Jumbo Shrimp beat Knights for fifth consecutive win
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Seven different Jumbo Shrimp batters reached base multiple times and Jacksonville scored nine runs in the ninth inning to upend the Charlotte Knights 14-5 in Tuesday’s series opener from Truist Field.
The 14 runs and 17 hits Jacksonville (39-32) notched marked season-highs for the club, with the nine-run ninth inning marking the most tallies in any frame so far this season.
Charlotte (26-45) led 4-3 when Zack Zehner singled against Knights reliever Lane Ramsey (0-1) to begin the sixth inning. Zehner stole second base, and two batters later, scored the tying run on Justin Twine’s RBI single. Following a Bryson Brigman single, Brian Miller, who had four hits, singled in Twine to put the Jumbo Shrimp ahead 5-4.
The score remained 5-4 into the ninth inning. Corey Bird singled to lead off. Two batters later, Nick Fortes clubbed his first Triple-A home run. Zehner and Tristan Pompey each walked and then Twine was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brigman drew a free pass to bring in another run before Miller lashed a two-run single. Later in the inning, consecutive bases-loaded hit-by-pitches by Joe Dunand and Fortes led to a two-run Zehner single to widen the gap to 14-4.
In the bottom of the ninth, Nick Williams’ sacrifice fly set the final margin at 14-5.
Jacksonville scored the game’s first run with a two-out rally in the third inning. Brigman, Miller and Lorenzo Quintana each singled, with the latter knocking in the contest’s first run.
The Knights responded in the fourth inning by scoring four runs. Jake Burger hit a two-run homer to put Charlotte in front. Marco Hernandez added a sacrifice fly and Matt Reynolds notched an RBI single to make it 4-1.
In the fifth, though, an RBI fielder’s choice by Quintana and RBI single by Bird drew the Jumbo Shrimp within one.
Nick Neidert (4-1) earned the win by allowing four runs, just one earned, on five hits in 5.2 innings. He fanned six and walked two. Parker Bugg also worked two scoreless frames of relief.
Jacksonville sends LHP Shawn Morimando (2-3, 5.19 ERA) to the mound in Wednesday’s 7:04 p.m. contest against Charlotte RHP Jimmy Lambert (3-2, 5.13 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:49 p.m. on ESPN 690 AM and www.ESPN690.com.
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.
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