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| File Photo by Andreea Cardani/Jumbo Shrimp |
JACKSONVILLE (SportsTicker) – Despite a 6-3 loss in the resumption of Tuesday’s game, Jesús Sánchez smacked a walk-off single as the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp won 7-6 in the second game of their de facto doubleheader on Wednesday with the Norfolk Tides at 121 Financial Ballpark.
Jacksonville (63-56) took the final lead in game two in the bottom of the seventh. Willians Astudillo led off with a double and Luis Aviles Jr. entered as a pinch runner. Sánchez smacked a single with two strikes into the left field corner, scoring Aviles Jr. for the game’s winning run off Norfolk (54-64) reliever Beau Sulser (L 2-4).
Norfolk jumped in front early in the top of the first. With one out, Jordan Westburg walked and two batters later Kelvin Gutiérrez (6) walloped a two-run home run to put the Tides ahead 2-0.
The Jumbo Shrimp responded with a run in the bottom of the first. Erik González led off with a single and went to third on a single by Jordan Groshans. With runners at the corners, Bryan De La Cruz swatted a base hit to score González and cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Tides didn’t wait too long, building their lead back up in the top of the third. Greg Cullen led off with a single, Gunnar Henderson walked and Westburg singled to load the bases. Robert Neustrom reached on a fielder’s choice as Cullen was thrown out at home. With the bases loaded and one out, Gutiérrez reached on a fielder’s choice and two runs scored on an error, giving Norfolk a 4-1 advantage.
The lead was cut back down to a one-run game in the bottom of the third. De La Cruz led off the inning with a solo home run (3). Astudillo followed with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Sánchez grounded out but Astudillo scored from third to make the score 4-3.
The pendulum swung back into the favor of Norfolk in the fourth inning. Shayne Fonatana led off with a single and went to second on an error. Two batters later, Cullen reached on a fielder’s choice that put runners at the corners. Westburg then singled with two outs to score Fontana to increase the lead to 5-3.
The Tides clawed their way back to a three-run cushion in the top of the fifth. Brett Phillips led off with a walk and Brett Cumberland was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch allowed Phillips to advance to third and Anthony Bemboom plated Phillips with a sac fly, increasing the Norfolk lead to 6-3.
Jacksonville had their greatest run output in the fifth inning, plating three runs. Groshans singled and De La Cruz doubled to start off the frame. Three batters later, Victor Victor Mesa singled home both runners to make the score 6-5. Brian Miller struck out, but was able to reach first on a passed ball. With runners on first and second, Mesa scored on a base-hit from Bryson Brigman to tie the game at six.
Game two resumed in the top of the fourth with two runners on for Norfolk, as the Tides led 2-1. Jeff Brigham started the resumed game for Jacksonville and retired the side to keep the game at a 2-1 deficit.
It took until the top of the fifth for the Tides to start heating up. With one out, Henderson walked and Westburg (12) continued his hot hitting for Norfolk with a two-run blast to push the lead to 4-1.
Norfolk took a bigger lead in the seventh, adding two more runs to their tally. Yusniel Diaz led off with a double and Jacob Nottingham (13) launched a two-run home run, the third one of the day, as the Tides padded their lead to 6-1.
The Jumbo Shrimp tried to rally late but couldn’t keep the momentum going. With one out in the eighth, Groshans singled and Sánchez walked. With two runners on, Astudillo singled loading the bases. Two batters later, Ryan Lavarnway was hit by a pitch, scoring Groshans to cut the deficit to 6-2.
One more run crossed the plate for Jacksonville in the ninth inning. González led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Miller swatted a base hit to score González to make it a three-run contest, but the rally stopped there.
Jacksonville continues their series with Norfolk in Thursday’s 7:05 p.m. contest. LHP Trevor Rogers (0-1, 22.50) gets the ball for the Jumbo Shrimp and Norfolk will hand the ball to RHP Mike Baumann (1-6, 5.14). Coverage starts at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, ESPN 690 and ESPN690.com.