Relievers fan final six batters in 5-3 win
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lorenzo Quintana doubled and homered for Jacksonville as the Jumbo Shrimp erased an early 2-0 deficit Tuesday to take game one of their series from the Memphis Redbirds, 5-3, at 121 Financial Ballpark.
Jacksonville (69-51, 1-0) relievers were exceptional, combining for five scoreless innings and striking out seven, including the final six Memphis (57-63, 0-1) batters that came to the plate in the first game of the Triple-A Final Stretch.
Trailing 2-0 in the third inning, Redbirds’ starter Zack Thompson (loss, 2-10) lost the strike zone, walking the bases loaded. Nick Neidert, who was the first of the three walks, came in to score on a wild pitch, and Quintana followed with a two-run double to score Brian Miller and Peyton Burdick. Isan Diaz followed Quintana’s double with one of his own to make it 4-2.
With two in scoring position in the top of the fourth inning, Evan Mendoza lifted a sac fly to center field for Memphis to score Conner Capel, but on the play, Monte Harrison threw out Alec Burleson at third base to help the Jumbo Shrimp maintain the advantage.
Quintana launched a solo homer for his sixth of the season in the fifth inning to extend the Jumbo Shrimp advantage to 5-3.
Preston Guilmet (win, 5-2) tossed two scoreless innings in relief, retiring six of the seven batters he faced. Jake Fishman followed with a scoreless seventh while Cody Carroll struck out the side in the eighth in his Jacksonville debut. Andrew Bellatti (save, 10) fanned all three batters he faced in the ninth.
The Jumbo Shrimp and Redbirds will square off in game two of the series Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. for VyStar Credit Union Charity Begins at Home, as Goodwill will raise awareness and funds throughout the game, as well as highlight Mayor Curry’s Youth at Work Partnership among other initiatives. Wednesday night’s contest will be presented by Ring Power: Florida’s Cat® Equipment Dealer.
Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN 690 and online at espn690.com, MiLB.tv, and on 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.
