Harrison blasts sixth homer of the season in 14-7 defeat
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Charlotte Knights scored six runs in the first inning and crossed the plate in every frame through the seventh on Sunday as the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp settled for a series split, falling 14-7 at 121 Financial Ballpark.
Jacksonville (51-39) matched a pair of season-worsts by giving up 14 runs and 19 hits, while Charlotte (32-57) not only hit six home runs, but also turned four double-plays defensively.
The Knights stormed out of the gates in the top of the first. Zach Remillard singled to lead of the ballgame and scored one batter later on a Blake Rutherford double off the center field wall. Yermin Mercedes followed with a single, and then Gavin Sheets blasted a three-run home run to right to put the Knights ahead, 4-0. Mikie Mahtook made it back-to-back jacks with a laser home run down the left field line. Micker Adolfo made it six consecutive hits to begin play with a double to left, and scored on an error later in the frame. The first eight batters reached against Brandon Leibrandt (loss, 0-5), before he struck out Nate Nolan, the ninth-place hitter.
Charlotte continued to add on throughout the contest. Mercedes cranked a homer to left field in the second, and Blake Rutherford added a two-run shot as part of a three-run third. Remillard lined his 10th home run of the season to left in the sixth inning, and Mercedes launched his second of the game in the seventh, on his way to a five-hit night.
Jacksonville initially responded with two in the first inning. Jesús Sánchez tripled to center field with one out, and scored on a Lewin Díaz RBI groundout. Monte Harrison then clobbered a 459-foot home run to left, his sixth of the season, to make it a 6-2 contest at that point.
The Jumbo Shrimp plated a pair in the middle innings. In the fourth, Harrison reached on an error and came home after back-to-back singles from Nick Fortes and Brian Miller. Then in the fifth, Sánchez walked with one out, and after a Díaz singled moved him to third, came home on a Harrison RBI groundout.
Trailing 14-4 in the ninth, Jacksonville fought to the finish. They loaded the bases with singles from singles from Lorenzo Quintana and Justin Twine along with a walk to Bryson Brigman. Two runs crossed on a Sánchez single to center, and Brigman scored on an overthrow as part of a fielder’s choice on which Díaz reached first base.
Jacksonville deployed eight pitchers in the contest, while Charlotte used seven, including Will Carter (win, 2-2), who earned the victory by giving up just on unearned run in the fourth.
Following a day off Monday, the Jumbo Shrimp begin a 12-game road trip with a six-game series against the Durham Bulls beginning Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. Coverage begins at 6:20 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.
