Miller doubles twice, Liebrandt tosses 5.1 in relief for Jumbo Shrimp
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp scored early and rallied late, but ultimately fell short by a run, 4-3 to the Durham Bulls in front of 7,027 fans on Saturday at 121 Financial Ballpark.
Jacksonville (28-20) falls to 5-4 in one-run games this season and are now 7-10 on the season against the Durham (31-15).
The Jumbo Shrimp struck first in the first inning. Brian Miller doubled to right-center to open the first inning, and Lewis Brinson lined a single to center to give Jacksonville a 1-0 lead.
Nick Neidert made a rehab start for the Jumbo Shrimp and allowed just two baserunners in the first three innings of work. Durham drew even against him in the fourth. Mike Brosseau led off the inning with a walk, and Mike Ford singled to center. With two outs, Neidert walked Tristan Gray to load the bases, and end Neidert’s night. The right-hander finished by going 3.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits and walking three.
Brandon Liebrandt entered for his Jumbo Shrimp debut and uncorked a wild pitch to plate Brosseau, which tied the game. Liebrandt, however, picked up a strikeout to strand two, and went on to work 5.1 innings, yielding three runs with two strikeouts.
Durham took the led in the seventh inning. Esteban Quiroz and Brett Sullivan lined back-to-back singles to start the inning. After a sacrifice, Nathan Lukes drove in both runners with a single to left to go ahead, 3-1.
In the home half of the inning, Justin Twine led off with a single to left field. Two batters late,r Deven Marrero came through with a pinch-hit single. Miller then doubled out to the left field corner to score Twine, but Marrero was thrown out at the plate as the potential tying run.
In the eighth, Tristan Gray ripped a home run to right field to push the Durham lead back to two.
Jacksonville again responded. Lorenzo Quintana reached on an error to begin the home eighth. After reaching second base on a wild pitch, Quintana came in to score on a Chad Wallach RBI single. However, the Jumbo Shrimp stranded the tying run at second base to end the frame, keeping Durham in front, 4-3.
Chris Ellis started for Durham, striking out six in four innings of work with just one run allowed. Dietrich Enns (win, 2-1) picked up the win with three innings of relief, ceding one run and striking out four.
The Jumbo Shrimp will go for the series split at 6:35 p.m. Sunday as they send right-hander Jordan Holloway (0-3, 4.50) to face off with Bulls righty Shane Baz (1-0, 2.00).
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for Baptist Health Sunday Family FUNday featuring postgame kids run the bases and free face painting and balloon animals. It’s also a Forever Vets Animal Hospital Canines and Crustaceans (Dog Day) as canines get in free as long as their human companion buys a ticket.
Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on ESPN 690 as well as the ESPN 690 Facebook page and on MiLB.tv.
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.
