was the first of his career, along with his first grand slam and a career-high five RBI. Burke (3-for-5), Spain (2-for-5) and Zavier Warren (2-for-4) each recorded multi-hit performances.
Minor League Baseball announced today that Biloxi Shuckers outfielder Garrett Spain was named the Southern League Player of the Week and right-handed pitcher Jaron DeBerry was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Week. It marks the fourth and fifth weekly awards for the Shuckers this season, including the first career weekly award for both players.
During the Shuckers six-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts, Spain went 5-for-18 (.278) with a double, four home runs, nine RBI and four walks. Spain recorded his fifth career multi-home run game on Sunday and his second during the Shuckers 12-game homestand.
His four home runs during the series were tied for the most in Double-A. Entering today, Spain is among the Southern League leaders in extra-base hits (T-1st, 35), home runs (T-4th, 15), RBI (6th, 60) and slugging percentage (10th, .399). His 15 home runs and 60 RBI with the Shuckers both represent career-highs. Spain was selected in the Minor League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft this offseason after four seasons in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
DeBerry turned in the best start of his career on Saturday with 7.0 shutout innings, four hits, no walks and nine strikeouts. The 7.0 shutout innings and nine strikeouts both set new career-highs. DeBerry became the 5th Double-A pitcher this season to go 7+ shutout innings with 9+ K in a start and the first Shuckers pitcher to achieve the feat since Ethan Small in 2021.
Through 4 Double-A starts, DeBerry owns a 47% strikeout rate and a .206 (7-for-34) average when facing the order for the first time. Deberry was selected in the third round of the 2024 Draft by the Brewers from Dallas Baptist.
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.
(Photo by Shuckers Baseball, LLC)
