Jacksonville aims for series win on Sunday
DURHAM, N.C. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp were victimized by four home runs Saturday in a 14-3 loss to the Durham Bulls at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The Jumbo Shrimp (7-4) gave up a season-high 15 hits in the contest, suffering their most lopsided loss of the season. However, with a win Sunday over the Bulls (7-4), Jacksonville will claim their second consecutive series win to open the 2021 campaign.
Alexander Guillen (0-1) made the spot start for the Jumbo Shrimp. He worked a scoreless first inning, but the Bulls got to him in the second. After Guillen surrendered a hit batsman and a single, Nathan Lukes singled home the first run of the game for Durham. Later in the frame the Bulls loaded the bases, and with two outs, Wander Franco launched a grand slam to push Durham out to a 5-0 lead.
Guillen also gave up a home run to Esteban Quiroz in the third.
The Bulls sent eight men to the plate in the fifth inning, extending their lead to 8-0 with a four-run frame.
Jacksonville broke onto the scoreboard in the sixth. José Devers tripled to center field with one out, and scored on a Monte Harrison RBI groundout one batter later to make it 8-1.
The Bulls responded in the home half of the inning when Taylor Walls led off with a solo home run.
The Jumbo Shrimp were able to scratch across a pair of runs in the eighth. Brian Navarreto walked with one away, and Corey Bird followed with a single through the right side. Luis Marte then doubled down the left field line to score Bird. Marte scored one at-bat later on Harrison’s second RBI groundout of the contest, cutting the deficit to 10-3.
The Bulls continued to swing the bat well as a team. In the eighth inning they plated four more runs, highlighted by a three-run home run from Vidal Bruján, his fifth of the season, to make it a 14-3 affair.
The Jumbo Shrimp will again have the opportunity to lock up a series win as they face the Bulls in the finale at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday. Left-hander Shawn Morimando (0-0, 4.70) will make the start for Jacksonville, opposed by Durham righty Joe Ryan (1-1, 3.60) in a rematch of the series opener. The broadcast will begin at 4:50 p.m. on ESPN 690, as well as online at espn690.com, MiLB.tv, and the MiLB First Pitch app.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by general manager Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marks the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.
