Marrero homers, Harrison tallies two hits in 13-5 loss
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp got out to a 5-0 lead in the third inning Tuesday, but were unable to make it hold up, falling 13-5 to the Durham Bulls in front of a reduced capacity sellout of 3,313 at 121 Financial Ballpark.
Jacksonville (13-6) and Durham (13-6) are now tied for second place in the Southeast Division, half a game behind the Nashville Sounds (13-5), who tonight won their seventh straight game.
Deven Marrero opened the scoring for Jacksonville with a three-run home run in the second inning, scoring Monte Harrison and Brian Navarreto who had doubled and walked, respectively.
In the third, Luis Marte lined a sacrifice fly to right field to score Jesús Sánchez, who had led off with a single. Later in the inning, Harrison walked, advanced to second on a groundout, stole third, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0 Jacksonville.
Josh A. Smith retired the first seven men he faced to begin the ballgame, but ran into trouble in the fifth inning. He walked the first two hitters in the frame, and Vidal Bruján followed with a two-run double off the right field wall to put Durham on the board. A Josh Lowe RBI single made it 5-3. Kevin Padlo then singled to drive in Bruján. Later in the frame, Esteban Quiroz notched on an RBI single, but on the same play, Padlo was thrown out at the plate by Harrison to keep the Jumbo Shrimp in front by a run.
The lead didn’t last for long. In the sixth, Bruján again sparked a rally, reaching on an error with two outs. Wander Franco drew a walk, and a double steal set up Lowe for a two-run single off of Jake Fishman (loss, 0-1) to take the lead at 6-5. Lowe finished the game with a career-high five RBIs.
Durham continued to pile on against Jumbo Shrimp relievers, tallying a combined nine runs on 14 hits against the bullpen. Quiroz hit an opposite field home run to begin a string of six consecutive hits for the Bulls in a four-run seventh, and Lowe capped his day with a two-run homer in the ninth.
The teams reconvene for game two of the series Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m., when lefty Daniel Castano (0-1, 8.38) takes the mound for Jacksonville. He will be opposed by fellow left-hander Dietrich Enns (0-0, 3.60) for the Bulls. Gates open at 6 p.m. at 121 Financial Ballpark. On a VyStar Credit Union Charity Begins at Home Wednesday, Volunteers in Medicine will raise awareness and funds throughout the game through ticket sales and promotions. Wednesday’s game is also Office Chair Olympics Night.
Coverage begins at 6:50 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.
