Díaz launches third home run of season in 5-4 loss
JACKSONVILLE, Fla – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp took the lead in the seventh inning, but were unable to hold it, falling 5-4 in extra innings to the Norfolk Tides in front of a reduced capacity sellout crowd of 3,616 at 121 Financial Ballpark.
Lewin Díaz hit his third home run in five games this season for Jacksonville (3-2), but the Jumbo Shrimp stuck out a season-worst 14 times at the plate. After losing the first three games of the series, Norfolk (2-3) has now won two in a row.
In every game this season, Jacksonville has scored first. Díaz’s two-run home run in the third inning plated Bryson Brigman, who reached on an infield hit earlier on in the frame, to make it 2-0 Jumbo Shrimp Shrimp.
After retiring the first seven men he faced, Josh A. Smith worked around three walks in the third inning to keep the Tides off the scoreboard. Norfolk, however, evened the score in the fourth on a two-run homer from Brett Cumberland. It was the only offense Smith allowed, as he went five innings, giving up four hits and three walks, while striking out five.
The game remained tied through the middle innings. Parker Bugg was exceptional in relief, striking out five while retiring all nine men he faced.
Jacksonville surged back in front in the seventh. With one out, Santiago Chavez looped a single over first base and Brian Miller followed with a double into the right field corner to put two men in scoring position. After a walk loaded the bases, Brigman came though with a two-run single through the left side to put the Jumbo Shrimp ahead at 4-2.
In the top of the ninth, Rylan Bannon singled to lead off the inning for the Tides. Yusniel Diaz followed with a home run, just inside the left field foul pole, to even the score at 4-4.
In the 10th inning, Richie Martin led off with a single up the middle off of Brett Eibner (1-1) to plate the inherited runner from second base and give the Tides their very first lead of the contest. In the home half of the inning, Jacksonville put the tying run on third and the winning run on first, but were unable to cash in, as Marcos Diplán (1-0) got a groundout to end the game.
The Jumbo Shrimp will go for the series win on Sunday as left-hander Braxton Garrett (0-0, 4.91) makes his second start of the season, while fellow lefty Alex Wells will make his first start of the year for the Tides. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m. and pregame coverage begins at 2:50 p.m. on ESPN 690 and online at MiLB.tv and ESPN690.com, as well as on the MiLB first pitch app.
It’s a Baptist Health Sunday Funday and Youth Sports Day at the ballpark, featuring postgame kids-run-the-bases. Limited tickets still remain to spend Mother’s Day with the Jumbo Shrimp, with gates opening at 2 p.m. 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.
