Miller tallies four-hit game in losing effort
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Despite a four-hit game by Brian Miller on Wednesday, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp were victimized by a trio of three-run innings, falling 11-2 to the Charlotte Knights at Truist Field.
Jacksonville (22-15) went just 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 runners on base, while Charlotte (14-13) launched three homers in their win.
With the Jumbo Shrimp trailing 5-2 in the seventh inning, Jack Burger delivered the knockout blow, hitting the ninth pitch of the at-bat over the left field wall for a three-run homer to stretch the lead to 8-2.
In the eighth inning, Tim Beckham hit a two-run homer for his second consecutive two-homer game. Later in the frame, Matt Reynolds capped the scoring with an RBI single to right to score Luis Gonzalez, who was hit by a pitch with two outs.
Jacksonville did score first in the contest. With one out in the third inning, Bryson Brigman worked a walk, and Miguel Rojas followed with a single through the right side. Lorenzo Quintana then delivered a single into right field to score Brigman and put Jacksonville ahead, 1-0.
That was the only run Alex McKay (win, 1-2) would surrender. The Jacksonville University alum worked five innings, striking out four, and working around four hits and three walks.
Charlotte jumped in front in the home half of the third against Jordan Holloway (loss, 0-2). Beckham reached on an error to lead off the inning, and two batters later, Gonzalez scored him on a double down the left field line to tie the score. Later in the inning, Gavin Sheets doubled to left to score Gonzalez put the Knights ahead, 2-1.
Holloway finished by throwing 74 pitches in 4.1 innings. He gave up five runs (three earned), on six hits, walked one, and struck out seven. The remaining damage came in the fifth inning. Beckham led off the frame by hitting a hanging breaking ball over the left field wall for his first home run of the night. The Knights then hit three doubles in the inning, courtesy of Marco Hernandez, Reynolds, and Burger, to plate three runs in the frame. Of the Knights’ 11 hits in the game, eight of them went for extra bases.
Jacksonville’s only other run came in the sixth inning. Miller singled up the middle with one away, and after a walk, scored on a Corey Bird single to right.
The Jumbo Shrimp will send lefty Eric Stout (0-0, 10.38) to the mound to make his first start of the season Thursday opposite Charlotte right-hander Mike Wright (3-1, 2.21). First pitch is slated for 7:04 p.m. The broadcast will begin at 6:49 p.m. on ESPN 690, the ESPN 690 Facebook page, and on MiLB.tv.
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.
