Dunand drives in two in 11-6 loss to Charlotte
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Charlotte Knights scored six runs in the first inning on Friday and an eighth inning rally from the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp fell short in an 11-6 loss in front of 5,594 fans at 121 Financial Ballpark.
Jacksonville (29-27) has now lost six straight, matching a season high. Charlotte (25-31) tallied 17 hits in the ballgame, including eight for extra bases.
Sean Guenther (loss, 2-1) made the spot start for Jacksonville and endured a rocky first inning. Zach Remillard walked to begin the frame, and Blake Rutherford followed with an RBI double. Yermin Mercedes then hit a two-run home run to put the Knights in front 3-0. Later in the inning Matt Reynolds came through with a two-run double, as the first seven in the order reached base for Charlotte. Marco Hernandez capped the six-run inning with a sacrifice fly.
Andrew Bellatti took over in relief with two outs in the first and was able to strike out Remillard to end the frame. Bellatti did yield a run in the second when Rutherford led off with a double and later scored on a Mikie Mahtook RBI single two batters later to make it 7-0.
Jacksonville got on the board in the second inning. Isan Díaz led off with a double to center and scored on a Joe Dunand RBI single later in the frame.
That was the only run Reynaldo Lopez (win, 1-6) would allow. He worked six innings, striking out seven, and yielding just one walk and three hits.
Charlotte continued to add on. Mahtook hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning to make it 9-1, and Remillard pushed it to an 11-1 advantage with a two-run shot of his own in the seventh.
In the home half of the seventh, Jacksonville got a run back on another RBI single from Dunand, this time plating Deven Marrero, who had doubled with two outs.
Jacksonville continued to rally in the eighth. Santiago Chavez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Bryson Brigman followed with a single to put men at the corners. A passed ball brought Chavez home. Corey Bird walked and then Brigman came in to score on another passed ball to make it 11-4. After Monte Harrison was plunked with a pitch, Diaz then chopped a ball over first base to plate Bird. Harrison came into score later in the inning on a wild pitch. Jacksonville scored four in the frame to make it 11-6, but could claw no closer.
The Jumbo Shrimp will look to end the skid Saturday as they send righty Luis Madero (4-2, 2.28) to the mound to face off with right-hander Alex McRae (2-3, 4.54) for the Knights. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. and coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on the ESPN 690 Facebook page and MiLB.tv.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. at 121 Financial Ballpark, and the first 2,000 fans will be going home with a George Costanza bobblehead presented by 121 Financial Credit Union. Be sure to stick around after the game for Saturday Night Fireworks presented by 121 Financial Credit Union.
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.
