Game 127: Jumbo Shrimp vs Stripers
Thursday, September 30, 2021–7:05 p.m. ET
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (73–53, 4–2) vs. Gwinnett Stripers (69–56, 1–5)
CoolRay Field — Lawernceville, Ga.
LAST TIME OUT:
A first inning home run from Travis Demeritte was enough to hold up for Gwinnett, Wednesday, as Jacksonville went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, an scored only once after loading the bases in back-to-back innings in a 6–1 loss to the Stripers. Nick Neidert struck out five in five innings of work, giving up four runs (three earned) but pitched better than his line would indicate. Jacksonville drew six walks in the ballgame, but tallied only four hits.
GAME INFO:
The Jumbo Shrimp and Stripers play game two of a five-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m. After winning the first four games of the final stretch, the Shrimp have lost two straight, and are effectively three back of Durham with four games to play, given that the Bulls (6–0) own the tiebreaker with a better regular season finish.
MEET THE STRIPERS:
Gwinnett is the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The Stripers finished the regular season 68–51, third in the Southeast Division, just behind the Shrimp.
Gwinnett is managed by Matt Tuiasosopo. This is just Tuiasosopo’s second season as a manager in minor league baseball, and his first season with the Gwinnett Stripers. In 2019, he managed the Rome Braves, the High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and won the Bobby Cox award for best manager in the Atlanta farm system.
Gwinnett is home to eight of the top 30 prospects in Atlanta’s farm system, including each of the top three prospects (Cristian Pache, Shea Langeliers, and Drew Waters). Langeliers was named the Hank Aaron Braves Minor Leauge Player of the Year, hitting 22 home runs in 92 games with the Mississippi Braves.
PITCHING MATCHUP:
RHP Jason Alexander (0–1, 2.79 ERA)
Jason Alexander will make his fourth start of the season for Jacksonville, and fourth appearance (third start) since coming off the injured list at the beginning of the month. He most recently worked a scoreless inning in relief against the Memphis Redbirds on Saturday. Alexander was originally signed in 2017 by the Los Angeles Angels as a non-drafted free agent. He made it up to Triple-A Salt Lake before being released in 2020. The Marlins signed him on April 21, 2021. He works with a sinker, slider, and a changeup.
RHP Jose Rodriguez (6–5, 5.15 ERA)
Jose Rodriguez will make the start for the Stripers tonight, his 17th this season. It’s been an up-and-down year for the righty who posted a 1.52 ERA in August, following a month of July in which he allowed more than six earned runs per game. His last couple of outings have not gone well, combining to yield eight runs in seven innings his last to trips to the mound. Rodríguez signed with the Los Angeles Angels as an international free agent on December 3, 2012. He made his Major League debut with the Angels in 2019, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings that night against the Orioles. After electing free-agency at the end of 2020, the Braves signed Rodriguez to a minor league deal in April. He features a fastball, slider, changeup, and curveball.
LINEUP
- Brian Miller, RF
- Bryson Brigman, SS
- Dustin Fowler, LF
- Lorenzo Quintana, 1B
- Isan Diaz, 2B
- Peyton Burdick, CF
- Connor Justus, 3B
- Santiago Chavez, C
- Jason Alexander, P
NEWS FROM THE TROUPE:
- Elieser Hernández struck out six in five innings of work in a start for the Marlins last night, giving up just two runs. Zach Thompson followed with a scoreless sixth inning and Steven Okert claimed the win with a scoreless seventh. All three pitched in a Jumbo Shrimp uniform this season.
TRIPLE-A SOUTHEAST DIVISION STANDINGS
FISH FAMILY
Here is a look at the Marlins organizational scoreboard.
MLB: Miami Marlins (65–93) at New York Mets (75–83) @ 7:10 p.m. ET
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Today’s game will be broadcast on the following platforms:
Radio: ESPN 690 AM
Online Stream: MiLB.TV, Facebook.com/ESPN690Jax
Phone/Tablet: ESPN690.com, JaxShrimp.com, MiLB First Pitch App
