Díaz homers in third consecutive game en route to 6-3 victory
Lawrenceville, Ga. – The Jumbo Shrimp blasted two home runs, while Jake Fishman tossed 3.2 scoreless innings in relief, as Jacksonville won their fourth straight game, topping Gwinnett, 6-3, Sunday at Coolray Field.
Jacksonville (19-11) has now won six of their last seven games, outscoring opponents 39-23 over that stretch. The Stripers (15-15) were held scoreless after the fourth inning, reaching base just three times across their final five frames.
Trailing 2-1 in the fourth inning, Justin Twine led off the frame with a walk for Jacksonville. After a pair of flyouts to center, Santiago Chavez launched his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field, to put Jacksonville in front, 3-2.
In the bottom of the inning, Sean Kazmar Jr. hit a rebuttal solo homer to knot the score at 3-3 and end the outing for Parker Bugg.
Bugg, making just the second start of his career gave Jacksonville 3.1 innings, allowing three runs while striking out three.
The Jumbo Shrimp then turned things over to Fishman (win, 1-1) who proceeded to retire 12 of the 13 batters he faced, striking out five in relief.
Jacksonville reclaimed the lead in the fifth inning when Bryson Brigman led off with a single to left, and Brian Miller followed with a triple into the right field corner to score him, to make it 4-3. Jacksonville continued to add on runs in the middle innings. Lewin Díaz led off the sixth with a tape measure home run to right field, his seventh of the season, and third in as many days.
The Jumbo Shrimp then loaded the bases in the seventh inning on singles from Brigman and Miller and an intentional walk to Jesús Sánchez. Twine then lifted a sac fly to center to push the advantage to 6-3.
Rob Zastryzny (save, 1) then worked the final two innings out of the ballgame, striking out three, while allowing just a walk and a hit to earn his second career save.
Jacksonville scored in the first inning to take the early lead when Miller worked an eight-pitch at-bat before singling to center field. Miller then stole second and came into score on a Connor Justus RBI single through the right side.
Gwinnett responded with two runs in the second to take their only lead of the ballgame. Starting pitcher Jasseel De La Cruz (loss, 0-1) came up with the bases loaded and served a single into right field to tie the score a 1-1, and a second run crossed on a wild pitch. De La Cruz gave up four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings.
The Jumbo Shrimp return home to face the Norfolk Tides on Tuesday as 121 Financial Ballpark returns to FULL CAPCITY for the first time this season. Gates open at 6 p.m. for a Community First Credit Union Two for Tuesday, where tickets are two-for-one at the box office for Community First Credit Union members using their CFCU credit or debit card. It’s also Dunder Mifflin Jacksonville Branch night with Office themed games at 121 Financial Ballpark.
First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and the broadcast will begin 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.
