JACKSONVILLE (www.sportsdayjax.com) - Jeff Lindgren worked six scoreless innings and Charles Leblanc hit a grand slam to help lift the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 8-1 in front of 5,598 fans from 121 Financial Ballpark.
File Sportsday Photo by Jim Brady, Florida Sports Wire
Jacksonville (12-12) put up a pair of runs in the opening frame against Lehigh Valley (12-13) starter T.J. Zeuch (1-2) to take an early 2-0 lead. Xavier Edwards and Brian Miller notched back-to-back base hits. Then, a double steal, throwing error and a ground out brought home Edwards and Miller for the game’s first runs.
In the fifth inning, Peyton Burdick walked, swiped second and then moved up to third on a throwing error. Jerar Encarnacion sliced a line drive single to bring in Burdick, extending the Jumbo Shrimp lead to 3-0.
Jacksonville blew the game wide open with a five-spot in the sixth inning. Austin Allen led off the sixth with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A flyout by Jake Mangum allowed Allen to advance to third. A wild pitch allowed Allen to score, extending the lead to 4-0. Edwards then worked a walk and went to third on a single from Miller. After stealing second, Burdick walked two batters later to load the bases. Leblanc (3) walloped a grand slam, widening the Jumbo Shrimp lead to 8-0.
The IronPigs tallied their lone run in the ninth. Jhalin Ortiz started the inning with a single and went to third on a single from Scott Kingery. Weston Wilson walked, loading the bases. Dustin Peterson knocked a sac fly, scoring Ortiz to give Lehigh Valley their first tally of the game. Dylan Bice was able to bear down and get the final two hitters out, securing Jacksonville’s 8-1 win.
Lindgren had another fantastic outing at home, allowing just two hits in six innings of work.
Jacksonville and Lehigh Valley conclude their series Sunday at 3:05 p.m. LHP Sean Nolin (0-0, 6.75 ERA) starts for Jacksonville.