Bird doubles twice, reaches base four times in 6-2 victory
Lawrenceville, Ga. – Despite falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp rallied past the Gwinnett Stripers 6-2 at Coolray Field on Tuesday, pairing a quality start from Daniel Castano with a four-run sixth inning.
Jacksonville (15-10) racked up 13 hits at the plate and went 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile, Castano held Gwinnett (14-11) without a baserunner from the second through the fourth innings.
Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, the Jumbo Shrimp took the lead, stringing six consecutive hits together against Gwinnett reliever Tanner Roark (loss, 0-1). With one out, Corey Bird dropped down a bunt single and Chad Wallach followed with a single through the left side. Deven Marrero doubled down the left field line to plate Bird and tie the score. Connor Justus, a Georgia native, returned home with a two-run single to right field, which proved to be the game-winner.
The inning continued with Castano hitting a single back up the middle to score Justus, and then Monte Harrison made it six consecutive hits with an RBI single to center to make it 5-2 Jumbo Shrimp.
Jacksonville added a run in the seventh when Bryson Brigman and Bird ripped back-to-back doubles, making it 6-2.
Castano fell behind in the first inning when he allowed one-out singles to Cristian Pache and Orlando Arcia before walking Jason Kipnis to load the bases. Two batters later, Jonathan Lucroy singled to left to plate two and put the Stripers in front.
Castano (win, 1-2) settled down quickly, retiring the next 12 batter he faced. In the sixth, he was able to wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam to cap off a quality start for Jacksonville. The left-hander struck out three and scattered six hits and two walks over six innings.
Jacksonville got on the board in the third inning. Harrison walked with one out, and Lewin Díaz and Jesús Sánchez ripped back-to-back singles, with Sánchez collecting his 22nd RBI of the season.
Zach Thompson (save, 1) followed Castano with three strong innings out of the bullpen. He faced just two over the minimum and struck out six, stranding a pair in scoring position in the ninth.
Game two of the six-game series gets underway Wednesday evening at 7:05 p.m. The broadcast will begin at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN 690, and online at espn690.com, MiLB.tv, 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.
