Castano’s Gem Not Enough as Jumbo Shrimp's Late Lead Evaporates
JACKSONVILLE (www.sportsdayjax.com)– Daniel Castano struck out seven in four no-hit innings and Jacob Amaya homered on Sunday, but the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp blew a late lead, falling 4-3 to the Gwinnett Stripers from 121 Financial Ballpark.
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With Jacksonville (46-55, 14-13) ahead 2-1 in the ninth inning, Dalton Guthrie was hit by a pitch, Braden Shewmake singled and Vaughn Grisson walked against reliever José Castillo (0-1) to load the bases with no one out.
Joe Dunand hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game and in the ensuing at-bat, Jesus Aguilar singled, scoring Grissom to give Gwinnett (45-56, 12-14) the lead. In the next at-bat Sanchez ripped a sacrifice fly to extend the Stripers advantage to 4-2.
The Jumbo Shrimp got one back in the final inning. Jerar Encarnacion walked and Santiago Chavez singled to lead off the frame. A groundout put Encarnacion on third before Amaya hit a sacrifice fly to draw within 4-3. However, Grant Holmes stemmed the bleeding and picked up his eighth save.
Jacksonville plated the first runs of the game in the bottom of the third frame. With one out, Jake Mangum ripped a base knock and Amaya hit a two-run shot, scoring the first two runs of the contest.
Gwinnett answered in the top of the fifth inning. Yolmer Sanchez tripled with one out. He scored thanks to a Joe Hudson groundout, making it a 2-1 ballgame.
Seth Elledge (3-1) earned the win for Gwinnett with a scoreless eighth inning.
After Castano’s gem to start the game, Bryan Hoeing pitched 3.2 innings, striking out five, yielding only one run on two hits.
Following the off day on Monday, Jacksonville heads to AutoZone Park to begin a six-game series at the Memphis Redbirds. LHP Devin Smeltzer (4-6, 6.10 ERA) gets the nod for the Jumbo Shrimp and RHP Casey Lawrence (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is set for first pitch on Tuesday at 8:05 p.m. ET.
