Leibrandt tosses four hitless innings in start for Jumbo Shrimp
DURHAM, N.C. – Trailing 5-0 in the ninth inning, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp sent 12 men to the plate, scoring six runs to take the lead, but Durham answered with a game-tying homer run in the ninth, and a walk-off homer in the tenth to win 8-7, Wednesday.
Jacksonville (52-40) matched their largest comeback of the season after being one-hit through seven innings. The Bulls (58-33), despite being held without a hit in the first four frames, finished with ten on the night.
Down to their final three outs in the ballgame, Jacksonville strung together a rally in the ninth inning. Bryson Brigman and Lewin Díaz tallied back-to-back singles to start the inning, and then Monte Harrison and Nick Fortes were each hit by a pitch to push a run across. Eddy Alvarez drew a walk to force in another run, and then Dustin Fowler laced a two-run single to cut the deficit to just one. Two batters later, Corey Bird, pinch-hitting, chopped an infield single to first base to tie the score. Later in the inning with the bases again loaded, Díaz drew a walk to push the go-ahead run across.
However, in the bottom of the ninth inning, Rene Pinto hit a game-tying solo home run to right, to even the score at 6-6. Pinto also drove home a run with a double in the sixth.
Jacksonville went back ahead in the tenth against Joey Krehbiel (win, 2-1) when Alvarez laid down a safety squeeze to plate Harrison from third, after he began the inning as the inherited runner and moved up on a groundout.
Durham again answered as Josh Lowe led off the bottom of the tenth inning with a two-run walk-off home run against Andrew Bellatti (loss, 1-2) to lift the Bulls to an 8-7 win.
Starting on just two days of rest, Brandon Leibrandt delivered an impressive start for the Jumbo Shrimp. He tossed four hitless innings, facing just one over the minimum. He walked one and struck out four.
Durham broke the ballgame open with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Vidal Bruján.
The series continues Thursday at 6:35 p.m. when right-hander Edward Cabrera (1-2, 3.20) takes the hill for Jacksonville, and Durham Counters with righty Brent Honeywell Jr. (1-2, 4.06). Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on ESPN 690 as well as online at espn690.com 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.
