Díaz, Sánchez homer, combine for 7 RBIs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In the first game in 618 days at 121 Financial Ballpark, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp shot out of the gates, scoring seven runs in the first two innings on their way to a 11-5 win over the Norfolk Tides in front of a sellout crowd.
Jacksonville (1-0), batted around twice in the ballgame to score their most runs on Opening Day in the Jumbo Shrimp era. All nine batters reached base while the pitching staff walked only one Norfolk (0-1) batter in the victory.
The Shrimp opened the scoring in the home first. Brian Miller reached on an error to start the inning. One batter later, Lewin Díaz launched a sky-scraping home run to right field, to grab a 2-0 advantage.
In the second, the Jacksonville offense erupted. Brian Navarretto led off the inning with a double, and the next two batters walked to load the bases. Miller then looped a single to right field to score a run, and two batters later, Eddy Alvarez worked a bases-loaded walk to increase the lead to 4-0. Jesús Sánchez followed with a two-run single through the left side to score a pair. Two batters later, Luis Marte slashed a single through the right side to make it 7-0 and chase Conner Greene (0-1) from the game after just 1.2 innings.
Braxton Garrett made the start for Jacksonville. He worked around a leadoff walk in the first inning with the help of a double play ball. It was the only walk issued by the Jacksonville staff on the night. Garrett gave up two runs in the third, but he bounced back with a pair of strikeouts to end his outing. He finished with four punchouts in 3.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits.
Brett Eibner (win, 1-0) picked up the win in relief, retiring all seven batters he faced, including a strikeout.
Leading 7-3 in the eighth, the Jumbo Shrimp offense provided some valuable insurance. Bryson Brigman led off the inning by working a walk, and then with two outs, Díaz laced a double to the gap in right-center to put the Shrimp ahead by five. After an Alvarez infield single extended the inning, Sánchez made Norfolk pay with a bullet down the right field line for a three-run homer to push the lead to 11-3.
Jake Fishman worked 2.2 innings in relief, striking out four, but he surrendered a two-run homer to Tyler Nevin in the ninth. Parker Bugg came on to pick up a game sealing strikeout in the only batter he faced.
The Shrimp and Tides will play game two of their six-game series Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. Gates open at noon at 121 Financial Ballpark, with the Jumbo Shrimp and VyStar Credit Union teaming up to raise funds for Vets 4 Vets. The Jumbo Shrimp are also hosting our Yuengling Business Person Special, where fans can receive a 16 oz. Yuengling can (or small fountain soda), jumbo hot dog, chips, and a Field Reserved seat ticket for only $20, or a Dugout Reserved ticket for $23 – based on availability.
Left-hander Shawn Morimando will make his first start of the season for the Jumbo Shrimp. He’ll be opposed by fellow lefty Josh Rogers for the Tides. Catch all the action beginning at 12:50 p.m. on ESPN 690 and online at espn690.com, as well as on the MiLB first pitch app.
